The leader., 1904-06-04

seeds OF trouble. This was her first day
In her new home-and perhaps she had
years and years Of life before her-and
she did love John SO, and might have
.iiadc him SO happy, II it had not been
for this
And il she loved John, did not his
mother love him. too? And how she
must love him-that quiet, undemon-
strative woman, whose feelings ran
deep. And there was grandma, whose
life was torn up by the roots in her old
ageand it is so hard for old roots to
set themselves in new soil. And-why
that was what had happened to Johns
mother, too--her life had been torn uT
by the roots!
When Ellie arose she had forgotten
herself and her griefs, She was think
ing of two lonely old women down
stairs, the width of the dining room
between them, each breeding over hei
own sorrow
Never mind about me- Ellie was
saying to herself, as she bathed away
the tears from her eyes, Il will try tc
make them happy"
When she came down, after little
she was Juggling large white sack
stuffed to bursting.
Look what found in the. closet in
my room, grandma" she cried, cheer
lily. "All this sack of ccraps!"
''Those are for the rag-man," said
Johns mother, briefly. Perhaps she
had been thinking, too, for her voice
had lostsa little of it's coldness.
Grandma was already lingering tbs
scraps wistfully.
They'd make mighty pretty quilt,
she said. II used to make quilts all
the time-scraps of the children's
clothes, from their baby-clothes on up
Ellie don't know anything about it
That was before her day. They've sor!
o. gone out of fashion now."
She had spoken rather at than to
Johns mother as though with timid
little desire to conciliate fer.
"How I'd like to have one Of those
old quilts!" cried Ellie, with tender in
terest. made with scraps of my old
dresses, grandma-and maybe some Of
Johns baby dresses, 1nother-and q
piece of my wedding dress right in the
middle. That would he something
John and could keep always"
"These 'ud make mighty nice nine
piece, said grandma re1ectively. Shs
was still regarding the odds and ends
of cloth that lay across her lap.
Johns mother had approached in
sensibly.
81 used to make quilts" she said
with something that was almost like
softness in her voice. TT was years
ago-T knew them all-Nine-Piece and
Irish Chain and Chariot Wheel and
Magnolia Bloom-and I could find
scraps of Johns little clothes. I'll show
you some of his little dresses, Elinor-
you'd never think he was ever that
small, looking at him now"
Ellie's arms were around her-the
pretty young face was laughing tear
fully up at her. The very idea of see
ing Johns cunning little baby clothes!
And it was Johns mother who had
kept them all these years!
eve could do the quilting in Johns
old playroom mother was melt
ing more and more-"I haven't had
much time to sew. Maybe it'll help
me to sit down a little"
"I'd like to make quilts again." said
old Mrs. Vedder, looking up wistfully
over her glasses.
Mrs. Mayfield had arisen to go on
some errand, but she sat down again
"Ellie," she said, eff you'll look in
the machine drawers you'll find
needles and thimbles AMI things-and
bring the gold thimble for your grand
ma. John gave that to me when he
was IL years old"
Ellie's face was ag1ow with delight
81 am so glad that John loves his
mother!" she cried from her heart.
And then Johns mother surrendered
the last trace of the coldness and hard
ness she had kept in store
Johns always been 4 good son to
me. my dear" she said: "and a boy
that's done that can't help making a
good husband. Hand me that piece oil
pasteboard, Ellie, and your grandma
can cut a pattern for both of us to &c
by"
John came home to lunch earlier than
usual that day, filled with apprehen-
sion, and stole into the house almost
on tiptoe At the end of the hall he
paused and looked through the por-
there's in deep amazement. Ellie was
fitting gaily back and forth between
dining room and kitchen, getting the
daintiest of lunches on the table, while
over by the window sat two specialized
old ladies, eagerly comparing colors OF
scraps they held in their hands.
"This was little blue pique oi
Johns when he was two years old, u
said Johns mother, smiling at the
memory ~ made it myself, ami
trimmed it with white braid-and he
wanted to sleep in it that first night
This ought to go with something dark
How would that piece do?''
That's a fall dress Ellie had-let'a s
sect" reflected grandma "She mus;
have been about twelve then. 1t was
trimmed with blue silk. It'll go with
that blue just right And Ellie's
grandmother went placidly on with
her sewing. John slipped out again on
tiptoe, and surprised Ellie, rosy and
smiling, in the kitchen.
"How did you manage it?" was
Johns amazed question, and there was
very serious and tender look in her
pretty eyes.
81 put myself in her place." she
said.
RICHES IN COTTON Stalks,