The Glenwood post., 1923-09-20
CHAPTER XXI
A Chance for Another

only got to finish washing out this"
"Oh. / can't stop, Mis- Penfield. l
just heard this here story bout your
movin'."
'Yes," said Mrs. Penfield happily.
I'm going to move tomorrow into Mrs.
Sanders fiat. Amt it tine?'
Mrs. Wopple shook her head in be-
wilderment. Il don't know. Seems
like you're playin' Il trick on Us some
how-you been so kinder poor and
low-down and ev'rything. Josiah says
he don't think it's fair for folks
thatve been poor to suddenly come
into money. Stead of lookin' down on
'em, he's got to all of sudden look
up and"
"Oh," laughed Mrs. Penfield, tell
him not to twist his neck on count of
me. l amt coming up very far
'It's quite Il change" shifted Mrs.
Wopple. why, you're goin to be as
good as any of us, amt your
Mrs. Penfield's brown eyes danced.
II wouldn't go SO far's to claim that.
But I'm glad to have more rooms for
the children, and things more home
like. It's wonderful to have an IN
come. Didn't seem as if there was any
way for it to happen"
Folks say it's from laundry" sus-
gested Mrs. Wopple.
"Yes-a formula I'd worked out for
washing colored clo'es and silks and
u put starch in the water" inslnu-
ated Mrs. Wopple eagerly.
Mrs. Penfield smiled. "'Tisn't starch.
It's mixture l never heard of any
body's using"
Its strange how smart you was,
and didn't any of us s'pect it, re-
marked Mrs. Wopple tartly. ME, l
think of lots of things, but of course l
never tried to sell em. Josiah earnin'
big money the way he does, / don't
have to-"
mo, surely not" agreed Mrs. Pen
field, genially.
Mrs. Wopple turned to go. well,
III run in just us soon's you get your
apple boxes moved. III want to see
how you're gettin' on. And say, Mis-
Penfield, even If your stock goes up,
you won't never forget what close
neighbors we been, will you?"
mo. Mrs. Wopple, never promised
Mrs. Pentleld warmly.
Amusedly she admitted to herself
that Mrs. Wopple had not been far
wrong about the apple boxes, which
had served the family for multifarious
purposes during the months that were
past. 1t was different now-or would
10 al ID
cided to purchase few pieces of fur
niture, to be paid for In installments
and to form the nucleus of real
home, real In appearance as well as
in spirit.
She was about to set forth on this
errand when Il man in livery turned
the crank in the erstwhile barn-door
at Number At and delivered letter
to Mrs. Penfield. She opened the
letter wonderingly and read it twice
before she could comprehend Its mean
ing. 1t was written on heavy white
paper with Mrs Weatherstone's ad-
dress engraved.
Dear Mrs. Penfield:" 1t ran. "Will
you do me the honor to accept few
articles which | have gathered up
around the house in the course of our
refurnishing and shall send to you to-
morrow? Think of them, please, as
the cooperation of one mother with
another for those who have no moth 4r
If at any time you should hear of any
one else who is doing for forlorn chill.
dren service similar to your own.
will you kindly let me know?
Sincerely yours,
ANNETTE WEATHERSTONE. '
Mrs. penfield dropped the letter and
sat for a long time, thinking. Mrs
Weath' stones got real feelings" was
the thought uppermost in her mind
"She knows | wouldn't accept any
Thing for myself, and she knows can't
refuse things for children that ain't
my own. Between the two, / don't
sees can do anythlng-except to
thank her best | know how
Mrs. Penfield would never forget
the lean days between Christmas and
New Years. AS never before she had
realized by how frail shield she was
protecting three children from want
and suffering. A slight disturbance In
the established routine could reduce
them to immediate distress, and as
rapidly as feasible she must accumu-
late an emergency fund which would
make n recurrence Of those days I'm
possible.
She was realizing, too, that with
every year now. the children would le-
Ultimately require greater outlay,
If they We're to have the equipment
to which they were entitled-the ordi-
nary advantages. the training for some
particular work, the clothing which
could not always be homemade. Both
in her.-ow home and here in The Gus