Middletown transcript., 1902-03-29

4 ~N~~eN"
There was a very short drive through
the snow until the train loomed up darl
before them. The children round eyeG
with wonder and excitement. followed
their father and mother inside. Mr.. and
Mrs. Page began distributing cups Of tbs
hot coffee with the bread and butter
The poor widow in threadbare garments
was given the food as graciousiy as the
fine lady in silk and furs.
"How much do you want for thatF'
said an important looking man. "I'll
pay anything you ask, for it looks like
| what used to get at the old home in the
country"
'1 am not selling anything" said Mrs.
Page, as she gave him cup Of fragrant
hot coffee.
The man stared in amazement as he
thanked her.
Madge kept close to her mother at first,
only pausing where the two or three
children sat to give each one of her gay
Easter eggs. But all at once she saw
something that made her heart leap with
joy. A lady, just like the one mother
told about singing the Easter solo, sat
gazing ont of the window with a sheaf of
Easter lilies lying in her arm. Madge
ran to her and laid her warm little hand
on the lady's glove. care you an Easter
lady?" she cried, with shining eyes.
The lady turned with smile.
''Who is the Easter lady?" she asked.
"Why, mother told us about her. She
sang beautiful songs in the church when
mother lived out East, and che had lilits
like these, 1 guess-nice big white ones. )"
ssThen / must be an Easter lady, for l
sing in church and have some lilies,"
she said.
"Oh, Pm so glad. l never was in
church, but Pm glad I've seen you.
Maybe sometime we're going to visit our
grandma, and then we'll go to church.
Please may / give you one of my Easter
egRs-this pretty blue one?"
"0h, thank you, dear. That is a
pretty.one, and will give you one Of my
lilies. And so you have never been to
church?''
"No ma'am," Madge, 'and my brother
and I want to 20, oh, just awful bad all |
the time, but specially on Christmases
and Casters. never heard q preacher |
make sermon nor a lady sing. l do
hope I can sometime"
81 hope So" said the lady, and she sat
looking rather absent-minded for awhile.
Then she said, "Just wait here a minute
till come back" She was gone quite q
while, and when she came back the peo-
pie from the other cars began to come in
and sit down. When ell was quiet, tall
pleasant-looking gentleman stood mp be-
lore them all and said:
my friends, we are likely to be COM
PEELED to wait here for several hours
more and it has been suggested that we
hold an Easter service. We have with
is talented singer and will give you
The best Easter sermon can. The FAM
ly who have SO kindly extended hospi-
tality to this carful of strangers have
been shut away from the pleasure of
church attendance for many years. We
will be able to do them favor, and per-
haps to benefit ourselves, if we join
heartily in the service"
There was murmur of approval from
The passengers. Madge turned luminous
Eyes to the lady. "We are going to have
iruly church, aren't weT' she whispered.
The lady nodded with smile.
Madge looked back to see that father,
mother and Tom were there, and then
settled herself in perfect bliss for her first
church service.
They were singing the dear, familiar
'ong that mother had taught Madge and
Tom, "Jesus, lover of my Soul" Madge
ooked inquiringly at her friend, who
"You may sing too" and
hen she sang with all her might. Every
one was singing with extraordinary fer
Vor. The important man suddenly looked
Kind and gentle. The careless people
ooked earnest-eyery one interested.
Then the minister read from his Bible
he story of Mary at the rended tomb
md afterward said softly, ''Let us pray"
When the prayer was done the lady |,
vent and stood near the minister and,
till holding her lilies in her arm, she
'ang wonderful song with q refrain
He is risen," like shout of triumph.
4 believe the angels sing just like that"
aid Madge to herself.
The minister preached a splendid SER
non afterward and there was more sing
ng. In fact, everyone seemed loath to
freak up the meeting, and it was not un-
il the conductor announced that the
rain would start in fifteen minutes that
he benediction was pronounced. As
Ioon as the minister said Amen, the i'm
man got up and said. 81
Sant to talk one minute. The family
vas not obliged to come over here and
reat us all as if we were company. II it
lad been some OF us guess we'd have
lat down by our own fires and let the peo-
Die in the train take care of themselves.
But they didn't. They came out here
without asking for any reward. have
oeen told that these children have never
'een any place but this lonely prairie,
hat the parents have not visited the old
home in the East since they were mar
led, ten long years ago. They hope to
% in two or three Yearn IL tine crons are
y0'd. Now gentlemen and ladies, there
ire some OF Us here who can see to il
hat they 60 whether crops are good or
bad, and !, for one, say they shall. I'm
,ning TO put this in my hat''-he held up
! bill-''and then pass il around, and
on who can, do likewise"
Madge didn't understand why the man
sas passing his hat around nor why her
mother was crying softly behind her
She saw the man give