Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1921-09-22
The CITY'S SOUL
s. LYDIA LION ROBERTS.
Se6SSSSSSeeSSgg 9S SSSSggSSSSSSs

My soul, Lottie, plaintively Knocked
Frank, you're as pleasant as bliz-
gard What in the world is the mat.
ter with you latelyY"
u guess it's my SOUL" Lottie re
piled ruefully. eve lost It some
where. Since nursing the family
through the grippe I've forgotten
ever had soul. | think 1t has
drownel in the dlshpan."
Frank watched her as she nervous
lily got the children ready for school,
a worried frcwn between her usually
merry brown eyes.
NO, don't want any more break
fast" Lottle said, as he waited for
her 10 sit opposite him. i 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 So and want YOU
to use 1t to find your soul. When
you've found 1t bring It home With
YOU and wen try to make 1t so con-
tented it won't leave you again"
Il wouldn't blame the whole family |
for leaving smiled Lottie I'm SO
disagreeable it's wonder anyone can
live with me, let alone fine, hand
some husband like YOU she roguish.
ly added,
"Well, formed the pleasant habit
years ago and I'm getting so old III
hate to change my habits" declared
Frank cheerlly as he hurried OFT to
work.
A few hours later Lottie stood gaz-
Ing at the tempting window displays
Il haven't had a thing new all win
ter" she told herself. Il think the
shock of seeing myself In q new waist
would make me better at once" 4
| After her purchase she walked slow
| " along the crowded streets.
The Tapping and whirring of wings
! attracted her attention and she
stopped to watch the pretty scene.
A hoy With the look Of strong, clean
j youth, growing into manhood, was
1 standing in the middle Of a path. Al
most motionless except for q slight
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 favorite food. Ashe
scattered the peas around him the
eager birds walked up his baclI wad-
4 died around his neck, chung to his
arms and shoulders and rested on his
fingers.
"Oh, to be an artist sighed Lottie
In appreciation of the beauty of the
/ picture. I'll carry that picture home
In my brain gallery to tell the chill
dren.'
Almost before she realized it the
noon bells rang out.
1 Il have just time to step into the
cathedral for the noon service" she
\ planned. 'Tye lived near the city all
my life and never been in before"
The brief sermon over the singing.
done, many people went QUE 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 a violin.
/ ANY woman" said Lotties 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 stroll down my fayorite
famous street, and then back to the
train" she decided, as she left the
4 church.
4 "Of all adorable combinations Of
! quaint knockers, lovely doorways, old
world windows, and the benediction-
| left by the spirits Of. the good and
! great people who have lived here
| is 1t possible to get such an atmo-
sphere anywhere but in my own dear,
dirty, heart-warming cityr' exclaimed
4 Lettie, as her walk led her finally to-
the river sparkling tnerrily in the sun.
I almost train time, but Eve just a
few minutes to see this picture on ex-,
hibition at one of the big stores"
aFour hundred years ago this pic
I tpre was painted" she heard the lee
turet'. say, as she slipped into the hall.
sTllat was before this country was
/ settled" thought Lottie. Before the
4 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.
hIeft a bit of his soul on canvas and
| after 400 years 1t speaks to my
cramped. kitchen-bound one and bids
It grow.
"0h. bless anyone who gives any
4 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 loyeliest home and finest man.
and most remarkable children that
amy woman needs to keep her soul
safe and strong
4 guess my soul just had growing
pains let's hope 1t has stretched q