The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-18
MRS. FAY,s oHR1srMAs GIFT.

"Of course you know, mamma, dear. that we should be delighted to have you with ils,. but you are too stout to climb mountains. This is to be walking tour, and I'm so sorry. but you can't walk at all," said Mrs. Fay's daughter Nell lie.
 Its a pity you can't go to Europe with us, wife, but your feet give out if you try to walk half mile. This Is to be a walking tour" :. So they sailed away sayly. Back t6 her country home alone went Mrs. Fay with bitterness in her heart. She was 50, she was stout, she had dizzy spelis." she thought she had heart disease. she took a nap of two hours every af- tsrnoon because she thought she was SO dehcate, but she ate all she wanted of whatever she wanted because she said she had not very long to live anyhow. and she might as well enjoy herself while che did live Her idea of enjoying her. sel was eating and sleeping And she weighed 900 pounds. With her intellect unimpaired. her feelings more intense than ever. the desire for life and joy welled ,sp tremendously in her soul. Mrs. Fay was> shelved as an old woman at 50.
 Lately she had thoushts 'I may die
 
 band will marry Sister Lucy" This thought was the gall of bitterness to her. and 1t stayed with her night and day. Sister Lucy was three years older than Mrs. Fay, but had the form of a bylpA. and not even Nellie had Lucye physical strength. She kept herself bravely up and looked less than 70. Mr. Fay, cycler. horseback rider. golfer. swimmer and all around middle aged athlete, admired Lucy greatly because of her participation in outdoor sports! His fat wife had been gradually. and uncensciously to Mr. Fay himself, showed aside, and slim, spry Lucy was his comrade and chum.
 What Mrs. Fay's feelings were ass the travellers gayly waved her goodby from the departing ship other fat and useless women will understand. Mrs. Fay poured out her sorrows to her doctor. and he on his part also understood. He said:
 You would be a pretty woman if you were not so fat and lazy. You have no more heart disease than I have. Noth- ing Is the matter with you but pure lazi- ness. You are allowing yourself to be suffocated in diseased adipose tissue. Do as I tell you, and when your husband comes home at Christmas show him a blooming. pretty wife, as graceful in figure as Nellie and even stronger than she A woman of 30 has more endurance than a girl of 1S."
 Mrs. Fay was sensible. It was a tre- mendous tussle to give up her afternoon nap, to ride a bicycle three hours a day with heavy clothing and a sweater on, to walk in all weathers--at first two miles. then six, and then eight; to sit fin a steam bath and melt the diseased adipose" on, and when all that was done to take reg ular and severe exercise in a gymnasium.
 But Mrs. Fay was equal to the task. Her future depended on It's accomplish ment, and she mad sense enough to see this. Underneath her fat and inertness she was clear grit. No opium victim ever struggled harder than she for two or three months Then the victory began to be achieved, and 1t was worth all the fight and more too. She remained in the coun- try till her family returned to America. She dieted, exercised and trained her body, which was really both strong and handsome The former fat and stupid Mrs. Fay became a great cycler, golfer and pedestrian.
 For the homecoming she wrote her family to meet her in the country and spend Christmas at the farm. By the time they were to return Mrs. Fay weighed only TO. No wonder the trav- elers did not recognize the blooming. shapely woman who ran across the plat form to meet them as they left the train. Her husband looked with. admiration and amazement at this Christmas surprise. It was a gift he had not hoped for.
 Let us walk home." said Mrs. Fay. q did not bring the carriage. just the wagon for your luggage. It's only six miles.
 From that Christmas Day forward there was no talk of leaving mamma out of any excursion, small or great.