Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-06-08

The prim ana faded little sign over
the front door, which bore the insc,ip.
tion, "The Misses Jennings, Dry and
| Fancy Goods ana Notions" might well
have been overlooked among many
others in its ncighborhood more snowy
and prctcntious.
The liltle shop itself, with Its two
low wooden stories wedgcd in between
taller brick houses on either side, had
modest and deprecatory air as of
being sorry to stand in the way of the
building of better structure. and yet
OF asserting with gentle frmncss its
right to be where and what it was
This combination Of meekncss and
Independence was characteristic also
Of the Misses Jennings themselves, as
any one might have observed who
wandered in their domain in quest of
buttons, needles, or other Of the dry,
fancy or 'notional" neccssaries Of life.
The doorway between the sitting
room and the shop was hung with
Nottingham lace curtain, through the
white folds of which shone the red car.
pet the redcovrred table. the freight
from the little stove, and the sunny
window with its rocking chair, in
which each sister Swaycd cOntcntedly
in her turn while the other took charge
of the shop.
Miss Fidcla had hardly seated her.
self behind the counter when Maud
AinSlcc came rushing in, fresh AMI
brisk and brccZy-a city girl, happy in
her wanderingsa among the quiet hannts
of the quaint scashorc town where she
was spending the summer.
Some pins. Please, Miss Jennings
she said. Yes, medium SiZe-thati
right. oh, have you some ruchng.
something SOFT ANA pretty in whitr:'
Il think" said Miss Fidela. doubt
fully, yes, think We have
She adjusted her sp2ctaclrs and be-
gan to grope through Il somewhat dus-
ty pastcboard box full Of odds and
ends. "Whrrc was ii, now, | saw that
ruching the other day. she murmurcd
as she searched.
III help you, sister," called Miss
Flora. emerging from behind the lace
curtain.
Maud watched them with eyes full OF
amused and appreciative Interest.
Miss FidcliaS wrinklcd hands trcm-
bled, the gray curls quiyered under
her cap, she seemed to tluttcr and vi
bratc all over rs il strung on wires.
Miss Flora was still and placid. and
winry roses blossomcd in her soft old
checks. They bent their gray heads
together over one box and then Anoth-
search. which resulted finally in the
Triumphant holding up of Il few yards
of ruching wound upon Il blue card.
Just the thing" cried Maud. "I's
lovely! You must get some more, Miss
Flora. shall certainly want another
piece by and by"
Il thought we had it" sighed Miss
Fidclia, with Il gratifcd smile when
the customer had gone. "Pretty, isn't
she, sister? And such a lively little
piece" She sat down and composed
her fiuttcring fingers with difficulty to
their knitting.
"The dearest old things - both OF
them" said impulsvc Maud, walking
rapidly down the street. and meeting
her tall brother Tom, with whom she
linked herself at once and cont nucd
the course of her observations without
stopping to explain.
'Just as sweet as they can be! It's
a shame they don't have more custom.
II they'd just be more cntcrprising and
keep little better stock-no wonder
they lose all their ambition with every
thing so slow around them. But | be-
lieve they could be reused up and in
duced to branch out and do II briskcr
business. I'm sure people would go
there if they just understood about it,"
IF they don't understand about it
any better than l do said Tom, Its
hopeless! But, of course, whatever is
wrong there's no doubt but you were
born to set it right You'd better look
out how you bring your reforms into
this quiet town, though. People do &C.
casionally like their own ways best,
you know
THAT ruching, now" pursued Maud,
irrelevantly, lis just lovely. could
get the girls to go for that, and it
would be a start, anyway"
"And they would become million
aires in no time, whoever they may
be-" said Tom. "Come, put off your
philanthropic schemes for the moment.
Maud, and let's 30 for Il row while the
tide is high
They had their row, coming home in
the sunset over the golden water: and
they did all the other pleasant things
which happy young people do in holi-
day time, as the summer days went
by. But Maud. energetic and persist
ent as she was impulsivc, did not for
get her plan.
Passing the shop of the Misses Jen.
nngs one morning two or three weeks
later she stopped and looked in ut the
tiny window, where. between the rows
of dangling ribbon and lace, ana cards
of hooks and eyes, and ancient fashion
plates. she could see as many as four
customers standing at the counter.
with both the old ladies in bustling
and excited attendance. The roses
were bright In Miss Flora's checks.
and Miss Fidclia nodded and fiuttered
as If every nerve in her body had re-
ceivcd touch from an electric cur
rent. Maud smiled gratified and
complacent smile.
ut takes such n little touch to set
the ball rolling" she said. "A bit of
ruching was enough. All those poor
old things needed was spur to their
latent energy. They didn't even know
they needed that" and she went on in
pleasant glow OF kind self-Satsfac
ton.
AS it happened she did not see the