Alma record., 1922-03-09
AUNT WIN



10 take you up; dishes not washed.
nothing done. But come along" And
the frail little lady suited the action
10 her words and lifted the sturdy
maltese into her lap.
IL am just as blue as milestone,
Tom" she said "and l ought not 10
be, for that was as good serman as
| ever heard preached. Just boiled
down common sense, and there ought
not 10 he any dregs left To worry my
soul. You can't say anything, can you.
Tom, but you're purring like music
box"
A sudden knock sounded at the
door, was followed by girls voice.
''It's only Molly, Aunt Win" Then
when the frall little lady drew the
bolt. the young voice exclaimed;
why, l never knew you TO bolt the
door at this time of day. Are you
sick?"
Molly rushed across the threshold,
gave Aunt Win hearty hug, then
looking at the table in the living room,
'You must be sick for you have not
eaten mite for dinner"
"Sit down. child" Aunt Win an
swered quietly, II was just talking
with Tom and wondering what the
matter was with me-"
THAT was a tip-top sermon, wasn't
II, Aunt Win? II just made me sit up
and take notice, but you didn't need 10
take it 10 heart" Molly. said, patting
her listeners cheek.
Dear child. that's just II! or
course. Aunt Win explained, when II
comes to making n loaf Of cake or
knitting, to help my church l do my
mite, but" pause emphasized by
the solemn ticking of the tall clock,
and then. but, Molly, when It's a case
Of dollars and cents | haven't any 10
give, and yet ! love my church and
what it stands for as dearly as any
one in this place. Why shouldn't l.?
1t has helped me when everything was
swept from me, and isn't that a test?
/ have found my faith fit TO live by
and expect to die by 1t when my call
comes"
perhaps this dreary dark day has
upset you" suggested the girl, but
you aren't ever blue. Let's pile on the
wood. Oh, these beauty andirons You
polished them yesterday, know"
A sudden gleam fitted across the
shining tops and seemed 10 bring an
Illuminating thought 10 Aunt Winl-
fred. She choked back sigh and half
sob, then sank into the nearest chair
while Molly put on fresh logs. In d
trembling voice the little lady said:
These are very precious andirons.
they are more than 100 years old and
were given 10 my great-grandmOther
In payment for teaching Maria Hus-
sey's children at Cent school.
Gent schoolf' repeated. Molly In
surprise what on earth was Cent
schooli"
THAT was long before your genera.
tion. dear, when little children were
taught the tlgee RS by dear old ladies
and carried their cents in corners Of
their handkerchiefs 10 pay. ! set my
eyes by these andirons." She muir
INJURED as if alone in the room, "Can
do 1t? Can / make up my mind TO do
It?"
Molly glanced up suddenly at Aunt
Winifred. Was she just right in her
mind? she wondered.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm not out OF my
head, child, but these andirons have
preached me sermon. too. Do you
know Mrs. james has been wild to
buy them. and now I've made up my
mind I'll sell them for Sl5-would you.
say?"
Fifteen ?--nothing Of the kind.
Why" exclaimed Molly, you're not
bit Of trader. They are worth $50.
But. OH, dear. how can You part with
them? What Will you do without
them? How keep warm"
Have fire in the alright and
forget them. Fifty, do YOU say? Then"
Aunt Win added breathlessly, "I'll give
$50 TO my church and $40 10 the Red
tIOSS III Va OuA '''''f NNNii
dear boy!'
Then fell the first tears as Aunt
Wins thoughts sped across the seas
TO lonely grave In the Argonne.
"I just hate, dear Aunt Win, to have
you give them up murmured Molly
once more.
"Sh--not a word I'll just go TO
work and rid up these dishes"
Eyes" interrupted Molly, land If
you really mean II I'll have John take
them over 70 Mrs. James this after.
noon or tomorrow"
"No. no, the quicker the better!
Aunt wlnifrcd hustled around so brisk
ly that Molly felt the spirit OF the
hour and said:
"Tli slip away now. before John goes
for the afternoon"
She appreciated the situation, ana
by o'clock the andirons OF blessed
memories no longer shone OH the
hearth, but In Aunt Wins hand at the
close of the day lay a check FOR 500,
and wiping away the unbidden tears
she murmured:
More precious than my andirons Is
my Enith md all that IL has meant