The Iola register., 1901-11-29

Hear. hearl" cried MIR. vane, who
was rarely modest man and seldom
took suy extended part in the talk.
That's what Mrs. Morton mas always
preached, il l understand her."
"Isdeed, ycs!' Barbara answered,
her eyes flashing with enthusiasm.
"All we have done so far in the train
ing school has been to make an hon
est effort to teach girls to be compe-
tent in the affairs of the house so
far as it's management is concerned,
and after doing that comes the hard
est part Of ito help the girls to see
| the divine side of service. That is
particularly hard to teach. especial
| ly IT, as in the case of several of our
best girls, they have suffered inius-
tice and un-Christian treatment from
so-called Christian women. That is
still my greatest problem. think l
could soon furnish all the competent
| help that Crawford needs il house
| keepers would do their part to solve
the difficulties, just as you helped
me-" Barbara added, turning to Mrs.
Ward and Mrs. Vane.
She was going TO add a word more
TO the little 'preachment," as Mr..
Morton called IL, when the company
was startled by the appearance of n
little figure in white, which had
stolen down the stairs and suddenly
appeared in the dining-room.
why don't | have any of this?" the
figure said, reproGchfully, and every
body laughed while the child ran
around 70 Barbara and put curly
head in her lap.
Now, then. little boys that are put
TO bed must stay there" Barbara
said, smiling at the sweet face that
looked mp at her after the first mo-
ment
Cant ] stay and have some?" the
child asked, pleading little. 81
dreamed you were having some good
things without me. and thought you
would miss me; and-and-so-I came
down"
Barbara hesitated aud looked over
at the father. Ralph's lips trembled
suspiciously, but he said, gently, but
back TO bed. 1t is too late for little
boys to be up. We are very much
obliged for your call, but we cannot
ass you to stay"
"All right" said Carl, sturdily. He
raised his face to his mothers and
kissed her, and marched sturdily out
of the room. At the door he fired
parting shot.
"If there's anything left, save Mar
tha and me some"
He vanished up the stairs amid
general laugh. and Mrs. Ward wiped
her eyes. II was more than laughter
that had brought tears to them.
81 think you have the most beauti-
full children, Barbara. l never saw
any that minded like your Carl"
"G'm afraid they obey their father
better than me-" Barbara answered,
slowly. "But they are lovely chill
dren. Did you ever see anything
more funny than the look on his face
as he said: Why don't l have some
of thisF And as for Martha" Bar
hara's eyes dimmed at the vision OF
that little one upstairs; and when
she came back to her conversation
Mr. Ward was saying: "rhat was
trying time, Barbara. tell you now,
that ] had no sort of expectation
that you could hold your own in
Marble Square. The night you were
married ] knew there were dozen
families fully intending to leave the
church and never come back"
"And yet they didn't. At least, not
more than two or three. How do you
account for it?" Mrs. Vaue asked the
question. and then answered it her
self: "Plain enough. They learned
to love the minister's wife"
"Same's l did" said Ralph, bow!ng
TO Barbara. 81 knew | was safe all
the time"
But there are some people that
never called on you yet, my dear"
Mrs. Dillingham; asked.
"Yes, quite a number" Barbara an
swered, quietly. at does not hurt
me. l am very happy"
The little company was silent a mo-
ment. Each was tracing in memory
some of the eventful things of the
last five years.
ut is a great work you and Mr..
Morton have done," Mrs. Ward said,
at last. When you came into my
house, Barbara, six years ago, was
a fretful, irritable, cross woman.
Your definition of Christian service
really saved us our home. What you
are doing for other girls in training
them to have a Divine thought of
service is saving many other homes
in Crawford. l know it, because !
see the effects on my friends wher-
ever your girls have gone. You will
never know, Barbara, all the good
you have done amongst u.s."
"God has been very good to me-"
said Barbara, softly.
He has been good to us ALL" her
husband added, gently.
After supper Barbara went upstairs
to sec her mother and say good night |
to her. Mrs. Clark had for two years
been confined to her room through |
an accident. This was one OF the !
.g,,I l.. u