The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-07-28
.yUST THE MINISTER'S WIFE"

Mrs. Richmond sat by the open
window. Her happy gaze caressed
the distant hills-the springtime
hills that for so many weary months
she had thought never to see again
Now she was up once more, a pris-
oner still, but able to look and lis
ten and understand how beautiful
lost. The church bells were ringing
softly, their clearness muffied a little
by distance, but still potently sweet
in tone.
"They make me sad" thought the
minister's wife. Il have been SO
long away from any service; it will
be weeks before l can go again"
Then, at the click of the gate, she
pulled herself together. DR.. Rich
mond and the boys would soon be
coming. Mothers room" was their
first goal, and it would never do to
let them see that mother, always so
bright and gay and cheerful, even
when enduring greatest pain, was in
a fit of the dumps" just because she
was getting we'll, just because the
scent Of the lilacs and the sound of
the church bells had made her feel
a little lonesome and away from the
world
But it was a girls light step that
ran quickly up the stairs, girls
eager voice that begged to come in,
with daffodils, leaned over and kiss
ed Mrs. Richmond's forehead.
Where shall l put them?" she
asked, holding out the flowers
They're from the church. I've left
them every week, you know; but to-
day, when DR.. Richmond told me
that you were sitting up, 1 begged
him to let me really bring them
Now that you are getting we'll,
don't believe the parish will give
you a moments rest. You don't
know how we've missed you!"
you've all been so kind-too
kind" Mrs. Richmond murmured
her thin cheeks flushing with pleas.
ure 'T had no idea I was so blessed
in friends, but of course you would
be thoughtful and attentive because
of DR.. Richmond
mot at ALL" broke in Elinor, 6
little holly. TITS you yourself! We
love DR.. Richmond, too; but dom
you realize what you've meant anG
do mean to the parish?"
But, my DEAR" interrupted Mrs
Richmond, still flushed and a little
bewildered, you can't know how it!
weighed on me, this uselessness O
mine, for I've never been really tht
minister's wife, I've just been Mrs
Richmond. I never had a voice, S,
couldn't take my place in the choir
1 wasn't the least bit musical:
couldn't even play the organ accom-
paniments for the Sunday-schoo
hymns. And there were always s,
many, many little children about m.
knees that / seemed constantly con
Quoting home kindergarten classe
and sewing societies all of my own
l thought so often, as lay here thi
winter, how much better 1t woult
have been if DR.. Richmond ha,
chosen some one more worthy, NOR
able to help him, than I have been.
"And do you never remember,
answered Miss Lane, gently, eth
year l came here, a forlorn nttl
rightened-to-death school teacher
and my Thanksgiving with you jus
because my home was so far away
Don't you ever think Of the Ba
ker twins from that forsaken cope
mining region? They never woul
have known anything Of Christianit
or decency il you hadn't cared 70
them.
Don't you know how much all O
us realize that DR.. Richmond's splen
did theories of life and charity an
love come from his happiness wit
you? o Mrs. Richmond, the paris
would be so poor if it had lost you!
After the girl had gone Mrs