The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-09
THE TURN OF THE LANE

No. 264. Two, six four! No. 264."
 Molly gasped and turned pale. That was her number. She clutched her bit of pasteboard in a sticky hand. No, she couldn't stand up before all those people even for that beautiful shiny new stove. But, oh, she couldn't lose it, either. She must just go on up there in her shabby dress and hat of five years ago-there he was calling again
 No 264-two hundred and sixty four--come right this way-not here, eh?"
 Its me- She almost choked over the words. but big friendly man be- side her heard, and sang out-"Over here! Coming! Right here !' Molly never quite remembered just how she was hurried and pushed along by kindly hands to where the smiling proprietor of the hardware store stood her up where everybody could see Mrs. Molly Brown of Oakdale, who draws ] the first gift. copper-clad range"
 The crowd cheered and shouted as they did every year when on the Par rish anniversary the hardware firm of that name presented twelve gifts to the other fortunate ones soon gathered in response to the calling of their num- bers and Molly found her ordeal over, and nothing to do but watch the range lifted into the Brown farm wagon.
 Wasn't it lucky you had to bring wheat in today, and now we can take the range right out with us ?'' she chat. tered to Tom as they logged along.
 "Surely is," agreed Tom, heartily. And you were a little grouchy about coming in the wagon, too, if I remem. Der never was so surprised as when I saw you get the first prize. Say Tom hesitated and looked off toward nothing in particular-"Say, Molly you better get better-looking hat and that dress somehow doesn't seem as nice as the other women wear."
 Molly laughed and promised to set what she could do in the way of dress ing up the next time they went to town. but she felt cheered, too. Luck had changed indeed. And Tom was no. ticing things as he hadn't done for how many years. No more blue hours
 There was a reason for the blues too. besides the old one of a rut and constant travel therein. A home-eco. monies student could have told Molly what it was, had glimpse been given into the Brown kitchen, where pres. ently the shiny new stove was unloaded The white enameled and -glistening nickel certainly showed up the floor rough with scrubbing and the abuse of heavy boots; the gray paint, dingy paper and shades cracked and ragged from winds and careless hands.
 The children danced around while daddy set up the wonder and showed the old one summarily into the wood shed. They had to hear over and over how mother had marched right up be- fore everybody and claimed the first prize. Mother!
 ''Set the table, Anna, while I change my dress,' she said when the excite ment had somewhat subsided, "I'll stir up some biscuits for supper. We must try the new oven first thing"
 A splendid oven and topping bis cults Tom pronounced later. And so glittering were the glories of the range that both Jack and Anna insisted on helping with the dishes afterward. in- stead of whining that they always had to stick around that old kitchen.
 It was an old kitchen, too, Molly decided next morning when the break fast had tasted so extra good from be-