The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-09-05

Missions
AT the church pArIors that after,
noon the little president looked paier
than ever. She vas Drawing = bad
headache in order 20 be there-and
besides. the missionary spirit evident
iy was not working. The meeting vas
slow in beginning. There was no.
body 10 play the piano. two or three
women came In late. and the presi-
dent vas visibiy troubled Then
Frances Graham rose.
Madam President" she said gent
Iy, II will play. il you want me TO.
The little president smiled. "Oh.
thank you-and. Mrs. Graham. Mrs.
Wells. who was TO lead the devotion
al. Is not here. Could you-would
you take her placer"
! Frances Graham could not resist
the pleading voice.
/ Certainly" she said.
J The little president leaned back in
I her chair, relaxing a little as the
white hands swept the keys. and
/ hearts and voices taking courage at
( the melody that poured forth sang
as they had never sung before at
missionary meeting in Finley,
! Come, thou Almighty King"
For her Scripture reading she took
Just one verse from the first chapter
Of Joshua Have | not commanded
thee? Be strongtand OF good cour-
h. hA
/ dismayed; for the Lord thy God is
with thee whithersoeyer thou goest."
And then she followed that up
with a little talk on courage that
warmed and thrilled every woman
heart there. To know and realize
done, not by many women, but few!
Every eye was fastened on the lovely
woman in the plain hat and suit, and
the inspiration of her words were
such that there wasn't dull moment
on the program after it.
"How can | thank you" cried the
little, shabby president when it was
over
by accepting this" and then she
pressed into the tired little presi-
dents hand a roll of bills. Use it
in any way that seems BEST she said
Il used to belong to this Circle. |
love it still. 1 know it still has
needs"
ooh, thank YOU" murmured the
surprised little president. A soft
color had flooded her thin cheeks
She could scarcely believe what had
happened. Their poor, struggling
little circle to have an uplift such
as that. The tears came to her eyes.
81 appreciate everything and your
coming here today; you can not know
what this has meant to us. l knew
later that Mrs. Ingram was giving a
party this afternoon; l never thought
of seeing you after that"
Frances Graham smiled. you
forget, I too love Missions" she an
swered gently.
The tired, little president had bios
somed into happiness. II know you
do she said humbly; land even you
will never realize what you have
! done for us this afternoon-not alone
the singing and the devotional meet
ing; not alone the money; but the
fact that you cared enough to come.
To put aside other things for us. Oh,
that will give us courage in the days
to come! This money will tide us
over, too; give US just the help we
needed It seems to me I couldn' t
have kept up much longer. Now,
praise the Lord, I shall go on" -
And to think you are leaving Fin
ley without once wearing that love
: ly diamond cross" mourned Mrs
Reynolds the morning of her friends
departure. "Oh, Fanny, I wanted
you to go to that bridge party at Sen
ator Ingram's-I can't get over it,
Frances Graham bent and kissed
her friends cheeks. "'In this world
Nellie" she said gravely, Il have
found that hearts are of infinitely
more value than diamonds"
And then she unused. She was
thinking of that pale, little president
. of that Mission Circle in Finley. an6
of what it had been possible for hel
to give to it.
Are you referring to bridge?'
questioned little Mrs. Reynolds 9
trif1e puzzled. 81 don't play it very
we'll yet"
Don't ever play 1t, Nellie" sale
. Frances Graham, still gravely. Ant
then she added gently: .I am refer
ring to the hearts that pertain to hui
man lives, little friend-that's all.
Golden Colorado