The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-04
Our Daily Sbort Story

In the doorway stood her sons wife bearing a tray She stepped briskly for .ward and said. smilIngly:
 Your dinner, mother. You must take things easy. now"
 "No, no! I can't eat my dinner here I don't want to be waited upon, dear"
 "But this is not waiting upon you. mother. like to save you steps. Here you can eat in comfort and ease. See, all the nice things we have in the kitch- en. You will not have to stir from your easy chair-please do sit down. There, isn't it nice and comfortable to have your tray right on little table by your chair? If you need more tea 5ugt ring tsIis cute little bell. You must take 1t easy, mother
 And for the second time that day the busy old mother was gently pushed into her rocking chair. For the second time the irony of affairs was pressed home to the quick.
 The cute little bell was not sounded for more tea. While the rest of the folks were gayly talking. rattling spoons knives and dishes in the kitchen, the old mother sat with folded hands looking at the red glow behind the mica. She does not touch the food, she cannot take morsel. She is resting, resting SO hard so bitterly that she can only sit and think.
 The next day was the same-only she began to eat little. but lightly. She is eating lightly undressing, resting more than she wishes. She is resting so much that her heart is growing hungry, so hungry that she is feeding it with the tears that she must hide, but cannot keep from dripping, ever dripping inwardly.
 A few more days and she plucked up courage and demanded to go to the kitchen. But her sons wife was deaf to her entreaties and returned.
 You are growing old enough to take a nice long rest, mother. I am here to do the work
 But I do so want to do something to help. Please let me come in the kitchen and wash the dishes. SCOUT the pans and pots"
 Never! Folks would laugh at me if should let you do that. I am strong. Besides, mother, I do not want to be bothered"
 T would not bother you, my dear. only want to help you with the work. Please let me help you"
 No; l promised John to make it as easy as possible for you. I am doing all can for you; I wait on you. do all the work and bring your meals to you-'' /
 But you must see. dear, that I am not a sick person who needs to be wait ed on. do not like to be waited on. I don't eat much now--but could eat lots more if I could only go in the kitchen where the rest of the folks are."
 What a silly fancy! Here you are at ease, and comfortable. I do not mind bringing your meals in here. It is so nice and quiet here. You must content yourself mother. John wanted me to make 1t easy for you, and I am doing the best l know how"
 The old lady looked after the fine fig ure that disappeared through the door way, and softly said in low tone:
 You do not know you are so young. Neither does John know-he thinks you are doing> all things right But I know you are starving me, my heart, my soul, my all. If you only could know how long the days are to me, sitting here alone; if you could know how dark the nights are to me; if you could only know how |, long to get away from my chair, get to workout you will nevere know"
 Weekly the little old lady grew more and more weak, pale and thin. She com plained no longer; she sat in her chair by the fire and looked upon the red glow behind the mica. She Is lresting-but eating more lightly than ever. Ah but her heart is growing greedler and greed fer day after day. Her hungry heart that feeds ever and ever upon her tears!
 The tray is brought to her chair one morning and the young wife says:
 Eat, mother, and take 1t easy.'
 No hand Is lifted. no lips feebly utter thanks, no wrinkled face upturns. The others hand is laid on the thin shoul- der-but the little old mother is at rest at last. Her soul and heart are starved at last. Geo.
 She is resting-resting everlastingly.