The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
(Copyright) K HISS SARAHS great day dawned |" serene and promising. Miss
(Copyright.)

K HISS SARAH'S great day dawned M serene and promising. Miss M Sarah rose early to do few hesitated, irresolute.
 Bismarck" she said looking down sorrowfully at the great gray fellow, q don't like to leave you behind a mite Not but you'd be perfectly safe over to Marthy Flagg's-it ain't that. But seems so selfish going travel ing and you staying to home. You are just as deserving of a good time-Bis- marck, I'll take youi You're going travelling, Bismarck" -J
 She got a covered basket and lined it comfortably. Bismarcks lunch she put up with her own, wrapped dain- tily in carefully-ironed tissue paper. It was getting close to time to start Miss Sarah called within an hour close and she must say goodbye to the neighbors. Putting on her shabby lit tie black bonnet as hurriedlX her excited old fingers would allow, pinning her shabby black shawl, locking her shabby little house-Mss Sarahs world was in a whirl; the very air palpitated with action. Only Bismarck, placidly marveling in his comfortable prison, was calm.
 She made a second round of doors and windows, looked last loving time into all the shabby little rooms and then at last was ready. There had been room in the valise for the lunch box and the hand usually reserved for that was free for Bismarck's heavy basket. Miss Sarah took it up and balanced by the heavy bag in the other hand, went laboriously down the sun ny, morning road. But Miss Sarahs soul was unimpeded-light.
 The great day was an annual hap pening. Once every year Miss Sarah 'traveled." It was her red-letter day, to which she looked forward eagerly and upon which she happily looked back. There had been, counting this great day, round dozen of them. Miss Sarah was CT. She made her gentle. happy plansfor many more travelings.
 In the valise were all Ter best things folded with exquisite care. The sleeves of the best black dress were stuffed with soft paper, as Miss Sarah had read was proper for best sleeves. The night dress Miss Sarah had folded so pains- takingly had never been, might never be- worn. It was sacred nightdress, dedicated to this yearly going abroad. All the daintiness of lace and cambric that Miss Sarah's lean old body craved to clothe itself in was concentrated in this one sheer and dainty garment The consciousness that 1t was there In the valise imparted sense of luxurious ness and prde-made Miss Sarah walk little straighter possibly. and hold a little loftily her small gray head.
 At Marthy Flaggs she set down her burdens and opened the kitchen door with country familiarity. The family was at breakfast.
 'Why, Miss Sarah-why!"-th last one due to the bonnet and shawl.
 Yes. I've started on my travels. I'm going to ketch the half-past train down to the Junction. I just stopped to say goodby-no-no, I didn't bring Bismarck for you to see to, Marthy. He's going travelling, too; it's time he saw something O the world. Goodby-goodoy. Hope you'll have good hay weather, Simeon-hope the hen'sll lay well. Don't you go to getting all het up now, Marthy feshys you be! l wish you were all going, too-goodby."
 The plain, rough faces about the little kitchen table creased with the humor of the occasion, as they had creased on Il previous occasions when Miss Sarah came to say goodby. But underneath the humor was real tenderness Marthy Flagg got up fieshily and plodded to the door. Well be glad to see you back" she called after the carefully balanced little old figure disappearing down the road. We shall miss you-miss-you!"
 Miss Sarah stopped moment at all the houses, making her hurried, excited lit tie farewells and wishing good things to everybody. At the house next to Marthy Flagg's she hoped the baby would get well before she got back and the baby's mother get little snatch O. rest. At the house beyond-that they wouldn't lose the pindling heifer she'd heard was taken sick again. Miss Sarah's path to the sta tion of the tiny branch road was strewn with gentle good wishes Some one in Little River had named Miss Sarah the Wellwisher, and the name cung to her. It was not an empty title. but went every one knows. with gentle deeds. But today Miss Sarah had only time for the wishes Aboard the one car that jerked and