Norwich bulletin., 1913-10-25
THE SUBSTITUTE
B E

I'll come and speak to you. for like you.'
 Did I ever tell you of going to stay with old Mrs. Mitchell. They had sent for her daughter to come from the city, but the old lady couldn't be left alone meantime. When l appeared her first question was: Where is Louise? I don't want you here watching me. You don't know what to do for me, any, way"
 I tried to sooth her by saying: .IIl try to make you comfortable till your daughter comeS;" but nothing I did was right and every waking moment was given to grumbIing at the way she was treated until the daughters arrival noticed she talked in the same man ner to her daughter so did not take any blame to myself.
 Its only Mothers way" explained Louise.
 Even dramatics were not beyond Miss charity presented a play, and at the l last moment one of the leading charae- ters failed to fill her part. Miss Stead will be just the one" was the verdict l "Oh, yeS," was her ready response, "I suppose you want me for an old wo 1 man.
 ??
 1 "No?, a fashionable belIe!" 1 We'll, I'll do the best I can, but I've never posed for that character 1 She was the greatest hit of all the i plaG, and won applause from all the | audience.
 l Trusting to her rather than to a hos i pital, one morning found a very young | infant left at Miss Steads door. Miss | Susan was equal to the demand, and l cared for the little stranger till the au- l thorities could be reached. l Even the lame dogs in the. street l would hobble on three feet to suppli- cate her aid, which was never refused 1 and seldom was some guest dog or 1 cat, or wounded bird missing from her l domicile
 1 In the early spring of one year, a new | Methodist minister appeared in the midst directly after Conference. We were told that MT. Denison was never married, but that the lady was already l selevted, and would soon be brought l to the parsonage. She however, ob- i jecteG to the appointment, and broke 1 her engagement to the minister. The l parson did not seem to be crushed by her refusal, and before long it was mo- | tied that he appeared to have turned | to Miss Stead for comfort in his lone ] liness Love is caught in the rebound l they say, and Miss Steads engag cement to the new minister was soon announc-
 ed.
 I Tt is my last attempt at being a 1 substitute" jolIingIy announced Miss 1 Susan when she was congratulated. Her many friends determined that | she should have a pretty wedding. and
 she was told for once she would not be | called upon to substitute, for there
 would be no failures in that enter 1 prise.
 Loving hands decorated the church
 till it was transformed into a bower of 1 lovliness SkilfuIl workers prepared a l wedding feast to be served at the cozy l little parsonage after the ceremony
 Everybody was invited to the recep- 1 tion held there in honor of the newly l weddded pair. Generous gifts were lay- | ished upon them from all directions
 coming from so many whom she ha6 1 befriended.
 As the parson could obtain no sub stitute for his ministerial duties. the
 wedding tour was perforce omitted al the close of the reception, their guests left them with many good wishes fol the future.
 Whom shall we find for your place as substitute?" lanented her friends.
 "Thre will be some one to do it don't you fear" replied Mrs. Denison
 "Fvery real need finds it's supply
 somewhere, and my substitute vii 1 come to light.
 AN IDLER