Norwich bulletin., 1914-04-18
THE PRICE OF AN EASTER HAT.


 Should she tell the honest truth, or let Madelaine go one thinking her to be
 like herself? She decided to be sin
 core and outspoken, even at the risH
 of giving offence, and so when the customer left them free to resume
 their talk, and the former question
 was repeated. she was ready with her reply.
 No. have not selected my hat. and
 do not intend to do so at present. I'll
 get one later on that will do for the
 entire summer. have so many other
 uses for my money just now"
 No Easter hat!' screamed Made~ Iaine. Why, I shouldn't know 1t was Faster, if I didn't have any new clothes. What are you going to spend your money for. may l ask, if not for
 Easter clothes? You have better pay
 than l do. and there is nothing else to buy now"
 well" returned Eleanor smilingly, q know of many things I want to do with it. There are the younger ones at home to be remem bered. with carus and other things. Then our rector mas requested a generous contribution at Easter time for mission work" "Oh,' snapped out Madelaine, break ing into her friends talk they're al- ways asking for money in churches, but they don't get any of mine, 1 can tell you. Charity begins at home, and l have all l can do to take care of
 myself
 But I like to feel I can help a lit- tle,' responded Eleanor. T cannot give much, of course. but Easter joy means more if it follows some self denial during Lent"
 T suppose" interrupted the other, that is why you go to noon day church service instead of buying a lunch as you used to do. Well, every 1 one to her liking, but 1 prefer to look out for number one.''
 Eleanor began her reply with a | blush. She had hoped her self-denial was unnoticed, but here customers
 stopped the talk for a while, nor was , it resumed for several days. | The time flew swiftly by. and Eas- ter came with bright, pleasant, sun shiny weather, and to Madelaine the Eas ter parade was the great feature | of the day and her costume was cer- tainly becoming to her IL attracted notice from her many acquaintance, who admired her clothes, and won dered how she could manage it on her | pay in her present position. Made l laine could have told them of no remem l brance of the home people. not even { an Easter card. also of her week s ! board bill unpaid, whereby her land- | lady was disturbed greatly.
 The daughter in that household. a little girl of ten years found her mite-bOX lighter than she had hoped, and heart heavier in proportion, as 1 she trudged along to church and Sun day school beside her mother, whose 1 care-worn look even the Easter joy 1 could not entirely dispel.
 Eleanor had made profitable use of 1 her time for the past two weeks. Among the children whom she knew, was a little crippled girl. to whom 1 Eleanor's visits were like rays of sun l shine in a dark place. Every Easter was her last on Earth, so her family ! thought, and they tried in every way i to make the child happy as long as ] she remained with them. Most of all her visitors she valued Eleanor. whom ! she reminded by contrast of a sister
 much the same in age, but in perfect ] health. Seldom were Eleanor's visits sort, a flower or plant. a bit of fruit, a l picture or toy.
 1 Little Bessie Grant was unspoiled by | all the attention she received, and i was well instructed in all knowledge 1 available to one in her condition. She 1 knew what Easter meant, and wanted l to go to church on that day. but her 1 parents felt it to be impossible l Eleanor alone favored the undertak- 1 ing. til she won the mothers consent, and finally the fathers also. A wheel 1 chair was secured for the day and some one to propel it. and tenderly the child was placed in it, while | Eleanor walked beside the little suf- ! ferer, even to the church door and 1 tended a church where Easter was not ' greatly observed-and the child wanted | to so to Miss Eleanors church. 1 On their way they met the floor ! walker of the store where Eleanor was l employed. As it chanced, he was on 1 his way to join the Grants, with
 whom he was well acquainted. He