The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-05-19

u renee sat oI uA9 N'
= IN 8 table, leaning on his ell
4 ID + bow, his usually busy pen
1oN held idly between his fin
gers. tie gazed far over the plains,
a trancelike expression in his thought
full eyes; he believed that the time was
coming when those plains would be
peopled, and, with the hopefulness
which made his missionary life beau
tiful, he seemed to see the church
leading, inspiring and ministerins TO
these people. Already he had visions
of a school wherein his own wife
should be the ruling spirit; visions OF
a hospital. a guild-house and club
rooms, where these savages might
GROW less savage. Even the fact that
thus far only one poor little wooden
church building was to be found IN
many miles did not in the least inter-
fere with his dreams.
How long he might have dreamed,
no one knows, but he was recalled Dy
a gentle voice calling to him:
II am twenty-five inches around the
waist, John, and my SKIRT length is
forty-three. You know you asked me
yesterday"
.'Sure enough" he answered, with
little start, taking up his tapeline,
which lay conspicuously on his desk.
81 must get that letter off today; but
I'd better measure you myself. You
probably measured with string.
That's the feminine way, I believe"
His wife came in, feather duster in
hand, and as he drew the line about
her waist, he dropped kiss upon her
forehead.
Il hope they will send you something
pretty"
Mrs. Lawrence burst into laughter.
The idea of anything pretty in
missionary box, John! Who ever heard
of it? It's against the nature of things.
Perhaps it is wicked, but have some
times thought that they made them
as ugly as possible. Do you remem-
ber the snuff-co,ored dressing jacket
with the black fringe?"
Wasn't that pretty:' he Querled.
81 always thought it was very ele-
CANT, except when the fringe dipped
in the coffee"
"You dear dreamer! You don't
know what is pretty. You don't see
anything but your beloved Sunday
school and night classes and sick
people. A rheumatic old Indian wom-
. an is beautiful to you if
IF she is a Christian! Yes. admit
it." he said gently; AL of Gods crea-
lures arc beautiful to me. and one OF
them most beautiful" and again he
gave her a loving caress ard resumed
his work.
"SLeets, pillow cases. street suit for
my wife, clerical suit for myself. over
coat-I hate to ask for that. but it is
such a necessity in this bleak land"
He read once again the friendly let
ter. in which he had been urged to
make known all his needs, assuring
him that they would be supplied. so
far as possible, by branch Of the
'Woman's Auxiliary.
These boxes, which had so irked the
pride of many missionary, never Of
Tended John Lawrence. He gave little
thought to self. His Divine Master
had lived on aims, and his own hor-
lion was too rich, too broad, for any
petty egotism to create even specS
upon it; but, he sometimes rejected
with regret, his wife keenly dlsliked
this phase of missionary lie. tie
could not forget at times that ne naa
taken her from a luxurious home; but
had he not given her a greater oppor'
tunity to do Gods work? And was she
aot doing it sweetly and uncompiala,
tncly? He would try to believe tna'
che did not care.
In the meantime, Mrs. Lawrence was
dnsting the sitting room. and she mac
come to a standstill before little
ivory miniature Of herself, the price
If which would almost have paid fol
everything in their modest home. Il
was made ten years before, when she
bed lust finished school and was arcn
II charming in that dainty gown. no"