The Republican journal., 1902-11-20

she had been an emotional sort of a
Then the other ladies kissed
me and Sister Webster patted my hand
as she put her tea rose blooms into it
and said was looking real we'll and as
pretty as rose, myself.
Did You ever.
Miss Strong was a little late in ar
irving and | was not sorry, for when
we got seated in the parlor | just open
ed my heart to the ladies after this
fashion:
1--WE invited you ladies here with
double purpose to-day" said |, zone is
to meet Miss Strong and have a pleas
ant time and the other is to give me a
little advice and help. Now you are
every one mothers of sons; you have
reared them from infancy; you know
all about their individual traits and
fancies and what is and is not good for
them-that is, | suppose you do. Now
here am |, at forty-three, selected by
Providence and their Pa to be second
mother to two growing. hearty, human
boys of ten and twelve years respective
ly 1t is responsibility that | appre-
ciate to the full. | can give them
plenty of wholesome food, keep their
clothes in repair and even be patient if
the house is frequently in disorder, but
beyond that am | competent to 20:
When upon every hand the world the
flesh and the devil are bidding for those
boys am | going to be able to step in
between and pay the larger price that
wins them for righteousness: I'm de
termined to try, and | wish you all to
help me- If it meets with your appro-
val, | would like to form a sort of
Mothers Club to meet with me here
one afternoon in each month to con
slider ways to interest aid keep our
children loyal and true to home There
comes Miss Strong, 50 we won't say
anything more about it now. but please
all think it over and if you don't feel
like deciding to-day, let me know upon
Sunday
Miss Strong had just returned from a
trip abroad and the dainty gray grown
she wore was plainly of a fashion not
according to DenverS, or even Boston
for that matter. She had bought it in
Paris. Little Mrs Webster became
fairly radiant when Miss Strong told
her she had brought her a large piece of
its material for her silk patchwork
We We're all eager to hear of her visit
to her relative, Bishop Enderby very
great man in the English church, who
had once travelled in America and spent
a day or two i'll our town. We had two
of lis books in our Sunday School Ii
brary, and they were deservedly popu-
lar. and although we were PRESBYTERIAN
and he Church of England we all look
ed up to him as only little lower than
the angels.
Miss Strong was very gracious and
entertaining, and gradually | felt the
strenuousneSs of the situation relax
suddenly she dropped her lace work
upon her lap and looked at Mrs. Ben
nett with little exclamation of pleas
ure.
ooh. dear Mrs. Bennett" she cried.
Il see il all now. DO you know, | have
been so puzzled over a face | saw the
morning before came away, while
driving With my cousin about his es-
tate 1t has fairly haunted me, for
knew l had seen it somewhere before
and felt that | even knew the Young
fellow, and yet | could not place him
1t was your son Willis and he looks so
like his mother | wonder now that
did not recognize him at once. Has he
written You of seeing me-"
Mrs. Bennett gave gasp of surprise
i
ing contendIng together in her working
features. Then she dropped all her re
serve and let her mother heart have
way.
Miss Strong, he has not written me
once since he Went away: | have even
been afraid lie was dead Fell me al!
YOU can remember of how he looked
and jUst where you saw him and where
! could go to get TO him. Oh my boy,
My boy
| mot toned to the others to follow
me and we slipped out of the room
leaving them to talk together III quiet
Il WAS at this juncture | introduced
the Ping Pom" board and explained the
game a. lest could.
You see. said |. 1t is my Intention
to look up games and books and lind
out Ton myself those which are suitable
as well as fascinating. and it would be
one of the obligations OF the Mothers
Club that each member do the same.
This game is new to me as it is paSbab-
ly to YOU. | neither commend or con-
demn it to You. but will let you pass
Judgment for yourselves"
They began to play and the balls flew
wildly in every direction. Presently
Mrs. Davidson turned back her cuffs
and Mrs. Webster loosened her neck
ribbon. For women whose lives were
spent largely in house and dairy work,
they proved master hands at picking up
the usages of the game and the sport
waxed keen. After time Miss Strong
and Mrs. Bennett joined U.S. Mrs. Ben
nett had been crying, but she looked
happier, it seemed to me, than | had
seen her in years.
Ping Pong" exclaimed Miss Strong,
81 used to play nearly every evening at
the Bishops It's such fun and excel
lent exercise"
l saw Mrs. Webster glance at Mrs.
Bennett a tritie uneasily, but that good
lady only took up one of the rackets,
renlarking that it looked for all the
world like one of her butter paddles,
then she sat down to watch US play,
with eyes that were upon the balls. but
saw only a brown-eyed, bronze faced
lad, tilling the soil il. an English gar
den. far away.
Miss Strong taught us to keep score.
and showed us just how to hold the
rackets, and by time supper was served,
we were all talking glibly of back
hand drives" and ''half volleys." while
all thought that the game was ungodly
had forever disappeared from the minds
of the investigating committee Par
son coming home altogether earlier