The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-20
That Extra Plate

That Extra PIatei
Motherly Mrs Miller BUSTED about the
dining room setting the table for supper.
The dishes rattled cheerfully, through
the kitchen door there came saYOry odors
that whetted the appetite. the homeike
hum of the bubbling tea kettle and brisk
swapping Of the wood fire.
Mrs. Miller stood OF and surveyed the
table critically 10 see if anything had been
forgotten. then she made u little dart to-
ward IL and picked up a plate THERE
she exclaimed to herself, III ! haven't
gone and put that third plate on again.
! declare, just can't get used TO Edith's
being away. I've put three plates on for
so many years ] can't make Il seem as II
the table were set any other way. l
wonder II Ill keep on putting that plate
on every meal till Edith gets home from
school next spring. Poor child / guess
she'd be glad enough to sit in her old
place again and have some of mothers
bot biscuits and fried chicken. / know
from her letter that she's as homesick
she stood there mechanically looking
az the table with the two plates left on
it-one. at each end; Il declare, II don't
"Someway 1 just can't bear 10 take that
plate of; il doesn't seem half so lone
some II it's there. I've half notion to
fatherd laugh at me and call me notional
If did"
Her eyes wandered out OF the open
door Suddenly her face cleared. the
plate slid back TO its accustomed place
and she started toward the door, There
there's that little music teacher that came
here last week. Somebody told me lhat
she had taken room and was boarding
herself. II She is, a little hot supper'd
taste good to her If don't miss my
guess. I wouldn't have TO take that plate
on then: either. I'm going to ask her
BY that time she was down the walk
and waiting by the gate Her inotherly
heart went but AT once to the homeslck
looking face under the plain sailor hat:
What II Edith's face looks that wayf
she thought with a quick pang at her
heart. oh, If It does, do hope some
body'll mother her a little 1 suppose
this girl has got a mother somewhere
that's worrying about her just as much
as ! am about Edith
The little music teachers eyes had been
downcast and she had hardly noticed the
figure waiting By the gate. Now she
looked up In surprise as two warm, wei
coming hands enfolded her hand and
motherly voice said. Now child, you re
coming straight into the house with me
and eat supper with US. Don't you dare
say. no. There's a plate on the table all
ready. You see our girl has gone away
to school and father and ! Just can
stand It to eat another meal all alone,
so ] know you won't be so hard hearted
as to say you won't come. YOu'll let us
borrow you for a little while know,
Now come right In
The brown eyes under the sailor hat
suddenly filed. Nobody knew how long
that week had been or how the miles
stretched out between the bare little
room where the homesick discouraged
girl was doing light housekeepingi she
had thought that nobody cared either
until she left those warm hands inclose
her own and saw the loving interest in
Oh. how homelike the cheerful dining
room seemed and how ravenously hungry
the sight OF the crisp brown chicken. the
hot biscuits the creamed potatoes and
the great slices Of cream cake made her
after the week of living on canned goods.
But better than that was the honey at
mosphere after the twenty-one meals
that she had eaten sitting alone at the
corner Of her study table.
An hour and half later, after she mad
helped to wash the dishes and had
picked big bouquet from the dear. Old
Fashioned garden and had poured out the
story Of the weeks disappointments and
homesickness into sympathetic ears and
been comforted and encouraged and
s.mOthered She went down the street
with a little song Of hope and new cour-
age In her heart In place Of the dun
ache that had been there before; the
hard. cold world that she had faced all
the week had suddenly become brigh 'er.
Motherly Mrs. Miller stood at the gate
and watched the little music teacher
until she was out OF sight. mist came
into her eyes as she noticed how light
and buoyant her step was. so different
from the listless dragging step OF an
hour before. II declare she thought
reprOachfully. u never thought about all
these boys and girls that are away from
home for the first time being lonesome
until Edith went away. But thinking
about her so much and knowing she
homesick. and thinking how hard It is
for her TO be away off there among
strangers with nobody to care when
things GO wrong and everything looks
blue has made me think about other
mothers boys and girls, too. guess.
I'm just going 20 put Ediths plate on
the table every meal after this and have
Il ready If the Lord sends any Of his
homesick discouraged children where
can call them IN and Jet them nave one
meal that's a little homelike anyway.
There are so many go by here l guess
there isn't much danger hut ! can ind
some one most days. ! only hope some
one win think to do the same by my
Edith sometimes The gray eyes grew
misty but it was not for long. She
quickly polished the glasses that had
grown dim for moment and turned
back into the house with a brisk, cheer
That was the beginning, but 1t was not
the end by any means. Scarcely a day
passed but some homesick or diseour-
AGED one drew up TO the CHEEKY table
before that third plate and each one re-
ceived the same loving sympathy and
kindly interest that Mrs. Miller hoped
that some one would give to Edith. But
even MIS-, Miller will never know tho end
until that great day when all things
shall be made plain. Then she VIII
know how much new hope and courage
new faith in Gods love and in human
Kindness the bit OF home-life that went
with that extra plate gave to many
homesick discouraged hearts,. Marion
Brler. in Rams Horn.
EfI,aIfm ExnIau N Han