The Holly chieftain., 1915-04-30
her LEN1EM SACRIFICE
BY JOHN DARLING.

There is only one thing that
really do not like to do" said Geral-
| dine.
Then that's the thing for you to
do, my dear; that ought to be your
sackcloth and ashes this Lent" said
Miss Craft, spinster, and Sunday
school teacher of Geraldine Bonner
and other girls not yet old enough to
vote. What is it?"
"Darning! l hate to darn stock
ings!"
But before the beginning of Lent
she had decided to darn stockings for
anyone who would pay her 20 cents an
hour all through the penitential sea-
son, and to this end she wrote little
notes to her friends and placed tiny
card Of advertisement in the church
leaiet. She hoped, down in her soul.
that she would not find much work to
do. but she had determined to take
whatever came her way.
One family after another engaged
her services for one or two or three
or even five or six hours week, and
before she could realize it Geraldine
had given up nearly all of her own
time. This in itself was a great sac
rifice, for the skating was good and
she loved to skate. Her little box of
money, which she was saving for her
Easter offering. was getting heavy.
The family in which Geraldine
found the most darning to do was
family Of father. mother. four sons
and small daughter The mother
kept no servant and had eyes that
would not admit of her darning or
doing close work at night. Hence,
Geraldine's newly established profess
sion fitted In conveniently with the
schemes of the family need
The week before Easter Geraldine
felt that she could do the darning for
the Foster family in less than two
hours, and on the day on which she
vas to go to that home she had
planned to have an afternoons skat-
ing.
when she arrived in the cheerful sew.
ing room, Mrs. Foster showed her
basketful of socks.
I'll try to get them all done for
you, Mrs. Foster" she said, cheerfully.
| This is my last week you know"
Il do know ito my sorrow" re-
piled Mrs. Foster. ooh, James, come
in. Miss Bonner, this is my son who
has loaded you down with extra work.
James, Miss Bonner, who has been
helping me for few weeks with the
mending."
| James Foster let his eyes dwell
longer than was necessary on the love
ly face Of Geraldine Bonner as she
sat In the sunlight in his mothers tiny
sewing room. He stepped over to her
low rocker and put out his hand. II
am glad to have the pleasure of meet
ing you-and sorry to have brought
| you more work" he said, his frank,
pleasant smile accompanying his
| words.
| "Oh-dont mind the work. I-well,
I'll tell you how much good 1t has
done me, some day, perhaps" Ger.
aldine answered
You're fond of darning?" asked
James, sitting down on the edge of
the machine. He was tall, and the
edge of it made a not uncomfortable
seat for him.
| Fond of it," asked Geraldine. "If
| were l shouldn't be doing it as a
Lenten sacrifice, should II" she
laughed.
"Hardly-would she, mother?"
Mrs. Foster shook her head. mo,
son, guess not. But I'll say for Miss
Bonner right here and now that she
might love the work dearly, for she
has never been anything but cheerful
and happy over it, and it has been a
pleasure to have her here"
Geraldine made bow over her
work and Mrs. Foster hurried of to
attend to numerous duties. James,
being at home on visit, could think
OF no pleasanter way Of spending
that vacation time than in sitting in
his mothers sewing room watching
the sunbeams play in and out among
Geraldine Bonner's curls as she bent
over the homely task of darning.
All afternoon he remained near the
girl and at the end of three hours
when she had finished the two had
become more than mere acquaint-
ances. They were sure that they had
found several points of meeting and
that they should see each other often
while James was at home.
Geraldine was busy during the
week, but on Sunday when she made
her Easter Offering of many dollars