Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-15
A Reward for Service

Twas late afternoon. Outside Il
heavy snow WAS falling and a fierce
wind that bchooved all those who felt
tho keen Touch OF IL to draw their
garments closer about them and hasten
homo. was blowing and whi.,Iing
around the corner of the houses and
hcapinc the snow in immense piles:
inside the merry voices Of children
rang through the rooms OF a hand
some mansion on tho outskirts Of one
of our large cities. mingled with the
more subducd chatter Of their elders
as they sat convcrsing before a CHEEKY
fire.
Madcc Wentworth. a young girl of
seventeen. slipped away from all this
scene OF merrincnt ard hurriediy put
TING on her wraps went out the front
door and down the steps. Then she
Every afternoon at her home she
had been used 10 taking a long walk.
but as she was only visiting here she
louSlN. but on second thought decided
II would DO all right with her hostess
Ginning up beautifully sioping hill.
covered with some still sre.n pines ana
cedar trees, she came upon n little one
room cottage All dark inside and.
seemingly. with no living things
door, she knocked feariessly upon it,
IN tho meant me. q, the house she
ncr ana inc cues on on every tongue
Was Where is . lsin Madee?.
Lillian West; OIL Of Madge,,s friends.
also visiting here. answered. Il saw
her leave the house about a quarter or
An hour ago and concluded she had
/ gone for her afternoon walk"
This seemed TO put dampcr on
crcryonc's buoyant spirits. and they
began to count the minutes prior TO
At last she came back and seven
year old Doris explained as she SAW
Der cnicr the room. Here's Cousin
MadE.c and she's got paint on her
face.
My. Your face is rosy. Madge But
that's natural color, Doris corrected
After surpcr when they sa, around
i nc ircpiac" everyone, Young and old
ing now taicn,ed she was along that
xii ri r rs s,@y," lispsd ssnx Horace
if yon little folks will he rca, quiet"
,rrmr stories aren't nice com
Dick. " ~ '"' '''''''S
Nh stories Cousin, Madse tells are
: tortch his sister. Mary
Well anyway. I'm going TO tell YOU
ihis one and We'll sec how YOU like il.
II is about something that happened
during my walk this evening. When
! left here ] felt 80 happy. The even
ing was So lovely In spite of the cold.
temptation of the beauties Of nature
Thrn suddenly. there. came something
YOU guess what il VAS"
old snake" asked Baby Horace.
NO: guess again
bear, questioned Dick, evident
Madge shook her head
German spy" volunteered their
Wrong again. Well. as YOU don't
seem very good AT guessing, I'll tell
YOU what II was. saw among the
( trees high upon hill small one
I room cabin. Knocking 1T the door,
/ was answered by a faint. feeble
| voice calling out, Come in In went
. In one corner OF the hut two tiny
! forms were huddled close together or
esd OF straw In another a, middle
any sign of fire, but there WAS none.
The room was bare OF furniture and
/ Sery cold And then thought Of tho
every luxury aear, can wish. our
selves included while these three poor
people people, were ere literally starving, and
These are not all. lust think of the
many thousands in the world today
( who are in he same fin"
But TO 20 back ia my story. Draw
lnE the children close MP To me and
warming them AS best | could ! told
( them the story OF the birth OF Christ.
10 which they listened With rapt at
tcntion. DO YOU know they had never
heard the meme OF christ before in
/ their lives Now have question
! like 10 contribute something TO the
/ comfort OF these ls,or. suffering peo-
/ pie and give them happy Christmas"
II would" chorused every voice in
unison.
( I'm so glad" she murmurcd. with
tears ciistentng in he" eyes. and We'll
set 10 work in earnest tomorrow.
Early in the morning III go out and
get the material for some nice warm
/ dresses for them. and all YOU children
meet me in the school room At II III
I ge, to work > Here she paused and
! looked at her Aun, Mary That is, If
/ Aunt Mary is willing"
I "Certainly ! am. You needn't worry
/ about The sewing machines: they Will
| he in the school room ready for use
At the appointed hour.
The children were taught at home
! in y large school room, but as they
! were out Of school for tho Christ
/ mas holidays they could spare the time
Lillian said to Madgc WAY are You
I soihe TO have tho children make the
seamstresscs and all Madee? 1t will
| take so much longer"
why? How can YOU ask it, Iii?
TO teach them generosity and self
sacrifice. Christmas is a time when
every one should be thinking OF others.
| ana uon YOU lhink tniS - u SOOu WY
TO keen their minds Of of thems -
Yes" admitted Lillian. slowly.
| BY Christmas everything was in
! readiness, and Madge, taking all the
! children with her. went TO the little
| house on the hill and gave the occu-
! pants The things prepared for them.
They were thrice rewarded by tho
! looks OF gratitude tho old woman and
! tho two children gave them. and every
! heart was happy in the thought that
| they had helped TO make happy the
| hearts OF others.
tOrisinal.l ALICE PEARSON.
! keNSNiilL. Va