The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-09-22

ehA va Ills Cltdus. uuu ne was not Ike
ly 10 find her in this remote village.
There was not a speck of dust to be
seen In the parsonage when the kero-
sene lamps were lighted. Ii would be
an hour yet before the donation party
would arrive. and some one was talk.
Ing volubly to Mrs. Wells In the sitting
room. Their voices reached the minis
ter in his study. Mrs. Wells wheezy
tones were punctuated by another wo
mans shrill utterances.
"Millie Rhodes says it's the first time
they've never been able to give 1--WE
bushels Of potatoes to the new minis
Ter, and | says 10 her. says: Don't
cry, Milly. Mr.. Frake will understand
how 1t is-your pa being sick so long
and your ma dying and all But she
only said she wished she had some
thing 20 give. bsca use she had TO stop
putting anything into the plate at
church. Seems to me. Mrs Smith.
says she, seems to me poor folks are
just squeezed tight to the wall. The
Bible says not to place any value on
money. and yet it's the only thing that
seems to count in this world The
speaker drew long breath.
"Poor child" sobbed Mrs. Wells. "a
hope she amt going to stay home just
because she can's bripg anything
81 told her she would have to come
anyway. Ann Dent Is going TO stay
with Mr.. Rhodes for spell"
The doorbell rang. and Mrs. Wells
hurried into the hall Arthur Frake
heard her exclamation Of pleasure.
"Why. Mile. child, am glad to see
your she cried Come right In and
meet Mr.. Frake. You've never met
him. your pa being sick ever since Mr..
Frake came. Oh. Mr.. Frake. here's
the first one, Miss Millie Rhodes. from
the Hollow farm
In this disjointed fashion Arthur
Frake met parishioner whom he had
fair girl. with soft blue eyes and a
sweet mouth. She was dressed In
black. and he recoilected that they had
said she had lost her mother. Her
arms were filed with fowers-chrys.
anthemums Of every color. great
branches Of crimson dogwood berries,
trailing lengths of orange and scarlet
bittersweet and bunch Of pink gera
NUNS with sweet smelling leaves.
1T was all | had TO bring" she said
little wistfully as she dropped them
ON the study table.
"And a beautiful donation. Miss
Rhodes. thank you" said the minis.
ter sincerely as he took her hand.
win you add another favor-arrange
them about the rooms? No. only IN
this ROOM" he added whimsically.
So Millie Rhodes stepped lightly to
and fro. arranging vases and bowls OF
flowers on mantelpiece and tables.
trailing the dogwood and bittersweet
berries over pictures and mirrors and
ut the minister's request placing the
bowl Of pink geraniums on his desk.
Rose geraniums are my favorite
flowers" he said gravely. And they
were from that instant.
Then came the sound Of laughter
and loud rinSing at the front door
The house was filled with merry
crowd OF the minister's flock. all push
ing forward to shake his hand and ut.
ter good wishes Each one brought
something's bag or bundle or basket
and soon the kitchen tables were heap
ed with bushels Of potatoes. apples.
dried fruit. bags of -four. Jars Of pre-
serves and pickles. toothsome layer
cakes and pies and all the goodies that
farmers wives know how TO manufac
ture.
Mile Rhodes sat quietly I'm a corner
with q group OF friends. and there was
quiet happiness In her face that no
one save Mrs Wells and Sarah Smith
and. OF course. the minister quite un
derstood.
Miles donation eautified the min
ister's own room, and uncOnsciousIy
her fingers had given the deft WON
anly touches that the room needed.
BY and by some asked her to sing.
and she arose and. unaccompanied,
sang in a sweet, flutelike voice many
old ballads that brought tears to the
eyes of the older people.
II should like my wife to sing like
that" thought Arthur Frake as he
moved among his people.
This donation was not exactly like
other donation parties. Even Emma
Wells admitted that. To begin with,
there was such an abundance Of gifts
that the company could not possibly
dispose Of them at the supper, which
was served at 10 O'clock
Then Mr.. Frake was young, and
youth creates q different atmosphere.
The old parsonage had always been q
gloomy place In the pastorate Of the
aged Mr.. Walker. and tonight there
was such a feeling OF cheerfulness and
good fellowship between young and
old that the parish was united In
stronger bonds Of love than ever be
fore.
Good night" they called as they
went away--"good night, Mr.. Frake.
and good luck"
And Arthur Frake, having blessed,
them q few moments before, fell on
his knees in the fragrant little study