Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-11-22
CHAPTER xxl-continued.

CHAPTER xxI-continued.
-26-
mo, surely not" agreed Mrs. Pen
field, genially.
Mrs. Wopple turned to go. ''Well,
All run in just as soon's you get your
apple boxes moved. I'll want to see
how you're gettin' on. And say, Mis-
Penfeld, even if your stock goes up,
you won't never forget. what close
neighbors we been, will your"
mo, Mrs. Wopple, never" promised
Mrs. Penfield 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
be tomorrow. Mrs Penield had de-
cided to purchase a few pieces Of fur
niture, to be paid for in instruments
and to form the nucleus OF a real
home. real in appearance as well as
in spirit.
She was about to set forth on this
errand when a man in livery turned
the crank in the erstwhile barn-door
at Number AZ 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 hea15 white
paper, with Mrs. Weatherstone's adj
dress engraved.
"Deac Mrs Penfield:" it ran. "WiH
you do me the honor to accept a 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 mother
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 knowg
sincerely yours,
ANNETTE WEATHERSTONE."
Mrs. Penfeld dropped the letter and
sat for long time, thinking. Mrs.
Wealth stones got real feelings" was
the thought uppermost in her mind.
NShe knows I wouldn't accept any
thing for myself, and she knows can't
refuse things for children that amt
nv own. Between the two, don't
sees I can do anything except to
thank her best know how"
Mrs. Penfeld would never forget
the lean days between Christmas and
~. x1o..,o A. oox1o,. hoforo che 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 a recurrence OF those days In-
possible.
She was realizing, too, that with
every year now, the children would le-
ultimately require a greater outlay,
If they were 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 own home and here in The Gus
tard Cup she had dealt with young
children; she had not by experience
struggled with the increasing demands
with increases in years.
Mrs. Penfeld gave up her shopping
plan and took off her hat. She must
wait till the nature of the flew arti-
cles" was disclosed before she could
select the things which would be most
needed.
She had, however, taken the letter
so literally that she was wholly I'M
prepared for the arrival of small
van the following morning. 1t was evil
dent that Mrs. Weatherstone's courte-
Gus eye had taken in the outfit of
apple boxes as thoroughly as had the
more critical gaze of Mrs. Wopple. 1t
was also evident that she had made
her selections with more discrimina-
ton than had occurred with the as
signments previously bestowed upon
Number Al.
The four beds and the bedding
also the four mattresses, so comfort
able that they logically necessitated
che alarm clock which was found tick
sng in a smaN box-Were suspiciously
new, but everything else bore evidence
Of having been used, fact which made
the gift the pleasanter.
It was astonishing how quickly and
adequately these furnishings were
xitted into the fiat which had been Mrs.
Sanders. The two large plain rugs
In the living-roOm and dining-room,
the small rugs in the bedrooms, the
beds, a small dining table, plain
chairs, rocking chairs to say nothing
of set of blue dishes and a box of
plated silverg There were curtains
that could be changed to fit; dresses
and coats that could be remade. There
were four pictures in plain frames.
When Mrs. Penfeld had unwrapped
them. she stood back with her finger
pressing out the smile on her lips.
"All right" she acknowledged I'M
der her breath. "As Lettie would say,
I get you, Mrs. Weathstone."
The pictures went up, and the tin
can labels went down together with
the flifelike bananas and the vigorous
old man who advocated cigarettes.
The installation of Bonnie Gerald
Inc was one of the first ceremonies to
take place. She and her winter quar-