Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-01-09

we paint faunlc ana /
Yes. Il you'll clean the brushes
and put them away when You get
through. Here are some lovely col
ors on the palette all ready mixed
Don't talk too loud, YOU and Dimplesi
mamma is not so well today
She passed through a c%nriained
doorway into the next room, and sat
down by her mothers couch.
Did ! hear you say you we're tired,
dear" asked Mrs shelton.
Yes. tired Of this monotonous, In.
active life. ] have been thinking all
day what a waste IL was to spend so
much money on my music and paint.
ing What good do they do me, since
Papa has buried us in this wilder.
ness
The more alone we are the more
need OF resources within ourselves.
replied the mother.
Martha shrugged her shoulders
Yes. | know, she said, but IT doesn't
suit me. ! have always thought there
was a work for me in the world; but
| will never find it 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 a few years as
If they were a few days, Must sit
In idleness and wait for the building OF
railroads and schools and changes J.,
with all my energy and ambition"
You are not sitting in idlencss. To
comfort a sick mother, and make a
bright home for your father and broth
or is n better work than you think.
and YOU field Of usefulness will widen
day by day. II may not be the field
you would have chosen, hut do not
forget that What thou best Canst I'M
derstand is just the thing lies nearest
TO thy hand
"Oh, mamma" The curtain part.
ed and Egbert bounded in; oh, nam.
ma. Fannie has colored a basket Of
eggs to take to the children up at the
poor house tomorrow; may | go with
her? Please, mamma; | 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 Or. Brown tell
papa, only yesterday, that there was
no sickness there except a few cases
of-of-'Pullmanery,' | think he called
It; | don't know what that is, but il
can't be bad because papa said /
could go If you and we're
willing
The curtain parted again, and a lit
tie girl with large, shy eyes, and
cheeks that dimpled when she spoke,
came timidly in. It's nice and clean
up there she said, and they're al.
ways so glad to see anybody"
u think Egbert may go" said Mrs.
Shelton. Marie took a long look at
Fannie, and her will relaxed. Sure.
ly, II such a sweet, wholesome little
creature visited the county pool house
It could not be such a disgusting place
as she had imagined.
DO you think they would care for
flowers. Fannie?" she asked: II cou'1
send a few lilies and a basket OF hya
cinths, and also a 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 it."
Martha turned on her mother a look
Of panied surprise.
"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 10 the poor house. A bent man
on crutches opened the gate for them
The hall door stood open, but nc
one was visible inside. A clatter Of tin
pans was heard in a room az the other
end Of the hall, and, rising above this
a clear, bird-like voice singing: Come
Thou Font of Every Blessing" "It'l
Cherry singing, and washing tn,
dishes, said Fannie, and added, laugh
ing: She calls them dishes, bu
they're only tin plates, you know
Come right In, ! know the way"
AS they entered the bare, but cleal
where the girl was washing III
pans, she hushed her song and drew
long, eager breath through her no.
trils. "Hy'cinths!" she exclaimed
an plum blossoms. Who's got EN-?
Fannie approached her on tip-toe, an
held out a spray OF plum blossoms
Cherry darted toward her, seized he,
4 rubbed a moist hand over III
laughing little face, u knowed II wa
you" she said who else'd be bDt,
ing posies 10 the pore house?"
Who else" repeated Fannie, "wh
EsUert Shelton, and his sister, Mil
Martha. Here they are"
Cherry made her best how. u can
see YOU she said, but I'm obliged
you for comm"
I'VE heard you singing" said Ma
tina; your voice is beautiful"
That's what FOLKS say" return'
the blind girl with evident gratfc
tion. 81 sing a heap cause thu
likes to hear me; ] know most all u
songs s-goin'."
A flushed woman, with dough
her hands, came in. The cook" VIII.
pered Fannie.
oh, the blessed Alster!" exclaim
the woman I'D clean forgot It I
! see the flowers; would yez 81
me one or two TO keep me moind
Of it,"
Trims splind!d,' she continu
when Martha had given her sol
snowy clusters; IN lave EN- have
mug Of water on the kitchen she
and III put a bit OF short'nen in I
bread this mint, TO CELEBRATE the d
jist, The paupersn be glad Of thai
Ion tall yEg -