The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1909-04-02

sltlon ara the p~oorhOuse.
why, you poor SOUL" she cried sym
patheticaily. how old you've grown!
My hair amt begun TO turn yet, an
here your'n Is perfectly white"
ITS been a long time since you and
! were young" answered the old wo
man gently. Then she coiored with
sudden remembrance and drew herself
up stlfiy.
rs there anything / can do for your
she asked.
Come, Cynthia; don't talk that
way demonstrated Mrs, Perry. You
know farmers wives are always work.
In, an'-an' it's a good piece from our
place to the
"Poorhouse," said the old woman
calmly.
well yes, p~oorhouse," deprccatlng-
~. But never mind all that. I've
brung the minister"
II don't think I've had the pleasure
Of meeting Mrs. Bray before" said the
minister, rising. "and yet I've called
here several times"
"No; we haven't met" acquiesced
the old woman. II generally stay in
the kitchen"
II must acknowledge this visit is
mostly n business one, Mrs. Bray" he
said, resuming his seat. you see. II
nm planning to have the church deco.
rated for Easter, but the ladies Of my
congregation assure me that such n
thing Is utterly impossible. | have
come to you as a last resort. Can you
help meY"
The old woman looked from one to
the other with a sudden yearning IN
her eyes. Then a soft flush began to
steal over her face.
ut isn't easy to decorate without
anything to decorate with" she said
TREMENDOUSLY. an the city we used to
have palms and Easter lilies and no
end Of ferns and delicate things to
bank with"
But there are the woods" suggest.
ed the minister desperately. II notice
lots OF pretty things on my walks"
do you mean for me to take charge
Of the decoratingf" she asked.
"Yes, but of course with plenty OF
help"
He turned hastily and glanced
through the window. Something rap
turous in the expression on the old
woman's face made him lose command
OF himself for a moment.
well, ! shall need help In gathering
the decorations" she was saying as
he turned back. There will be things
to cut and bring home and boxes and
boards to build up for the banking.
There are SOM bushes along the
creek that I can Ak up to look very
much like palms at q little distance.
and that dark moss below the ledge
will make a beautiful bank on which
we can arrange the early white flow
ers.
but, there" breaking into a low,
laugh, which apparently fright.
ened her, for she stopped suddenly and
looked abaat IN q scared, tremulous
sort Of way. ,
Il was only going to say" she went 8
on deprecatingly, that | haven't seen ,
the church yet. | ought to 20 there ,
6rst and look around" >
"Of course. We will take you there ,
his afternoon" volunteered the minis. =
beaming. ,
"And you can have my horse and ,
every afternoon IL you like"
added Mrs, Perry warmly. "Then
there Is my boy Tommy. You can
have him to drive you" -
The old woman's face was now alb. .
radiant. =.
She was not thinking Of the decora. y
ion now, but Of the beautiful thing OF
not being forgotten. God is good to
remembered me so lovingly"
The minister gazed at her a moment, :.
hen turned again to the window. "
There will be no failure In the church
decoration" he remarked to Mrs. Per.
y.
Nor was there. nor In the beautiful
hing that had come to the little old
During the decorating she