Fair play., 1921-08-06
The CITY'S SOUL
sv LYDIA LION ROBERTS.
4esesesS eSeSgSe9St


"My soul, Lottie, plaintively Knocked
Frank, you're AS pleasant as biiz-
zard. What in the world Is the mat
ter with you latelyT
81 guess it's my SOUL" Lottie re-
plied ruefully. 1--WE lost 1t some
where. Since nursing the family
through the grippe I've forgotten l
ever had soul. j think II Has
drowned in the dishpan."
Frank watched her as she nervous
~ got the children ready for school,
n worried frown between her usually
merry brown eyes.
NO, | don't want any more break
fast" Lottie said, as he waited for
her to sit opposite him. Il don't feel
hungry lately; l just feel cross"
Listen, dear" said Frank briskly
as he got up to get his overcoat, I'm
going to give you 50 and | want you
to use it to find your soul. Nheh
you've found it bring it home with
you and well try to make it so CON
tented it won't leave you again
Il wouldn't blame the whole family
for leaving" smiled Lottie. Pm 50
diSagreeable its Il wonder anyone can
live with me, let alone fine, hand
some husband like you" she rogusll-
ly added.
We'll, l formed the pleasant habit
years ago and I'm getting so old |
hate to change my habits declared
Frank cheerily as he hurried off to
work.
A few hours later Lottle stood gaz-
ing ut the tempting window displays.
II haven't had Il thing new all win
ter" she told herself. Il think the
shock Of seeing myself in new waist
would make me better at once"
After her purchase she walked slow
Is along the crowded streets.
The Tapping and whrring Of wings
attracted her attention and she
stopped to watch the pretty scene.
\ boy with the look of strong, clean
youth, growing into manhood, was
standing in the middle of Il path Al
opening of his hand, an absorbed
smile on his freckled face, he lured
the fat placid pigeons close to him by
his offer of their tilvorite food. AS he
scattered the peas around him the
eager birds walked up his back, wad-
died around his neck. clung to his
arms and shoulders and rested ON his
fingers.
'Oh, to be an artist" sighed Lottic
in appreciation of the beauty of the
picture. "Iil carry that picture home
in my brain gallery to tell the chill
dren."
Almost before she realized it the
noon bells rang out.
Il have just time 10 step into the
cathedral for the noon service" she
planned. I've lived near the city all
my life and never been in before"
The brief sermon over, the singing
done, many people went out, but Lot
tie fingered with others. Presently
the grand tones of the organ filed
the room, and clear and sweet rose
the haunting strains of IL violin.
"Any woman" said Lottie to her
self, as she quietly wiped her eyes,
"who couldn't go back to work after
that, with her soul big and whole
and her heart full of love to be poured
out on her family-well-this woman
had just better, or she's a Stacker in
the battle of life.
"Now for Il stroll down my favoritc
famous street, and then back to the
train" she decided, as she left the
church.
"Of all adorable combinations of
quaint knockers, lovely doorways, Old
world windows, and the benediction
left by the spirits of the good ana
great people who have lived here
Is it possible To get such an atmo-
sphere anywhere but in my own dear
dirty, heart-warming city" exclaimed
Lottie, as her walk led her finally to
the river sparkling mcrrily In the sun
almost train time, but I've Just a
few minutes to see this picture on ex-
hibition mt one of the big stores"
-Four hundred years ago this pic,
ture was painted" she heard the lee
turer say, as she slipped into the hall.
THAT was before this country was
settled" thought Lottle. Before the
inventions and modern marvels. Yet.
/ today, just one tired little house
wife, sit here and view the unfaded
richness, the glowing colors of that
picture. The artist Is gone, but he
left bit of his soul on canvas and
after 400 years it speaks to my
cramped, kitchenbound one and bids
1t grow.
"Oh, bless anyone who gives any
thing to the world that makes us big.
ger and better, so that we can hand
on the heritage of beauty to our chill
dren! I'm going home where | be
long, and carry on my share. I've
got the lovellest home and finest man
and most remarkable children that
any woman upnls tn l.,n Ia,, .,,,l