Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-05
THE DIFFERENCE

It was a bleak day fn November.
 The wind was piercing from the north,
 but in the shelter of the house on the south the sun shOne warm, and the air was fresh and balmy with 8. touch
 of be1ated summer. It was just the
 place to lie back on cushions and read.
 and Mrs. Banks was enjoying that
 luxury. Wrapped in a warm aNt0zao-
 bile coat. with a fur cap. and a steam CT rug about her feet, she sat on her
 end of the piazza was screened with
 glass and formed real sun parler. What could be more comfortable and luxurious than a morning in this
 charming nook? Wide fields opened
 before the vision. with a view of dis
 tant hills.
 Maida Sands. as she trudged by. a
 heavy basket on her ann, looked al- most envfously at the woman seated on the piaxza- MaSda was poor. She
 had given up her studies and her ann
 bition to become an artist that she
 might help support her invalid mother.
 left at her husbands death with
 scanty means. But what could she do to earn money?
 q might so into shon, mother.
 leave you alone all day, and couldn't do that.s
 Why not take in aewing?' asked
 her mother.
 "oh. I can't do that," eejected the
 girl. T never could sit still and sew
 must move about"
 You might sell sonething, her
 mother proposed, there are so many
 things people want-soap, essences.
 books--some people make a great deai
 of as money ne t that ,hs way sna you could es Yes" faltered the eirl. sperhaps --I" try"
 Yet she dreaded it. How could she
 go to strange people and ask them to
 buy of her? It would seem almost from it-but she must do something, and one couldn't always choose. Maida and her mother lived tn . small house with . little plot of land. When the spring opened Matda had
 and beautiful things. and to be out in Gods world with the frse cir about her. So she worked for a time each day with her plants. and her garden fourished-
 flowers from her garden. Those who bought told others of them 90 she soon had many orders to fill Some sent their orders and she took the Bowers to them. By-an-oy she thought che could raise more than fowers-per- 1dpS STE COatQ oCh FS6RLd<OAS2s &ftb they would bring in more money. So she set out tomato vines, and they bore beautiful. large fruit which peo- pie were glad to buy. Then she tried celery. The long rows of green heads
 were beautiful to so see ;an and whsn n,,, No Q baskets to sell to those who had or dered it. It was hard work. often heI back ached, but she was earnine
 money and helping mother. and wal l happy.
 Maida was carrying Q heavy baskei | of celery that windy morning wheI i she passed Mrs. Banks sitting on hel ! piazza Her arms ached, for she had
 been working all the morning. Hel I brow clouded as sine looked at th< l woman sitting so comfortably in tn. I sun with books about her. She woul{ I love books if she only had time ts read themi
 How I would love to have time fo, l such things!" she murnuredA-l | could paint-if were like her. 1 like that and take eomfort-out then she added, with cherry laugh. "whal am I fretting about? I can be out il I the sunshine-what's. the difference walking or sitting-only sometimes 1 walking makes me tired-I get the ail
 just the same; and the beauty, if l d. Then she thought how happy hel l mother would be when she brongh
 home the money. But she could no
 help wondering why there was st
 much difference in this world in peo l ple's lots.
 Maida walked many miles tha morning before she disposed of, he l store. Her feet were weary when sh, 1 trudged slowly homeward. The brigh
 sun did not look quite 60 attractive 1 for she was tired. Mrs. Banks wa l still sitting in her corner and Maid,
 sighed. But she was piucixy and hrav' and it was with cheerful face sh' 1 entered her home.
 You're such a comfort to me. deari' l was happy and forgot her weariness With smiling face she stepped abou l the kitchen preparing the dinner. | But a little later as they at thei l frugal meal. the girl asked suddenly Are not things somehow little un evenly divided in this world. mother :? l Mrs. Sands looked up in surprise. l 'eWell, mebby," she assented, T | does seem so sometimes-btrt then. | guess it's pretty well evened up. afte l all. We all have our share of tn
 sunshine and air. don't we? All tn | beautiful worlds ours. and we've noth 1 ing to complain of"
 srm not compiaining. mother. wa 1 just wondering"
 | A few weeks later there came a ney l order for flowers. for Maida had i'm | provised small hot-house at the en; | of the dining room in front of tn
 large south window. so she had flower | even in November.
 l It's to go to No 5s4 Park ave, l announced the man who gave tn order. They are for lady who | very ill."
 Maida picked her choicest blossom and arranged them in a basket, think ing all the while of the poor sick wo man. who was to receive them. an with a happy feeling of thankfulnes for her own health, She walked dow
 the long avenue looking for the righ number. When she found 1t sh 1 1laitaed aRfnnishad. It Waa the yer