The diamond drill., 1919-04-26
THE LITTLE HELP

BY MILDRED e. SWEksoN.
pyright. DIS. By Mcclure Newspap'
Syndicate)

4 phptf ruc hau Uctu ptiuhilis W Whcic
her mother sat sewing. She was max
1 ing dress for Beth. or course-but
with all due regard TO style that
would last, for their dresses had 10
do them for long time. Beth sighed.
Mother" she said. wouldn't you
be just tickled 10 pieces 10 wake up
some morning and find that you could
20 out and get dress already made In
the latest fashion. without regard 10
whether IL would wear well or not?"
"Yes. dear" she said. "but you know
that would be impossible now" II
know II. mother" said Beth. with a
sigh. "but, goodness me. | do hope that
IL won't Be like this forever! There.
mother, forget that; I'm u little pig TO
care about it at all :" But her moth
er didn't forget She knew how hard
II was for her daughter TO 90 without
the pretty things that she had been
accustomed TO have.
You see. Mr. Marvin had heard his
country's call a short time before and
had gone TO join the colors, leaving his
wife and slxteen-year-old daughter 10
get along on the amount he had In the
bank, after many years OF saving. II
was a small amount, too. but large
enough TO keep his wife and daughter
In comparative comfort until he should
return, but without the luxuries OF
life.
No one knew when the fight for
humanity would be ended. and until
II was. Mr.. Marvin, now Captain Mar
win. would stay In France. But the
little family ne had left were proud
OF the husband and father who was
over the sea, fighting that they might
be free, and didn't really mind con-
serving little, that he might have
the necessities.
At the luncheon table next noon
Beth outlined proposition. II
startled her mother and made her real
lie that her little girl was growing up
fast. This was what Beth had sug-
gested: She was young and strong,
and they needed girls TO do farm work
for the summer; 80 why couldn't she
go7 May Jones was going to farm
In Stonevllle, and she wasn't half as
strong as Beth was, etc; but what
would Mrs. Marvin do with her only
daughter away from her for the sum-
mer? Beth had that all thought out,
too. Uncle Jim, fathers brother, had
farm upstate ways and would be
sure 10 hire help for the summer. Why
couldn't Beth be one OF that "help?"
Mother could 90 up for visit.
Finally Mrs. Marvin decided to give
Beth's plan "A chance, and wrote the
letter to Uncle Jim. Then. IA few days
later, came an answer Why, OF
course. they could come, and he would
be more than glad 10 do what he could
for his brothers wife and child. So.
a week later. Mrs. Marvin and Beth
were on their way 10 the farm
Early in the fall they came back
home after their long summer In the
country-Beth tanned and tired, but
happy, and Mrs Marvin satisfied that
the summer had been spent to the
best advantage. Aud when she looked
into Beth's smiling face she was more
than glad that she had consented 10
her plan 10 earn extra money. aud she
thought how many pretty things that
same money would buy for her little
girl.
Therefore, she was grently sur
prised. one day o short time later.
when she suggested that they go down
town and do some shopping. with the
money Beth had earned. TO have Beth
say mo. mother, we won't do any
shopping. I'm afraid" and then as her
mother looked at her In amaZement
mo, mother, not now. IL hope you
won't mind but, well, mother, I've
sent all that money 10 dad 70 Sent IL
TO dad" cried Mrs Marvin. why,
how could you, Beth? The money
that meant 30 much-!.
cyhere. It's all right, mother" said
Beth. Il just couldn't tell you, YOU
see. | thought maybe you might OBJ
ject simply because little selfish me
thought she wanted pretty things, and
SO did it before YOU could know any
thing about It, and have time To stop !
me. You remember that last letter !
we had from dad. where he spoke OF |
those boys In his company who had !
no real homes or friends2 And he |
said. too. that they were lonesome |
over there and that II they only had |
something 10 cheer them up. phono-
graph, perhaps--a cheap one. OF |
course-it might help n lot. But II i
seemed almost impossible to raise the |
money for H. Every one had chlpped !
in and was looking forward TO the |
time when there would be enough, but |
we'll you know how long II would |
take TO get enough for that phono-
graph. SO / knew that my little bit /
would help enough Oh. I do hope II
did And you don't mind, do you.
mother? You see how it wasY"
MInd2 or course Mrs Marvin
didn't mind She simply gathered her
little daughter into her arms and (
kissed her.
As for the boys "oyer there" they
did get their phonograph and blessed
-.