The bee., 1908-01-23
Marfha'S
Mission
Ccopyright.)
BY EHis O'Meme

a laAguid sigh.
"TiredT Egbert exclaimed. May
we painti Fannie and To-
Yes, II you'll clean the brushes,
ana put them away when you get
through. Here are some lovely col.
ere on the palette, all ready mixed.
Don't talk too loud, you and Dimples;
mamma 10 not so well today"
She passed through curtained
doorway into the next room, and sat
down by her mothers couch.
Did / hear yen say you were tired.
dear7" asked Mrs. Shelton-
Yes, tirsd Of this moaotonOus, In
active life. ! have been thinking all
day what q waste It was to spend SO
much money ON my music and psint-
ing. What good do they Do nes since
papa has buried Nc in this wilder
nessT"
The mere alone We are the Hsre
nesa Of resources within ourselves"
repncd me mother.
Martha shrugged her shoulders.
Yes, / Know" she said, "but II doesn't
suit me. have always thought there
was work for me ia the world; but
l will never find 1t here"
"A few years make great changes in
a place like this" said her mother.
oh, mamma, your patience almost
vexes me. You talk Of few years as
If they were few days. Must sit
in idleness and wait for the building of
railroads and schools and changes? l.
with all my energy and ambttiOn?"
You are lot sitting in idleness. To
comfort a sick mother, and make a
bright heme for your father and BROTH
err Is a better work than you think,
and your field Of usefulness win widen
day by day. II may not be the field
you would have chosen; but do not
forget that What thou best canst un-
derstand ID just the thing hes nearest
TO thy hand"
"Oh, mammal" The curtain part
ed and Egbert bounded in; soh, mann
ma, Fannie has colored a basket Of
eggs to take to the children up at the
poor house tomorrow; may 80 with
her? Please, mamma; l never have
been to the poor house"
1T isn't a proper place for you,
BERTHE" said his sister Send the
children some of those painted eggs,
but keep away from there; you might
catch some disease"
NO, Marsie, heard DIR. Brown tell
papa, only yesterday, that there was
NO sickness there except a few cases
0f-of-'Pullmanery,' think he called
4; don't kASw what that is, but II
oamsk 10 bad because papa said
esaAa - n you and mamma were
wflEinw."
Tass curtain parted again, and a lit
tie girl with large, shy eyes. and
cheeks that dimpled when she spoke,
came timidly in. "Tt's nice ana clean
mp there" she satA "snA they're al
ways 30 glad to see anybody"
II tlAHk Egbert may CO." said Mrs.
SheltoA. Marie took \ long look at
Fannie, ara her VIII relaxed. Sure
ly, II such q sweet, wholesome little
creature visited the county poor house
1t could not be such disgusting place
az she had imagined.
do you think they would care for
flowers, Fsnnie?" she asked Il could
send a few lilies and basket Of hya-
ciAths. and also wagon full of plum
blossoms"
Encouraged by this sudden spark OF
interest, Mrs. Shelton said Suppose
you go with the children, Martha?
DO not think you would regret 1t.
Martha turned on her mother look
of panied surprise. She would have
gone among those wretched people re
luctantly at any time, but to ask 1t Of
her now seemed almost cruel. Hell
heart was hungering for the beautiful
Easter service, for pealing organ notes
and grand anthems, for nower-wreath
ed font and altar, and soft cathedral
light" falling through windows OF
stained glass. Was there nothing bet
ter for her, on that best OF days, thar
the county poor house and its sqaalc
inmates?
!, "Oh, how can you ask it," she said
and left the room in tears.
That shower broke up the clouds
and let the sunshine into her heart
again.
The Easter morning saw her seated
in the miller's little wagon. between
Egbert and Fannie, driving old Dex
ter to the poor house. A bent mar
on crutches opened the gate for them
The hall door stood open, but ne
one was visible inside. A elatter Of til
pans was heard in room at the othei
| end OF the hall, and, rising above this
a clear, bird-hke voice singing: Come
Thou Font of Every Blessing" "lt'i
. Cherry singing, and washing thu
dishes" said Fannie, and added. augh
ing: She calls them dishes. hu
. they're only tin plates yOu know
Come right in. know the way"
AS they entered the bare, Bat eleaI
. room where the girl was walking tn
pans, she hushed her s0Ag and drew
! lonE eager breath through her nos
! trilA. "HyeiHtAsl" she exclaimed
. "aR plum blossoms Who's got 'enT