Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-03-27

were singing? All Mt once she forgot
Mrs. Presley and Miss Priscilla, and a
little flowerlike face rose before her mem
tai vision, and she heard shrill, childish
little voice practicing an anthem-an
Easter anthem that she had never lived
to sing.
She remembered, too, how many, many
times during her long illness little Ellen
Mary had begged Miss Priscilla to sing
that very anthem, so that she might not
forget 1t, hoping and expecting to sing
with the ether children on Easter Sunday,
Then she thought how Miss Priscilla
had watched over and nursed her little
daughter during her long sickness, and
what a comfort she had been to her on
that sorrowful day when little Ellen
Mary was laid away to rest. The tears
welled up and rolled down her cheeks,
she glanced across at Miss Priscilla, and
she, too, was wiping her eyes.
II shall always love her for what she
did for little Ellen Mary" she thought,
with a new feeling of tenderness grow
ing in her heart; ''she never, never. would
set any price on her work. and gave her
that drab silk bonnet. And remember
told her that should always see that
she had nice bonnet" Here Mrs. Bart
lett began to feel uncomfortable 81 s'pose
she thinks I've forgotten my promise and
all her kindness; but haven't. and never
shall"
During the next few moments con-
science and the Easter anthem did their
perfect work in Mrs. Bartlett's worldly
heart. When next she glanced across the
church Miss Priscilla had turned her head
and was looking straight into her. face,
with look, of love and gratitude, that was
n revelation. to Mrs. Bartlett.
"She actually thinks that sent her
that bonnet: we'll, never" she gasPed,
and then the benediction was pronounced,
and Mrs. Bartlett turned to leave the
| church with the rest of the worshipers,
with an uncomfortable feeling that the
beautiful Easter service had been almost
wholly lost to her.
AS she was passing down the aisle Miss
Priscilla came up to her. II can't thank
you here for your beautiful Easter gift"
she whispered beamingly. "But I'm COM
ing over directly after dinner to have it
out with you," and then she went on
down toward the door, bowling and smil
ing, with quaint little air of feeling
for once in her life, that she looked quite
as well as her neighbors.
Then Mrs. Presley came sailing by with
her head held very high. Mrs. Bartlett
turned as though to speak, and then reso-
lutely closed her lips. II don't care"
she said to herself; 81 Just don't care !;
I'm glad of it." which, considering the
fact that she knew she had lost one of
her wealthiest customers. was good deal
for Mrs. Bartlett to say.
And when later in the day Miss Pris-
ella, in her new bonnet, came up the
walk, Mrs. Bartlett met her at the door.
"Now, don't say single, solitary
word" she said, leading the way into the
parlor; "it's the becomingest thing you
ever had on your head, and il anybody
ever deserved nice bonnet you do.
ain't a-going to let you thank me, for
I'm just exactly as tickled about it as
you be-"
mo, you amt. You can't be-" said
Mis- Priscilla. why, l was SO tickled
| couldn't believe you really meant 1t for
me. thought Roxy must have made
some mistake"
But Miss Priscilla never knew how
near she came to telling the truth.-The
Ladies' World.