Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-11-12

apron. saws Della F. Wentworth. who
tells he story IN the Union Signal AT
length, with trembling lips she asked:
How did You lose II. and wherer
Cauf End it,"
over by grandma's. on the corner.
The wind most blew my hat of; grabbed
II and the scrip Jew out of my hand. Tvs
hunted aud hunted and grandma and
Aunt Mary came out and hunted. and we
can't find it anywhere. Oh. dear!"
Ida told her story between her sobs
expecting every moment to be bitterly
reprcacded and punished for her careless
ness The expression on her mothers
tacs worried her. All through her hur-
ried explanation. Ida thought:
Poor mother. How tired she looks
and sick, too! How hard she worked
for that 80 cents I've lost! Why
doesn't she speak and scold me! I'd feel
better if she did"
The few moments that her mother " as
collecting her thoughts seemed hours to
Ida. At last Mrs. Tryon said:
Il guess your conscience will punish
you enough. If you learn to be more
careful from this experience, l won't say
another word about It. Now IL I trust
you with the other 50-cent scrip can you
keep it until you get to the store and
bring home safely the things I want?
l must have the plaster for my lame
back and the moths will destroy our few
winter clothes If I don't get the campnor
to put into them. and roll them up out
Of harms way"
lda's eyes glowed and her cheeks
flushed as she said:
Mother. if you will trust me with tn ut
money, I will put 1t in the pocket book
and pin 1t into my pocket and I'll run all
the way to the store and home. I'll be
back In jiffy. I'll get supper, too. I'll
DO anything you ask Inc to-
AS good as her word, Ida was back
before her mother had rinsed one tub OF
Clothes. Putting her bundle carefully
away, she almost few around the little
kitchen and soon supper was ready to be
placed on the table All the while, she
furtively watched her mothers face and
she saw as never before how pale and
worn she looked. and how YEARLY she
moved from one piece of work to an
other. At every opportunity, Ida sprang
to help her mother. lifting the heavy
tubs, hanging out the clothes, carrying
away the washbeuch and tidying up the
kitchen, saying to herself meanwhile:
Mother shan't work as hard as this
when l can help it. When I grow up.
I'll earn for both OF US"
Soon the other children came troop
ing IN. clamorous for supper; but when
the father slouched In. surly and stupid
from drink. the children's clamor ceased
and the supper was eaten in silence One
by one. the little ones were put to bed
by Ida. while Tom Tryon, the father.
dozed in drunken stupor by the fire.
All the evening Mrs Tryop went from
closet TO bureau. gathering their meager
supply or winter woolans. which she
packed away in camphor.
At last the final task OF the wea-y day
was done. Ida. lamp In hand. climbed
the narrow stairs to her little chamber
under the caves. Her mother followed
with the bundle OF woolens Atthe head
or the stairs. Ida turned and giving her
mother clinsing goodnight kiss. said:
hate myself for losing that money,
mother. new realized until to-day
what hard time you have to support US
all. 1t isn't right for you to have to do
1t all alone. ] mean to work hard and
make II up TO you"
AT Ida's words. the burdeped mother
forgot her cares: forgot her WEAKNESS,
Mother-love shoue through the tears in
her eyes and spoke In her voice an with
tender smile. she said:
You have made 1t up to me already
loan do anything and everything I ought
while my children love me and care for
me. Perhaps sometime your father will
reform. Who knows? Wen work for II
you and L.
Ida Tryon knelt by her bed that night
as she used to kneel when a little child
and over and over she prayed:
% dear Jesus, help me TO Iiebtsn
mothers burdens and always 70 he /,
comfort TO her"
And again was that wonderful promiss
verified: Before they call. I will an
swsr: and while they are yet speaking
I Will hear"