The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-10-28


for you slom our dear Mira. Harper.
and T.. going to open it here. z
He united the string, and because
the occasion had been forced upon her.
his wife moved across the room to his
side.z There was another paper, other
than the outside wrapper, and he re-
moved this also. Old Mrs. Harper
sat expectantly in her chair; his wife
stood by bis side. There was ST.
lence, and then before them all the
minister shook out upon the carpet
the white knitted counterpart.
The minister's wife looked at It
in all it's intricate beauty, representing,
as It did, so many, many weeks OF
patient toll, and then she looked at the
gray haired old woman with the bent
shoulders, whose knotted, toilworn
hands had fashioned it. &" -
why" was her first thought, why
has she, out of her poverty and her
pain, done this for me?" And then, in
a flash, came the answer, heaven borne,
Because she loves you.''
"Oh," she whispered in the awak.
ening of a contrite heart, II don't de.
serve it." And then, before every one
of them, her reserve and GOODNESS all
gone, she stepped over to old Mrs.
Harper's side. In that moment, the
barrier she had built up between her.
self and her husbands people was
broken down forever.
She took the wrinkled hand and
pressed it. "Did you make it for me?"
she said trife unsteadily, "this beau
tiful counterpart? How I thank you,
and l shall keep it afways!" And then,
to the surprise of every one present,
and none more than to the minister
himself, she stopped and warmly kissed
the withered cheek.
1t was surprising to see how we'll
things went off after that. Tongues
were loosened and everyone seemed to
blossom and expand in the changed at
mosphere. The minister himself went
into the kitchen and made coffee, and
they had sandwiches and cake. The
evening that had promised to be such
dislna! failure ended in a signal sue
cess. A new minister's wife seemed
to move about the pretty rooms, put
ting people at their ease and chatting
merrily. Nothing was left undone
that would add to the pleasure OF her
guests. She sang, she played, she even
brought out some delicate pieces Of
drawn work because Mrs. Wilkins
expressed desire to see them. For
the first time since she had come to
Crown Point, the minister saw the old,
sweet nature that had been hidden
behind wall OF ice for so long
"Praise the Lord" he whispered soll
emily.
"Bertram,'' said his wife when the
gate had clicked after the last Of the
party, chow have you put up with me
for so many months? don't deserve
any mercy. IL never realized until
tonight how much had been at fault,
or how your people loved me-"
The minister put his arm fondly
about her. II thought you'd see it
yourself" he answered gently. They
have tried to love you all the time,
dearest, only you would not let them,
but now
"But now" she repeated, lit will
be different. I'm going to be, from
this time forward, a true helper.
Why" she laughed a little, though
there were tears i'll the blue eyes, I'm
even going to bring myself to play
The Maiden's Prayer for old Mrs. At
wood. Can you doubt the changer
And she lifted her face to. the minis
ter's, sealing her promise with kiss.
Young People.