Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-07-14
A RAINY SUNDAY.

mother said she must go over TO
the hospital to see father.
May We go too?" Paul said.
NO. dear. not today. Wait until
father is better. You and Avis can
watch the people go by to church,
and then, you know, you have the
new picture book. have left lun.
cheon for you in the pantry, and
when l come home we will have a
good, hot supper. Remember not to
go out of doors! 1t rains hard now,
and even if it should clear it would
be very wet So stay inside, and be
good children"
Paul and Avis, feeling forlorn and
sad, watched mother until she was
out of sight. 1t was such a new
place in which to be left alone. They
had moved here only the week be.
fore father was hurt, and that was six
days ago.
The lady who lived upstairs had
spoken to them once, but they did
not know any other neighbor.
The last umbrella had gone by on
Its way to, church. the new picture
book had been looked through over
and over again, the rain came down
faster than ever, and the children
longed for mother to come back.
Wish could read" sighed Paul,
turning the leaves of his book; "then
i could read about the pictures, the
same as mother dces."
81 read!' chirped Avis, mumbling
over something that Paul could mo-.
understand. but which made him
laugh.
TAP. tap, tap!" Somebody was
knocking at the door. Paul ran to
csen it, little Avis close behind.
1t was the upstairs lady.
Il want you to come up and stay
with me-" she said. 81 saw your
mother go, and ] know you must be
lonely. I am all alone too, today
my husband is out of town, and | did
not feel able to go to church. So
come right along, and we'll have a
nice time. I'll lock your door, and
We'll see mother when she comes"
How good it seemed to have COM
pany again! The lady talked to
them, told them stories, read to them,
and laugh them Bible verses; then
she sang hymns, playing the accom-
paniment on the piano. Some of them
Paul knew, and Joined in the chorus
with his sweet little voice. Even
Avis could sing one. and her Hold
the fort, for l am coming!" made
the lady smile, and call her a little
darling.
The lady kept them to dinner with
her. although Paul tolds her that
mother had left a luncheon for them.
"Rut am so lonely" she said; ~
want you to say and eat with me-"
So they stayed, of course, and such
delightful dinner as 1t was!
The lady said it was a ''picked-up
dinner but Paul thought he had
never eaten enc SO delicious. There
were so many binds of food, just a
lit.le-but enough-of each. and Avis
kept saying. Good! good" in a way
tAdt Ludue lHelu lduS IL. 1uey were a
whole hour eating it. and then came
more stories and more music.
Mother appeared long before they
had begun to expect her, and she
brought the glad news shat father
was better.
1--WE learned Bible verse, mother
dear" cried Paul. Little children
!. love one another"
II learned one tool" Avis piped.
you. my baby?" nueried mother.
Eyes; learn, Jesus cried be-.
cause the people were naughty"
They couldn't help smiling at the
ls.tle ones version of Jesus wept,"
but mother kissed her, and told her
she had done well for her first verse.
Then the children told her about
the stories. and the music, and the
good things they had had to eat
Mother listened carefully, and was as
much pleased as they were to know
they had such happy time.-Emma
c. Dowd. in The Sunbeam.