The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-11-15

MI Is. BOLTON was widow fair,
lvl fat and forty" and as she was
wont to say of herself-with no nom
sense about her. She was in easy cir
cumstances, was very kind-hearted,
and had a passion for helping other
people--a passion which, Is she had
no children, she had ample leisure to
indulge.
One bright spring morning, Mrs.
Bolton set out on her aaily rounds of
kindness. First on her path came the
cottage of old Miss Martha Fairchild,
gentlewoman in reduced circum-
stances whose hereditary tastes had
chung to her through dark days and
biting poverty.
What if the china ornaments on
Miss Martha's mantelpiece were com
mon, and the fancywork trifles were
faded? To Miss Martha each was in
vested with radiance of its own
the lingering reflection of happier
days. Collectively, they might have
been considered as representing Miss
Martha share of the worlds refine
ment and taste-the pictures and stat
uary which, had she been wealthy and
literally educated, would have
adorned her luxurious apartments.
Miss Martha had opened the doors
and windows to let in the fresh spring
, air, and was moving gently about the
room, busting her art-treasures and
grooming some old, forgotten love
! song. At the sound of Mrs. Bottoms
loud, decided voice, she started like a
guilty thing, and nearly dropped the
little gilt china box from which she
was so tenderly removing the dust,
"Tidying up, hey, Miss Martha?
. That's right! Now, see here-I
! haven't much to do this morning; sup
] cleaning for you? Wouldn't you like
that?-it will save your poor back, you
, know"
J In vain did Miss Martha protest that
! the room was clean, and that she
. swept and busted it every day. Mrs
j Bolton merely assured her that she
/ 'did not mind it in the least" and
went on piling up the fire with Miss
h Martha's carefully boarded kind
| ling" Then she hlled the kettle and
put it on, leaving big splash of water
on the clean hearth
'By-the-pye, Miss Martha" she re.
marked as she turned away from the
/ fireplace. ut does sound real cheerful
1 to hear people singing at their work;
! but don't you think that at your age
you ought to be singing something
different from those light and trifng
\ songs? A hymn now, or one of the
L psalms, would be so much more suit
!, able"
Fortunately, there was no need for
her to answer, for Mrs. Bolton forth
|. with seized the broom, chased the as
| tonished cat out of the cushioned arm
! chair, and proceeded TO sweep and
n dust and beat and bang until Miss
| Martha's poor head swan. She made
] fresh rents in the precious old chintz
\ curtains, and tore off from the car
pet a handful of tatters which. being
! far beyond the ~ministrations of needle
and thread were every morning laid
| deftly back in place by Miss Martha's
| patient fingers. Next, she brought a
| bowl of hot water, in which to scrub
| the host of china knickknacks; and
Miss Martha's heart sent up a silent
| hymn of Thanksgiving when she was
given the towel and allowed to dry
\ them herself. Poor Miss Martha held
her breath when the little china box
went down into the bowl; she shivered
as the Praying 9uel took his
| nj Oh I
relief as she returned the last china
dog in safety to its place
Then Mrs. Bolton turned to the ar
ticles hanging on the walls. The
sampler fortunately for IT'D was
framed; but on each side of the chin
lney hung trife or two made of per
forated paper. Miss Martha had never
known what use these were intended
for; but, all the same, they were the
pride of her heart-they were $50
tasty" On these Mrs. Bolton laid sud
den hands.
81 never could see why you keep these
faded things hanging up" she re-
marked. "They are nothing but dust
traps! Don't you think they had bet
kter go into the fire."
"Oh, don't!" cried Miss Martha. pite-
ously; please don't!"
But it was too late; they were
already curling up in the flames.
81 think the room looks very nice"
remarked Mrs. Bolton, colnplacently.
as she tied on her bonnet. Now. be
sure to let me know when you want
help again"
Miss Martha thanked her feebly.
Ewhile the tears kept dropping on the
tpackage of choice Hyson tea which
Mrs. Bolton had laid on the table. And
when Mrs. Bolton was fairly gone. and
tPuss came peeping cautiously in and
Isprang into her mistress lap with an
taffectonate new. Miss Martha clasped
sthis sympathetic friend to her heart
land cried bitterly.
But Miss Bolton went on her way re-
Ejoicing The path to the. village lay
tthrough tiny bit of woods. where the
ground sloped away to a little hollow.