Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-12-13

make all my own. you know, and 10
came to me to make you one too. I
made it as carefully as could and
want you to accept it with my love.
It's not much, but I want you to
know I loved to do it for you. It
made me happy all the morning and
now I want it to- make you happy
too.-
AS she spoke, eshe drew it from its
tissue paper wrappings. Such beau
tiful, tasteful, artistic little bonnet,
with its knot of lace and satin, its pur-s
pie flower. its wide, handsome strings.
Mrs: Fiske saw it and her chin quiz
cred. "Why, it's beautiful" she cried,
'just beautiful. never had anything
half SO pretty in my life; and you
made it, you say?"
Daffy NODDED; then something In
the sweet, old,s wrinkled face moved
her to confidence and she told her all
about it, how she had sorrowed over
Hack of gifts and how Cousin Kate had
/ helped her.
s.You dear child" said Mrs Ffsle,
when she had. finished. you dear,
good child. Why, don't you see," she
| went on, 'tthat you're doing the Lords
| work just the. same as the minister
and the missionaries? I'll prove it to-
you"
Then she told Daffy all about the
shabby bonnet and how she had deter
mined never to wear it any more.
| "And If it hadn't been for you, Miss
Daffy," she concluded, why, I'd have
had to sit at home next Sunday in
| stead of listening to the minister's
grand, good sermon. When you reach
my age, and have served God ali your
Life, to miss the Sunday morning wor-
tship means something, my dear. I
won't thank you, can't, but the Lord
IL bless you richly, Miss Daffy, dear"
It was the next Sunday morning.
It had been busy week and, as it
happened, Daffy had not seen Cousin
Kate since that Monday morning.
But as Daffy walked up the aisle she
saw Kate already in her pew. Just in
front of them sat Mrs. Fiske. The
white hair shone like silver, and on
it rested the new bonnet in all it's
fresh and dainty loneliness. The old
/ face beneath it looked almost hand
some. She saw Daily and nodded hap
PLY.
A group of girls came in directly
afterward. ''Mrs. Fishes got a new
bonnet" one of them said In a shrill
whisper. "My, amt it beautiful,
thought I wonder now what she's
done with her cNoah's ark?"
Daffy blushed for them, SO did
Cousin Kate, as she reached over and
pressed the little hand. 1t was good
sermon that morning, strong, fine,
helpful, and as Mrs. Fiske listened,
she was glad that in the hard week
before her, she had the thoughts OF
it to help her through. And as she
drank it in, her old heart SweHed with
gratitude to the slender. dark-eyed
girl in the pew nearby who had
4 worked to bring it about.
'Dear' Lord, bless her." she whis-
pered softly, "and keep her, and be
good to her. for Jesus's sake"
II AS they walked home, Cousin Kate
took Daffy's arm. 1.-THE bonnet is
beautiful. DEAR" she said in her sweet
grave voice. "Was 1 not sright?. I still
think the little girl who can contrive
such magic out of ten slender fingers
and send it out upon this trouble-flled
world to perform it's mission is. every
, bit as great and useful as the artist
the painter, or the writer. I couldn't
| help but look at Mrs. Fiske's face
through the sermon. It preached a
message too. I'm proud of you, Daffy
: dear"
s'Really?" said Daffy humbly.
| Really; and now that you have
| found your talent, you won't hide il
. in a napkin, will you, dear?'
Daffy laughed. "No fear of that,
she answered. 1.-THE manufacture OF
missionary hatsi is to go on. Papa will
furnish the capital, I the labor. You
needn't be afraid. I haven't found my
talent, after all my encouragement
to hide it either id a napkin-er a band.
box" she added. with happy little
laugh.-Young People.