The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-07-10


1t was little Great-grandmothers answer that
had contracted Mea's forehead. "Someway | can't
help most envying YOU" she had said "There's al
ways something you can be doing to help. [ think
miss that most of all, since I've been getting older
not beng-not being really needed"
The blood rushed to Mela's temples Not in
deed Little Observation-Disclosures not needed The
painful absurdity of the idea! She had to check a
quick impulse to step out from the shelter of the
bushes and declare herself an unwilling eavesdrop-
per- to take little Great-grandmother in her arms
and tell her what a mistake, what big, awful mis-
take she was laboring under. Why, how could any
of them get along without that dear peaceful low
ing facet
But it wouldn't do to step out just yet. Great
grandmother would be so distressed beyond measure
to think she had been overheard. The sweet old
voice going now with that soft patience that
characterized it. They're all so good to me some
times seems like can't bear it not to be doing any
thing in return. But there don't seem to be much
of anything do [ always try to find ways to
help-but it's so different with me from the wav il
is with you. They don't need me to help. They do
their own preserving-and Mella, dear blessed child
is spry and quick she does much as three ordi-
nary girls, and can't bear that should lift finger
She's so good to me-every single one of them is |
often think l can't be grateful and thankful
enough" But there little tremor in her voice
A minute more, and Mella had managed to make
her escape to the house, much to her own relief as
at once and poured it all out to her. And the soft
brown eyes, like Mela's, answered with quick
sympathy "Bless her Bless her!" said mother.
Grandmother not needed! How little she knows, if
she thinks thatl She helps when she doesn't lift
a finger but if she wants to be doing more and
know she does, we must manage it so she can"
Somehow, quick memories came to both of them.
of the eager little attempts reat-grandmother had
made so many, many times. LET me do it," ooh,
can't | help ?"-and their prompt, loving assurances
that she didn't need to tire herself that way at ALL
They could do it in two minutes. And oh, dear.
dear! such mistake they had been making, if
the result of it had been make her feel that not
only her eXertions, but she herself wasn't needed
1t that very afternoon that Mrs. Bassett
went into the sunny upstairs room where Great
grandmother, arranging already orderly bu-
reau drawers, humming softly, "Or if on joyful
wing cleaving the sky" and taking lingering look
at fading daguerreotype of Great-grandfather
Mrs. Bassett went to the point at once after
dropping a kiss the delicate old cheek. Great
grandmother lacked for Kisses with plenty of
love back of them, too.
"Grandmother" she said, owe come begging.
You were SO good yesterday to offer to darn those
stockings of Johnny's, and thought then I could
get through with them alone But I've been so busy
| Just haven't had minutes time for it. And he
has only the two pairs of tan stockings too so if
you really don't mind helping me out, Pm going to
bother you with them, after all.n
quite radiant she took the pair of slimlegged
tan stockings and looked with peculiar qualification
at the yawning heels.
Cant you bring them down to the porch ~
mother went ''Mella and I are sewing there.
and somehow it doesn't seem complete without YOU
'Why, the ideaW The dear old face was so
bright and happy that Mrs. Bassett had to look
away for a moment.
"Your darning is like fancy work. Mella ex-
claimed, when hour later Great grandmother
taking the last stitches IN Johnnys heel 81 do
wonder" the girl stopped with pretty hesitation
her face and her grandmother looked up eagerly.
"What is it, dear2 Anything can dol I'd love
to-"
"It's my new silk stockings" Mella explained,
chose lovely drop-stitch ones One of the stitches
dropped in earnest a week ago, and I've dreaded to
touch it. [ can't darn anywhere well as you,
But [ don't want to bother you to muchl"
Bother meF' chirped grandmother. Gust bring
'ern out, dear; I'd love to mend 'em. And isn't it
beautiful out here on the porch-and cozy?"
81 wish you'd let me do the darning every week"
she went on blithely, when Mells had admired her
mended stocking-'better than new almost" as she
expressed it. 81 like to darn stockings-really"
"And l detest It'll" said Mella with equal hearth
ness, echoed by her mother. But there was just
enough protest made against accepting this offer
to keep Grandmother from wondering at any sud
den change of front.
1t was surprising how many, many ways sug
gested themselves in the days that followed-ways
that Great grandmother could help, and really help,
too, and without much fatigue. Somehow, when the
raspberries and other fruits came on thick and fast
in the garden, grandmother could see for herself
how necessary it was for for to join the bee the
side porch, and lend two TREMENDOUSLY happy old
hands to the work of preparing them for the jams
and iellies that they all liked SO much.
"What a shame it would have been to let any of
them go to waste!" Mella had said, "and by our all
helping this way, see what array of fruit we're
getting for the winter And it's such fun all work
ing togetherp
eyes, isn't it?" said Great-grandmother.
Really, it wasn't long before the dear little old
ladv found herself needed in dozen different d.
rections And oh, how happy it made her!
grandmother is growing younger-lookng all
the time" Mellas father said day. "What dc
YOU do to yourself, anyway and he patted her
shoulder.
"It's just being so happy, guess" said little