Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-12-24

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sswo:"nan' and her , voice, though .sh
age or weakness.
There were several other women in
the room, all old, and with the e1cep-
tion of one all were busy sewing or
knitting.
The idler had drawn her chair close
to the air-tight stove, and with dis
content written in every line Of her
wrinkled face, was moodily watching
the singer as she fashioned a rag doll
from bits of cloth and cotton batting,
her dissatisfaction becoming each mo-
ment more apparent.
81 declare, Mis- Barker, I don't see
how you en- feel like ,ipgin'," " she eI-
claimed at length.
Mrs. Barker turned toward her
surprised face, as she replied, "Why,
Sister Lane, tomorrow will be Chrlst'S
birthday"
The other smiled grimly. eyes, an
you an are goin' to keep it in the
Poor.house
Mrs. Barker cast a troubled glance
at the speaker and then her eyes wan
dered around the bare, clean room,
which had DO superfuous furniture to
hide it's angles. Finally her face
cleared a. she said. gently, There are
worse places in the world, and He had
not where to lay His head. ,"
Mrs. Lane was silent for moment,
but presently she said, fretfully, Il
shouldn't think you'd want to spend
your time maxim rag dolls for Poor
house brats. They're wild as hawks
an won't thank you for it, I'll war
rant" Then she added, abruptly,
Don't so much sewin' hurt your
hands?"
"Nothin' 10 speak of.
Mrs. Lane eyed the busy fingers,
bunchy and visited with rheumatism.
"Ye needn't tell me-" she cried, Il
know it must cen a most kill ye, an
not one o them young 'uns Il appre-
ciate what you're doin for EN-"
"Oh, guess they will, was the
placid rejoinder. Jane M'ri' told
me t'other day that she never had a
doll in her life. Jest think O that,
an she goin on nine l shouldn't
wonder if the rest are jest as bad of !
l tell ye, all the little girls have the
real mother feelin', an fust you know
evryone on EN- II be cuddlin' an
klssin' these dolls like real little
mothers"
"Umph !" There was world Of
contempt and unbelisf in the excla-
nation, but Mrs. Baker did not APP
pear to notice it.
Presently Mrs. Lane lifted breadth
of the "all-woo delaine" from which
the dresses were being fashioned.
That's real poot'y stuff" she said,
as she scrutinized the fabric.
Yes, l think go, and Mrs. Barker
smoot he'd the bit she held in her hand
and looked dreamily at its creamy
whiteness, dotted with tiny punches
of blue violets, as she added: II had
this dress the year arfter l was mar
ried. Pa bought it cause he said
them vlets were jest the color o my
eyes" and faint blush stole into the
soft old cheeks. Sammy liked it, too,
an long ago as he was little feller,
jus learnin' to talk, he'd say, 'PittyI"
an clap his hands ev'ry time l put it
on. When he got bigger he called it
my flower dress, an liked to hev me
wear it after he was great big boy.
I've .llus been real chice of it, but it
wore out at last, an I've kept the
pieces all these years for pas and
S.mmys sakes. I'd know but I've
been maxim kind Of an idol o them,
an I guess I'm doin' the right thing
now passin EN- along to make some
one else happy. l know it's what pa
an Sammy'd want me to 10, for they
was both master fond of children"
Mrs. Lane watched her few mo-
ments in silence, and then said, inter-
rogatively: How long i.'t sence your
husband died ?"
"Goin on nineteen years, was the
reply.
~ s'pose SammY's dead, too p
"Ye,," and spasm of pain passed
over the gentle old face. Sammy
went fust, an twas that killed his pa.
Then, seeing the interest in her listen
er's face, she continued: The year
before he died, Sammy, who was just
eighteen, took it into bis head to go
West an see his uncle Jim. Jim was