The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-10-20

CT
you would have found her chest
flat. and her fingers rough from
needle and chalk and penhoider: her
biouses and plain cloth skirts undis.
tinguished: and her hat worn too far
hack. sbctraying a dry forehead. But
you never did look at Vida sherwin
In detail. You couldn't Her electric
activity vcilcd her. She was as en-
ergetic as a chipmunk. Her Fingers
fiutfercd: her sympathy came In
spurts. she sat on the edge Of a
chair in c~gerness TO be near her
auditor. to send her cnthusiasms and
optimism across
She rushed into the room pouring
out: I'm afraid you'u think the
teachers have been shabby In not
coming near you. but we wanted 70
give you chance to get settled. ]
am Vida sherwin. and try to teach
French and English and few other
things IN the high school"
1--WE been hoping TO know the
teachers. You sec. ! was libra
rtan---
ION. you needn't tell me. I know
all about youl Awful how much |
know--this goxsipy village. We
need you 10 much here. It's . dear
loyal town and isn't loyalty the
finest thing In the woridr but IT'S
rough diamond. and We need you
for the polishing. and we're ever 20
q -. tns -
and finished her compliment with .
uniie
IF 4 could help you IN any way
Would I b committing the unpar.
donabls un " I whispered that
think Gopher Prairie 10 = tiny bit
ugiyy-
'Of coursn it's ugly. Dreadfuiiy'
Tho I'm probably the only person
In town 10 whom you could safely
say that. Except perhaps. Guy Pol
lock the iawycr-have you met him
oh. you must,--he's simply n dari
ing--intelligence and culture and no
gentie1 But I don't care 10 much
about the ugliness. That WY change.
It's the spirit that gives me hope.
It's sound. Wholesome. But afraid.
IT needs live creatures like
you TO awaken IT, shall sisve-drive
your
splendid what shall I DO, I've
been wondering N ~ would be pos
sible to have a good architect come
here to lecture"
"Ye-es. but don't you think u
would BE- better TO work
with existing agcncics7 Perhaps II
win sound slow to you. but I was
thinking II would be lovely II we
could get you TO teach Sunday
School"
Carol had the empty expression OF
one who finds that she has been af'
fectionateiy bowling 10 complete
stranger. s'Oh. yes But I'm afraid
wouldn't be much good 1T that.
My religion In 80 fogEy."
II know. SO Is mine. I don't care
bit for dogma. Tho ] do stick
firmly 20 the belief In the fstherhood
OF God and the brotherhood OF man
and the leadership Of Jesus. As you
do. of course"
Carol looked respectable and
thought about having tea.
And that's ali you need teach In
Sunday School It's the personal
influence. Then there's the library
board You'd be so useful on that.
And Of course there's our women's
study club--the Thanatopsis Club"
Are they doing anythiug7 or do
they read papers made out Of the
Encyclopedia"
Miss Sherwin shrugged Perhaps.
But still. they are so earnest They
will respond 10 your freshcr interest.
And the Thanafopsis does n good 80
ciai work--they've made the city
plant ever SO many trees. and they
run the rest room for farmers
wives. And they do take such an
interest I'm refinement and culture.
so--in fact. 30 very unique"
Carol was disappointed--by moth.
ing very tangible. She said politely.
"TIl think them all over. / must
have a while to look around first"
Miss Sherwin darted TO her.
smoothed her hair. peered at her.
''oh. my dear. don't you suppose ]
know? These first tender days OF
marriage--they're sacred TO me.
Home. and children that need you.
and depend ON you to keep them
alive. and turn to you with their
wrinkly little smiles. And the
hearth and" She hid her face
from Carol as she made an activity
OF patting the cushion OF her chair.
but she went on with her former
briskness:
II mean, you must help us when
you're ready. I'm afraid
you'll think I'm conservative. l am
So much to conserve. All this treas
ure of American ideals. Sturdiness
and democracy and opportunity.
Maybe not at Palm Beach. But.
thank heaven, we're free from such
social distinctions In Gopher Prairie.
have only one good quality--over-
whelming belief In the brains and
hearts OF our nation. our state. our
town. It's so strong that sometimes
I do have n tiny effect on the
naughty ten.thousandaires / shake
J 'em up and make EN- believe In