Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1905-01-13
Miss PhOebe'S
Business y
Venture AZ
By MARION E. CROSSKILL
By MARION E. CROSSKI-L


for the house is all gone
and no more In sight. So
We're as bad OF as we We're before and
worse, for we haven't house to live
in Or starve in, for that's what it seems
TO be comm to. And we even miss our
little patch Of garden where we raised
the cucumbers and radishes and
squash. And, Phoebe, 1t seems as il
had the old front porch, with the roses
on 1t and the elm tree shadin' it. to sit
on these hot days I'd be most content
to starve there" sighed Mary Ann.
Don't talk that way, sister. The
Lord III find way somehow. We've
gone from one thing to another since
the bank failed, but we have always
had something to eat, and | have
feeling that We always will II we look
sharp"
Il WAS by the old place today" said
Mary Ann, with another sigh. ''rhe
roses do look lovely. Oh, Phoebe, If
we'd never sold It! II we could only
have it backr'
Phoebe's brows contracted, and then
relaxed quickly.
We'll. we shall. Mary Ann; we SHALL"
she said cheerfully. "If we keep our
courage up and think with our whole
strength that the things we want are
ours we will draw them to us just as
steady and AZ sure as the world goes
round. 1t may not look like 1t at first,
but remember that we can't feel the
earth move either, and never lose faith
Just put your mind on it as do and
will to have the old house back, and if
we will hard enough and hustle in the
bargain it will all come right"
But how Is it comm right, Phoebe
when we have no money to even buy
bread. let alone the old placer"
Phoebe did not reply. Sometimes her
sisters complaining nature quite made
her lose heart. Poor Mary Ann! She
did not mean to be burden and a
drawback to her sister. She tried to
help along all she could, but the weak
ones little realize the power for evil Of
their very weakness. From Phoebe
flowed hope and courage. She diffused
them as a lamp sheds light. All felt
them who came within their radius.
They were all that kept poor Mary
Ann from suicide.
Since the bank failed and their mon
ey was lost Phoebe had worn cheer
full face and worked and struggled to
keep their little house in the suburbs
Of thriving New England town. She
had taken boarders and done sewing
and nursing and whatever she could
find to do. thinking courageously 10
keep the old roof over their heads. un-
til with hard work and exposure to all
sorts Of weather a severe illness had
overtaken her, and while she lay help
less the place had to be mortgaged to
pay expenses, and then later on, to
avoid a foreclosure, 1t was sold at a
figure which left them but little money
after the debt was paid. And through
it all the brave little woman had kept
up heart and striven to cheer and en-
courage her weaker sister.
With her health her vigor returned
and she tried first this thing and then
that to make living and turned over
! one plan and another, always asserting
that the right thing would be found al
last; that the old house would come
back to. them again. Her faith never
wsvered that it would come out all
right IN the end. She had to fight the
battle for herself and her sister, too
for so If generally IL that to every pail
of strong, brave shoulders there Is
fitted tho burden of another's weak
ness and cOwardice. 1t is nearly al
ways some one dear to US. or we would
not often bear it, and love lightens the
load. So Phoebe Smith carried her sls