The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1917-07-06


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 sbrill utterances.
"Millie Rhodes says it's the first time
they've never been able to give FIVE
bushels OF potatoes to the new minis
ter, and / says to 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 to give. because she had to stop
putting anything into the plate at
church. Seems to me. Mrs. Smith,
says she, seems to m%lpoor 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 a long breath.
Poor childr' sobbed Mrs. Wells. 81
hope she amt going to stay home just
because she can't bring anything"
II told her she would have to come
anyway. Ann Dent is going to stay
with Mr.. Rhodes for a spell"
The doorbell rang, and Mrs. Wells
hurried into the hall. Arthur Frake
heard her exclamation of pleasure.
"why. Millie. 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
never seen. Mile Rhodes was a tall.
fair girl, with soft blue eyes and
sweet mouth. She was dressed In
black, and he recollected that they had
said she had lost her mother. Her
arms were filed with f1owers-chrys
anthemums of every color. great
branches Of crimson dogwood berries.
trailing lengths Of orange and scarlet
bittersweet and o bunch OF pink gera
NUNS with sweet smelling leaves.
ut was all I had to bring" she said
little wistfully as she dropped them
on the study table.
And beautiful donation. Miss
Rhodes. thank you said the minis
ter sincerely as he took her hand
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
lowers on mantelpiece and. tables.
trailing the dogwood and bittersweet
berries over pictures and mirrors and
at the minister's request placing the
bowl of pink geraniums on his desk.
oV1f. Co.
lowers" he said gravely. And they
were from that instant.
Then came the sound OF laughter
and loud ringing at the front door
The house was filed with a 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 in corner
with 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 beautified the min.
listers own room. and unconsciously
her fingers had given the def WON
anly touches that the room needed.
By and by some asked her to sing,
and she arose and. unaccompanied.
sang In a sweet, hutelike 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 different atmosphere. |
The old parsonage had always been a
gloomy place in the pastorate of the
aged Mr.. Walker and tonight there |
was such 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 few moments before, fell on
his knees in the fragrant little study
and poured out his soul I'm thankful
ness for the kindness that was show
cred upon him.
And he especially prayed for MiIlie
Rhodes, who had given what she could
out OF her meager store.
There came a day In the following
year, after Millie had been bereft of
her remaining parent, that Arthur
Frake fingered at the Hollow farm