Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-02-03

- AA#
music-only she wished she could be
among II all. Suddenly the dinner horn
sounded 70 call the men folks. Her
eyes Frightened and she started from
her chair toward the door. Then she
halted and stood still with uplifted hand
and a troubled look on her face.
In the doorway stood her sons wife
bearing a tray. she stepped briskly
forward and said, smilingly:
your dinner. mother. You mustta k
things easy now"
mo, mol I can't eat my dinner here.
[ 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 a little table by your
chair? II you need more tea just ring
this cute little bell. You must take It
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 ~ pressed home to
the quick.
The cute little bell was not soundedfo
more tea While the rest Of the folks
were gayly talking, rafting 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
q morsel. She is resting, resting so
hard, 50 bitterly that she a only sit
and think.
The next day was the same-only she
began to eat little. but lightly. She is
eating lightly addressing, resting
more than she wishes. She Is resting
so much that her heart Is growing
hungry, so hungry that she is feeding II
with the tears that she must hide, but
cannot keep from dripping, ever drip
ping inwardly.
A few more days and she plucked up
courage and demanded to go TO the
kitchen. But her sons wife was deaf tc
her e~ntreaties and returned:
"You are growing old enough to take
q nice long rest, mother. am here tC
do the work"
"But l do 30 want to do sometime
to help. Please let me come in thu
kitchen and wash the dishes, scour thu
pans and pots"
Never! Folks would laugh at me 1
I should let you do that. l am strong
Besides, mother, / do not want to b
bothered
II would not bother you, my dear.
only want to help you with the work
Please let me help you"
mo; / promised John to make it a
easy as possible for you. am doing al
/ can for you; / wait on you, do all tn
work and bring your meals to you"
But you must see. dear, that an nc
a sick person who needs to be waited OF
I do not like to be waited On. I don
. eat much now-but could eat lots NOR
! II / could only go in the kitchen wher
the rest Of the folks are"
What a silly fancyl Here you AZ
at ease, and comfortable. do not min
l bringing your meals in here. It is
nice and quiet here. You must confer
. yourself, mother. John wanted me I
4 make Il easy for you. and I am doing tn
q best I know how"
The old lady looked after the IN
n figure that disappeared through I'll
doorway. and softly said in q low ton'
III you do not know-you are so younI
Neither does John know-he thinks 20
are doing ql things right. But ! kno
you r starving me, my heart, my sou
my all. II you only could know no
long the days are to me, sitting bel
alone; II you could know how dark II
nights are to me; II you could on
know how / long to get away from n
chair. get to workout you viii new
know"
Weekly the little old lady grew mo-
and more weak. pale and thin. She con
planned no longer; she sat in her cha
by the fire and looked upon the II
glow behind the mica. She is resting
but eating more lightly than ever. Al
but her heart is growing greedier al
greedier day after day. Her hung
heart that feeds ever and ever upon b
tearsi
The tray is brought to her chair Of
morning and the young wife says:
] Eat, mother, and take it easy"
U No hand is lifted, nc lips feebly utt
thanks, no wrinkled face upturns- II
II others hand is laid on the thin should
e. but the little old mother is at rest
be last. Her soul and heart are starved
er last.
so She Is resting-resting everlasting
q weaalne Ceremony.