The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-01-10

real nice place for any delegate, for
Sister Todd is such good cook and
the best housekeeper in town."
1t was about ten o'clock in the
morning on Tuesday of the next week
when Sister Todd heard her doorbell
ring, and her mental comment was:
There! I reckon that's my dele
gate! I do hope it amt some fussy
old maid, or, worse still, pair of 'em
like those l had to entertain the last
time the association met here. They
was trial, even if they was sisters in
our own church."
not in store for Sister Todd, for when
she opened the door she saw on the
little porch in front of her house
kindly-looking, bright eyed and smil.
ing little man of about so years. He
had satchel in his hands. and Sister
Todd was not surprised when he said,
in singularly soft and gentle voice:
81 suppose tat this is Sister Toddf
I am Mr.. Matthew Rolfe, one of the
deacons in the church over in Hebron
I have been sent as delegate to the
association and the committee have
sent me here for entertainment"
Sister Todd said afterward that she
had it 'on the tip of her tongue" to
say that she did not expect to enter.
| tain man, but she checked this in
! hospitable remark and said, in some
confusion:
"Well. come in and set down. 7
II have friends in the Hebron
church--the Tylers. Mebbe you know
them?"
"Oh. yes, indeed. They are among
our most useful and active members.
I have known them for years"
That "broke the ice," and Sister
Todd soon found herself chatting
freely and easily with her delegate.
When he had gone to his room her
mental comment was:
"Well, he's real pleasant person,
and if he knows the Tylers so well
he must be real nice man. I'd no
idee the committee would send me a
man delegate, but l can't turn him
out now that he's here, and I'm too
well known in this town for anyone
to pass any remarks about me enter.
tainin' gentleman delegate single
or married. l wonder which he is?''
She found out at the dinner table,
for when she referred to her trouble"
and explained the nature of the
trouble" the delegate said with rea!
kindliness and sympathy:
Il know just how to feel for yo~.
Sister Todd. | lost my own dear
companion three years ago. 1 broke
up housekeeping and went to live
with a sister of mine, but she died in
the spring and l have boarded since
then. but boarding is mighty unsat-
isfactory to a man who has always
had a home of his own. am a real
home body and III never be satisfied
until | have a home my own once
more"
Il shouldn't think you would be.
should fly if had to go to boarding,
There's nothing like home of ones
own"
II feel just that way. I'm sorry
sold off my things. | planned to have
niece of mine come and keep house
for me. but she died suddenly three
months ago. | feel like fish out OF
water without home. And l amt
been able to find good boarding
place in Hebron. Hardly any one
takes boarders there. Fact is I've
been thinking of leaving Hebron and
coming over this way to live. l have
; heard of chance to buy half inter.
oh 90 o,,1
: know all about the shoe business. II
things are favorable l think I'll buy
and settle here"
"You'd find this a real pleasant
. place to live. and you'd like our min.
lister and all our church people here
; II know | would. | don't know
when | have been so taken with a
place as | am with this place. What
"A pleasant little home you have here
"Yes, it is real pleasant, but i have
spent many lonely hour in it since
my trouble"
81 amt doubt of t.. ] know just
how you have felt. But l have come
to the conclusion that the Lord don't
want us to dwell too long on any
kind of trouble"
"No, | suppose He don't"
1t was two weeks later when Sister
Phelps hurried over to the home OF
Sister Brush in state of manifest
, excitement and said almost as soon
as the door was opened:
"What do you think. Sister Brush
I have been over to Sister Todd's to
, carry back waist pattern she loaned
me, and you'd never guess what she
told me! She's engaged"
"You don't mean it!'
"It's so! And to that delegate we
sent her! Did you ever! guess she
is going to do real well! Didn't tell
you that the wimmen that talked most
about such trouble as Sister Todd
has had was the first to up and marry
the soonest? Not that | blame Sis
, ter Todd none! I'm just glad she is
? to marry such nice mar! l reckon
, she didn't callate on takin' dele
; gate to entertain Or life, but that's
: Just what she's done. Don't it beat
all?"
I His Grateful Young Friends.