The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-04-25
zIOLA'S OFFERING
There Were Many Beautiful Lii
les, but Her Own Dear Self
Counted Most
BY GEORGIA LOTT SETTER.

~ GEOhGtfA EO 0G6h
If ziola Potter had lived in a large
town, she would doubtless have been
called very charming woman. How
ever. In her own, plain-speaking little
community, people wondered why on
earth she didn't marry and live like
other folksl
There was no use In trying to con-
ceal such apparent facts as the leak
ing Of the roof, and the coldness Of
rattling windows and loosened clap
boards, or that most of her scanty liv-
ing came from the little garden and
few hens in house as dilapidated as
that Of their mistress.
But Ziola managed In some unimag-
Unable way to wear frocks Of a dainti-
ness and style beyond most Of her
neighbors. And she could loop back
her frayed curtains. arrange her an
tquated furniture on her faded car
pets, and serve tea from her delicate
old cups with an air that every one
Of them envied.
Having neither husband nor child to
absorb her attention, her one great In
terest In life had grown to be the up
holding of family tradition. And just
what task this is for two slender
hands and still slenderer purse, only
those who have tried can know.
One day in rumaging through some
old papers. she came across this sig
ni1cant item In one Of her mothers ac-
counts:
Made our usual Easter Offering"
Usual Easter Offering What on
earth has she to offer? But an offer
she must makel
Ziola counted on her flngers-she
had never had much experience with
figures except in subtraction-there
were eight months of Intervening
time.
But time was of no account. After
sleepless night, the great idea came
to her.
Flowers! She already had the best
garden in the little village, and her
flowers were all that ever graced the
bare, little church on Easter. But this
year-and every year to come-there
should be banks Of flowers, until the
congregation learned to look upon
them as her usual Easter offeringi"
A warm, sunny strip along the front
of the garden was chosen, and spaded
painstakingly
She knew every trick of fertilizing
and. working the soil, planting the
bulbs and protecting them through the
winter.
In the early spring, when other gar
dens we're still wet and cold. the green
sprouts began to shoot up Industrious
ly. She counted every stem. every
leaf. every blossom.
81 love everyone of you.'" ziola whis-
pered, you beautiesl There is Just
one week left for you to grow-yon
must hurry-hurry!"
Bending above them absorbed in
their beauty and fragrance, she was
unconscious of all else, until mighty
splintering and throbbing crashed
upon her. At her very feet lay a
confused mass Of fence pales, crushed
flower stalks, an overturned runabout
and a mans scared face.
Ziola. her hands clasped over her
throbbing heart. stood in soundless
misery.
Are you hurtT" cried the man,
struggling to his feet in the midst Of
the wreckage.
Ziola did not stir.
For heaven sake. madam, speak to
me! Are you injuredr
mo" said Ziola. bitterly, but look
at my beautiful fowersl"
With a sob she flung her apron over
her face and dashed past his into the
house.
We'll, If that doesn't beat the
Dutchl" George Gibson stood still In
stonishment-angry astonishment-
"Flowersl She does not think about