Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-21

ed tinkle had known no tuner in a half
century. but which might have been worth
nearly its weight in gold for its maker, is
age. its shape. its inlay OF ivory.
Poor as poverty. Miss Anna Sparrer sat
in the midst of wealth. but knew it not.
This was grandmamma's. and that was
grandpapa's: and in that harp-backed
chair mamma was sitting when papa pro-
posed: and in the drawers of that low-boy
she kept her marriage certificate, and her
fan. and her few love letters: and at this
thousand-legged breakfast table, larger
then by leaf or more, they had all
slipped their tea or their port af.,r bless
ing had been asked. The things stood to
her in the place of people and OF family:
Cor they were thronged with memories.
And when the old clock in her little
vestibule pealed the hour she heard again
her grandfather's voice as he drove into
the yard on a snowy day. and the linger-
ing cadence after il had struck was like
the sweetness in her fathers voice when
he sat singing songs of Robby Burns and
slipping something he called mountain dew.
The glt-edged cut-Glass tumbler that held
his toddy, the spoon with which he stirred
it. with it's crest Of a sparroEhawk, were
things as sacred as if he had been saint
instead of an immensely good-natured
scamp One day, when Andrew brought
her daily pint Of milk from Mrs. Burrase
who gave him his living. such as 1t was.
for his chores, she had him sit at the
table and share her breakfast, and she
gave him her own egg, and butte-ed him
generous slices Of toast, and made a
bowl of coffee and stirred 1t with this very
spoon.
My father would enjoy its doing kind
Office know" she thought with smile.
She secured IT. however, little, after
ward Somehow, it always seems as if
an angel, and a-an evil spirit were con-
tending in me-" she murmured. as she
did it.
But Andrew had enjoyed his breakfast.
Ii seemed to him banqueting could so no
further To have such breakfasts as that
a
10 u-Miss Anna Sparrer must possess I'M
bounded riches. At Mis- Burrage's he
would have had cold porridge, and not
enough of that. Miss Sparrer had en-
1oyed the breakfast, too; che had liked to
SCI. nls nearly appeti,e-ner own picking
was very dainty; IL had been pleasant 10
see his eyes brighten, his rreckled face
grow rosy, to see him laugh and show
tie white teeth in his wholesome mouth.
She had thought him little dull, maybe,
but it was plain that If his little body
we're we'll nourished his intelligence
might thrive with IT, 1t was a pity, size
Ought. that poor little Andrew had fal-
ion ON such hard lines But what was tno
use: If she were rich woman-weIi,
we'll if Rome had never fallen Londou
had never risen.
Occasionally the minister came TO SEE
Miss Sparrer. He found her one DAY
sewing on some garments that the mis-
s,onary society was TO send to Sinpooran-
pad. on the other side of the world.
Yes" said the minister, as she dis
played the work Those stitches are ex-
uuisite | think they can't but satisfy tn.
arustlc taste OF The natives.
why, l thought you approved of for
e,yn missions." she SAID, looking up III
amusement.
by all means, and every means. Bui
the uu,y neares, at hand seems 10 me the
one that claims us nrst. the tamIies
GOWN at Starveiey cove are suffering tor
Clothes. and cold weather coming on"
well, IN sorry said MISS Anna. her
thmbie OH her lips. but TINS doesn't be-
long To me. /, belongs to the society.
Anu | don't believe 1 have u thing myself
those people can wear. But Pill tell the
suclely-it wants to do about what's right,
you know.
Certainly. Perhaps they can do this
and not leave the other undone,'' said tile
minister. There's that poor little Andrew
Maciane, too. That unfortunate boy
troubles me sorely. He Is growing up To
bad ends, where he is; and there 5 good III
he $ about az bad IS II he had all his wits;
and his inIiuence-dear ne!-What can /
DO! I've six mouths 10 I'LL, as it is"
TO be sure he had, the poor man 1t
was a wonder he could do what he did.
His overcoat was thin, and shiny and
white at the seamS, and the weather
would soon be bitterly cold.
Heart alive" said Miss Anna, when
he had gone IF religions worth having,
it's worth paying for. And that dear mans
going to have good, substantial new
overcoat whether the box goes to Snpoor-
anbad or not
The minister's visit remained with Miss
Anna like something uncomfortable in the
digestion. And she was quite low-spirited,
with a sense of not having done all her
duty, sitting in the twilight by her small
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