The Jennings daily record., 1902-06-25

welcomed Letitia warmly. Letitia sat
down and looked at her shy1y; she had
| thought it would be easy, but found
| it hard to begin. Presently Mrs. Price
| helped her.
"Those are real pretty laylocks," she
! said.
"Yes'm," answered Letitia; would
| you like some? I brought some for
you If you would. You see it's Decora-
ton Day, and they're going to deco
! rate the graves of the soldiers; but
Cousin Liza said she didn't think it
was fair only to decorate the men
when the women did so much too; 30
brought you these. and then I'm go
| ing to four others"
Mrs. Price took the flowers in her
old knotted hand. 'If that isn't for
all the world like you, Letitia Banks!
You allus did have sech queer notions!
But I'm real obleeged for the laylocks,
I'm sure.''
Her eyes grew dim and seemed to
be looking far away. Letitia stood still
and waited. Finally she put her soft,
warm hand over the old wrinkled one.
II guess I've got to go now" she said.
I'm going way up to Miss Anderson's,
you know. Thank you SO much for all
the stories you've told me. guess
you're glad you were SO brave, amt
your"
The old woman caught the child's
hand and held her back.
Look here, Letitia Banks she said.
81 jest want to tell you one thing.
| People can be jest as brave right along
| every day as they were in war times.
! Now be sure you don't ever forget
that"
Nom, l won't" answered Letitia
seriously. 81 guess that's the way my
cousin Liza is. isn't she?"
The old woman dropped her hand
and gave her a little push. You'd
better be going, child-it's gettin' hot"
she said. She could not tell her that
she and Liza Perkins had quarreled
| in those war times and never spoken
| since.
| Letitia went on to Miss Nancy An
| derson's and made a call there; but
at the other places she left little notes
with her flowers. 1t would have taken
too long to stop at each place. AS it
was it was noon when she returned,
warm and tired from her long walk.
| Cousin Liza was watching for her, and
| bathed her face and smoothed her hair
| before dinner.
The wreath Is real pretty" she said.
awkwardly. Il pinned it on the wall"
Did you like it?" asked Letitia, her
! weary little face all smiles. oh,
! Cousin Liza, I'm so glad!'
After dinner she began wiping the
! dishes. but Cousin Liza made her lie
down; she had not thought that she
was tired, but in a very few minutes
she was fast asleep.
Several hours later she was wakened
by the sound of voices. The room was
I cool and shady and full of fragrance
from the lilacs outside the windows;
and in the dim, sweet gloom Letitia
saw Cousin Liza and old Mrs. Price,
both with faces strangely moved.
why, Mrs Price" she exclaimed,
sitting up in surprise
The old woman turned. II thought
I'd come over-seein' its Decoration
Day and / don't get out very often"
she said. Sam didn't happen to be
using the horses / brought you some
preserved ginger. Letitia."
"Oh, thank you, Mrs. Price!' said
Letitia. Il think your ginger is just
the incest ever tasted"
Mrs. Price peered through the lilac
bushes Who's that coming up the
road?" she asked.
Letitia left the lounge and ran and
looked over her shoulder. Why, it's
Miss Nancy Anderson and Mrs.
Briggs she said, delightedly; and
do believe they're coming here! And
why, there are Miss Rice and Miss
Phebe Rice behind them!"
Cousin Liza rose in a furry; it had
been years since she had had SO many
visitors, but Letitia was already at the
gate welcoming them. She came back
radiant with the four old ladies pe-
hind her. Its a real surprise party, ;"
she cried; and l always wanted a sur
prise parity
We'll, ! guess you've got one now"
said Cousin Liza. She was shaking
hands with her guests; the upwonted-
ness of company made her nervous,
but the welcome in her face supple
mented her awkward words. In a mo-
ment she beckoned Letitia aside
I'VE might get supper while they're
here she said. II guess therell be
enough. l baked rasin cake this
morning"
'Letitia," called Miss Nancy, wal,
a moment. l brought you some OF my
doughnuts. | had real good luck with
them today"
And l made some sugar cookies, ,
said Mrs. Briggs. Il thought mebbe
, you'd like a few. Letitia.''
And we brought you some of ou,