Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-04-13
questionSy " She took the perturbed face
between her cold palms and kissed away the

| QueStfOnb! Sne TOOK Cne pefturDed lace
| between her cold palms and kissed away the
shadow.
20, forgot your 'don't;, truly 1 did,
mamma" laughed Bernice, clapping her
hands by way of emphasis.
"You may carry the Offering, dear" said
Joyce, as they stepped out into the semi
| darkness.
| The April moon in the clear, crisp west
slanted pale, faint CLEANS through the black
budded trees overhead The walk was a
boon after the long, shut-up day; and the
new hope shed its glory over all.
The light through the stained glass gave
ruddy look to the face of Joyce as she helped
Bernce up the steps. A blessed welcome
fairly beamed upon them, even in the vesti-
bule. The organ was throbbing out glad,
| praiseful prelude, and she felt as if Heavens
gates were truly open about her. The JAM.
| tor followed her inside. "The new soloist
has come" he exclaimed, the one you wrote
| to-" thinking she was one of the music com.
mittee.
"The new soloist." How everybody COM
bated her purpose! Where was the old So
loist? She leaned against the wall a moment
to regain her composure.
Haven't had such tenor since Carol
went away" the janitor continued; just
| hear him sing"
Yes" answered Joyce, at is fines" but
she heard nothing, there was such buzzing
! in her ears.
"Awfully grand it is going to be" he went
on; lilies and lilies, impressive programme,
new tenor. and ALL"
Joyce looked around. Where was Der
nice! 1t seemed an age since they came into
| the church The child had not waited, but
had gone on into the auditorium.
When the soft light fell round her and the
decorations burst on her admiring gaze,
| great sigh OF satisfaction escaped her lips.
There stood the big pipe organ in its old
place, and she knew the organ boy was be.
hind that screen. She remembered how she
used to admire his short flaxen curls and
blue tie, and wonder if he didn't work harder
in his part of the service than the minister
did in his.
She wandered down the fragrant aisle as
| one in lovely dream, not conscious that she,
herself, was the most beautiful thing in this
Eastertide picture
| But the new soloist who had retired to
the right, giving place to quartette, saw her.
He shut his book on his finger and felt
strangely moved. Her white cap, like a big
snowflake resting on the wealth of dark hair,
| and the luxuriant curs straying down over
the heecy white wrap suggested the glory
of woman in Holy Writ.
And Bernice wondered why mamma did
not come in. What would she do with the
offering? o, yes; there was the man over
there where papa used to sit; he was the
committeeman, surely, as he was not sing
| ing. She went up the altar steps and handed
him the box.
This is our Easter Offering" she said. He
took the package. Her voice, her
| face. He drew his handkerchief across his
bewildered vision and read the name on the
wrapper. Looking after the child he gasped
out: Little one!' But she had gone
| around to see Teddy work the bellows. The
| soloist opened the box and saw a beautiful
cluster OF lilies, and read: Everybody for
| gives everybody at Eastertide."
! great desire to cry out with an agonizing
cry came over him, but he got up quietly and
slipped into the vestry, taking the flowers
with him.
| The rehearsal was over and Teddy and
Bernice We're sitting on the altar stairs talk
ing OF Easter when Joyce peeped in. She
had staid outside until her emotion was con-
| trolied; no one must know.
| "Bernice, where are the howers?" she
| asked, approaching the twain
The committee has them" answered the
child, rising and running forward. isn't
Joy Memorial delightful, mamma? We
| haven't been here since"
Hush! Berpice." A grieved look crossed
the child's face and Joyce drew her into the
vestry for moments explanation.
Dearest" she began, in tender undertone
you must not