Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-07-14
What Would Be
the Use?
(copyrtght.)
By SARAH E. MecAHEY


Elizabeth, her sister. sat near BY,
her pretty face tinted like a rose,
almost belying the fact that she, too.
was an invalid.
Myrtle, their caller, sat In q COM
Portable little rocker, her generous
proportions filing all the available
space.
"You- know" said Mary, earnestly.
"our Hartford friends wrote quite
some time ago that they intended
making trip to Vermont. and they
wanted to know II II would be con-
wsnient fer US to have them here on
their way back home some time In
September.
"Of course, we wrote them that It
was impossible for Us to have guests
under the circumstances, but that we
would be delighted to see them and
hoped they might call on their way
home through Elmwood."
"And did they conner asked Myrtle.
curiously.
"We'll come to that later" gently
interrupted her sister. II haven't got
them here yet"
"Go ahead" said Elizabeth resigned
~. TELL about seeing them coming
down the street"
Mary smiled appreciativeiy at the
remembrance and went on With her
recital
Zone day in early September was
sitting in the bay window with my
chair down close, and I saw 4 woman
coming down the street looking at the
house numbers. When she reached
our house she looked up at the number
and waved to someone invisible near
the corner Of the street, and present
" our visitors from Hartford were In
the ROOM"
my. but we were glad to see them
and they were glad to see usr' ex-
claimed Elizabeth, her eyes dancing.
"And when we began to talk r. said
Mary.
Elisabeth raised her eyes In mock
horror.
Talk? never heard 50 much talk
In all my life; everybody was talk
ing, and at the same time. We talked
clear up to the time my brother came
home to supper, and you should have
seen theml They almost kissed him"
Elizabeth chuckled softly.
after supper" began Mary again.
after what! !" cried Myrtle. "Did
you two invalids get SUPERB
"Why, Of counsel" said Mary. look
ing supposedly at Myrtle's inhospit'
able question.
"For invalids. you do the most won
derful things" murmured Myrtle
alphabetically.
"Of course, we regretted we could
not invite them for prolonged stay,
but as I said before, that was I'M
possible under the circumstances"
That's what I call reversing the
usual order Of things" Myrtle said.
'Instead Of folks coming to see you to
bring In little cheer to you shut-ins.
You entertain them so we'll that the
callers forget what they came for"
II wouldn't quite say that" pro-
tested Mary, smiling.
1T I had to whisk around In a
wheelchair, prepare meals, make my
own clothes as nicely AZ you two do.
and generally keep things going as
smoothly as you do. I think I'd be
apt to tell the world about It occasion
ally"
.what good would that dor' asked
Mary; "what would be the user
'.rhat's what call spiritual supe-
,rority over physical difficulties. Now.
with me, every pain have I almost
howl. and I have to talk about 1t in
to the bargain"
"What's the user asked Mary.
smilinsly.
II want you to have this begonia
slip. Myrtle" said Elisabeth. coming
into the room with small pot OF
rreen. glossy leaves on a little stalk.
THAT was meant for you. Myrtle"
said Mary, mischievously, but Eliza
beth wouldn't let me give It away"
Elixabeth's face sobered.
TT isn't that didn't want Myrtle to
have II, but I raised it from almost q
leaf, and was curious to see how
big It would grow" said Elisabeth,
a she looked pleasantly at Myrtle.
VI can understand that, Elisabeth"
replied Myrtle. 'T'd not want to give
it away too readily: it's like parting
with 4 bit Of your luck. But I must
be ecing. It's beginning to get dark"
She rose from her comfortable rocker.
Nov, Myrtle. look out for the
stairs" admonished the gentle Eliza
BETH" and don't catch cold during
this changeable weather.
"Can you beat thatY' unused Myrtle
to herself, as she cautiously felt her
way along the dark street. EVERY
time visit those two brave shut-ins
and see the pleasure they manage to
extract out Of the ordinary everyday
occurrences Of life, l come away feel
ing ashamed Of myself and deter
mined to never again. a. long as l
,s~n nornnlelr ahnut ANYTHING that