The suburban citizen., 1901-07-13

but about n week later Hazel came
flying into her mothers room with a
new grievance.
Mamma" she cried, tossing her
brown turban into one chair and her
gloves into another; "she's done it
again! You know 1 tried to make
another call on Mrs. Germain yester-
day, and that woman has taken my
card q second time. And this time 1
put it in Mrs. Germains mailboX. It's
glass in front, you know, and the card
showed right through. and these peo-
pie must have fished 1t out, thinking
I'd made a mistake. 1t never occurs
to them l could want to see any one
else! And now she's gone and written
me a note-NIrs Hunters her name
to say she can't understand why I did
not get in yesterday, and to ask me
| to come and see her this afternoon.
Isn't 1t too ridiculous? / won't go
step-would your"
Again there was the pause before the
"sermonette." Then Mrs kirkland an
swered very gently: "You must ask
your own heart. dear" And the end
Of 1t was that Hazel went Or rather,
that wasn't the end at ALL but Just
the beginning, for instead of having
the awkward, depressing time she ex-
pected that day, Hazel found three Of
the 'loveliest girls" as she afterward
told her mother. all visiting like old
friends with n little woman who sat
in shabby wheelchair and looked so
happy as any queen in a fairy book
Good times had begun for the lone
some little lady of the fat From that
afternoon the four girls seemed to be
trying to see which could give her
most Joy. Flowers and fruit and
magazines and books began to cover
the tables in the plainly furnished lit
tie parlor. The Trio Reading Club ex-
panded to the extent of two more
members, and began meeting twice a
week with Mrs Hunter. Mothers be-
gan to take an interest in the girls
new friend and to call and sympathize
and go again.
"The kindest, sweetest people ever
saw live in this block" said Mrs.
Hunter TO her husband one evening
as they sat alone together.
The words were scarcely out Of her
mouth when the doorbell rung and
half the neighborhood came filing into
the Hunter fat. It was a surprise par
ty indeed, and the reason for it was
that four happy girls had discovered
the date Of Mrs. Hunters birthday and
had planned to give her a beautiful
new wheelchair. with cushions and
springs and rubber tires, and an ad-
Unstable table and every contrivance
you can think Of. Mr. Hunters face
Rlowed with tremulous Joy as he lifted
his invalid wife into her new throne.
"Its so that we can take you out in
the park" cried Genevieve, almost
dancing with delight
"And 1 shall push the chair" added
Mabel.
"Oh! oh! OH" cried Mrs. Hunter, and
then her face went into her hands and
the tears came trcllling through her
fingers But she had to stop that in
n minute, for four pairs Of arms be-
gan to hug her, and four dainty hand
kerchiefs wiped her eyes and four
sweet voices in a chorus begged her
not to cry. So she sat and smiled in
stead, with eyes all wet and sparkling
and pink spots glowing on both her
pale cheeks,
'It has been the happlest birthday
Of all my life," she told them as they
went away.
Mamma" said Hazel Kirkland, af-
ter they were at home that night; II
just found out to-day that the girls
thinl; I deserve the credit Of all we've
done for Mrs Hunter. They say it
was the example of that first call of
mine-thc one I never made, you
know-that made them think Of going
to see her in the first place. And all
this talk was right before Mrs. Hunt
er, so that couldn't explain to them
how it really was. but I've been un-
comfortable about it over since. If it
were only true. and I were rs sweet
and good as they think I am, I'd be
60 happy"
Mrs Kirkland smiled down into the
sweet. wistful face.
make It true. dear heart" was her
goodnight sermonette.-Grace Ethel
wyn Cody in the Chicago Record.