Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1910-02-02
By ALIcE LOUISE LEE.


Under the naples back of the Haz-
lit house the Ladies Aid Society was
holding a business meeting. The
roup numbered bare two dozen.
Time had been when the houses at
Mecca Summit could hardly hold the
members.
No one ever asked for an eSp1ana-
ton OF the change except the new
ministers, and they did not inquire
loEg.
only the unwilling workers
and Eiyers VINO dropped by the
Wayside,r the president Of the society
often remarked, resignedly; but there
were those-among whom vas Me
hitable Winthrop-thst held to an
other opff2r.
The SUBJECT under discussion at
this business meeting was the annual
Fourth of July dinner given in the
church yestry, and largely attended
By the summer people down at the
lake.
The president, Mrs. Cox, sat in an
armchair facing the group of ladies,
1t was difficult TO remember the time
when Mrs. Cox had not been presi-
dent. She was a tall. thin woman.
coIorless and wiry, a bundle of nerves
under good control, but not in perfect
repair. Mrs. Cox was the most capa-
Bile woman in the church, at least SO
every one belieyed-including Mrs.
Cox herself!
what would we do without herr"
sighed little, Mrs. Eoltwood thank
fully, TO Miss M%ehitable; but her
fhankfulness was of the same variety
(which she felt when her youngest
child came down with tie measles at
exactly the right age.
Miss Mehitable, tanning herself, ap-
peared not to hear, and there was no
time for the other tt repeat her re-
mark. The president was speaking,
and when Mrs. Coz spoke every one
listened. 1t was understood at the
Summit that Mrs. Cox had no SUI
perior as chairman of a,meeting.
Who will donate chickens?" she
asked.
For an instant no one spoke. Then
with al air OF patient m%artyrdom
Mrs Cox q note o. the paper
she held. in her nand, and said, II will
give three She drew her lips down
at the corners and added, with low
but significant emphasis, ~And if it
proves necessary I can give more,
although I had hoped to Sell of
enough hens next month to get me a
new hat. Mrs. Cox glanced over
the head OF Mrs. Boltwood, adorned
as It was with a pretty fower-trimmed
gray chip
Mrs. Boltwood turned scarlet. 81
- wills give two. She raised her
voice rebelliousfy. with a sound of
tears Just under the surface. aIt's
the first All-o.er new hat I've had In
four yea&sss she whispered to Miss
MeLita1 and I can't AFFORD to give
two hens.
IreneHazlist sat next to Mrs. Bolt
wood. Mrs. Hazlitt was a young
marion who had lived only one year
at the Summit, and was possessed OF
excellent ideas, which she had been
called upon to use in connection with
the Ladies Aid. She spoke out with
afearlessness Supplying t. the faith
full members: Not e single chicken
will donate to a tw~enty-cent dinner.
Sliced Lam is good enough and much
cheaper. I will give ham, but not
chicken
TWENTY-FIVE ladies secretly agreed
with Irene Hazlitt. The twenty
fourth. IN the armchair, drew down
the9corners of her mouth and made
another note IN her paper.
I've always have had chickens ~
Mrs. Cox looked fxedly at her paper.
And always before they have been
cheerfully donated"
Irene Hazlitt, despite her common
sense, felt vaguely and uncomfortably
d%isgraced. She bit her lips and looked
at Miss MehitabIe, but the latter was
staring at the grass in deep thought.
Miss Mehitab1e had bestowed much
thought and few words on the condi-
lion of the aid society during the past
year.
The president waited an instant,
enveioped in q peculiarly chilling at
mosphere, which deepened every ones
sense OF Irene's disgrace, and then
added. IT will make UP the deficiency
IL will give four instead of three"
Every one save Miss Iehitable
moved ~uneasily and glanced at Mrs.
Cox's head. In their minds eye they
saw the old hat adjoining the second
pew from the front the remainder of
the summer, and knew alsotthat every
person between the Summit and
PatchuIik City would know why, for
Mrs. Cox Invariably allowed her left
fand-and her neighbors also-to
know what her right hand was doing
IN the matter OF giving and working.
After the chickens and other food
for the dinner had been pledged, Mrs.
Cox appointed the committees. Mrs
Boltwood, will you make the cofee?'
The little woman gasped. An In
expert coffee drinker could rot al
ways detect the difference between
her tea and coffee, but If she refused
to act ON the coffee committee the
chilling shadow OF the presidents dis
pleasure world fall on her; therefore
she faltered:
will work hard. Mrs. Cox.