The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-21

, They are all from out Of town"
she explained to Eve. And I
mother them a bit. But they I'M
derstsnd I must give most of my
energy to my job and If they want
70 play here they must help with the
work"
Jean and her friends left late in
the afternoon to attend a tea dance.
Mrs. Penney invited Eve to curl up
on the davenport while she pulled
small Windsor rocker closer to the
fireplace.
1t must be a great satisfaction for
you TO have Jesnl" began Eve.
I don't know what I would have
done without her" nodded Mrs.
/ Penney. She is all have lived for
these last seventeen years. And she
looks so much like her father. That
+ is my greatest joy I believe she has
inherited his ability. too"
Eve was interested. She had Won
dered about the little woman with
the brave, smiling face and gentle
maners. Eve had always thought
there must be an interesting story
concerning Mrs. Penney.
Jeans father studied in Paris
and when he returned TO this coun-
try he taught art classes in Chicago.
1 had gone there to study, and was
one of his pupils. Perhaps we would
never have been more than ac-
quaintances if We had not attended
an artists ball where fate or chance
sent us together in an old-time
circle tWo-step. We danced in per-
feet harmony and my heart as well
as my soul took wings.
After our marriage continued
TO study art, but in private. We
were extremely happy and when
little Jean was born it seemed life
could hold no greater happiness.
Jean was just learning to say
Daddy and watch for him in the
window at the close of day when
he became Ill. It was pneumonia
and he was gone within the week"
Mrs. Penneys voice broke Then
she raised her chin in the manner
Q
of her and said calmly, This is no
subject for a holiday, Mrs. RAIDER.
Shall turn on the radio?"
IT was twilight and the room was
Il lighted only by the Pickering
glow from the fireplace. Eve. nesting
among the pillows on the comfort
able davenport, begged her to go on
with her story.
Mrs. Penney continued. THAT is
life, Mrs RAIDER Sometimes we get
/ our greatest joltS when the skies
seem brightest. But sometimes, too,
when it seems we can not go on,
things suddenly make a right-about
turn and the path is cleared
ahead.
Little Jean and I have known
some hard times. For more than
eight years I met defeat at every
turn. 1t was not so bad while 1 had
my health. But when my health
broke it was extremely hard to earn
enough for us to live on.
I let myself believe only the en-
couraging reports of those who had
/ suffered similarly and determined 1
/ had not yet reached bottom. Each
night I prayed that 1 would be able
to get up next morning and to do
! the housework and take care of
/ Jean. 1t seems a small boon to
ask but it was very important one.
| My recovery was complete and 1
shall try never to complain about
anything again so long as I have
health and the opportunity to earn
a living"
Mrs. Penney smiled cheerfully and
added, Il have some friends who
seem to disapprove of my attitude,
which they say is too cheerful, and
my active sense of humor.
NTHAT was it the minister had
w said that morning in church?
You ask for some living manifes-
tation of God in our midst. Can
you not see for yourself the sac
rificing mother who forgets self in
| the interest of her child?"
There had been more, Of course,
/ but that one sentence of the
Thanksgiving sermon stood out in
Ewes memories, coupled with Mrs
! Penney's story. What an inf1n-
/ itesimal thing the loss of dollars
and cents seemed compared to the
obstacles this little woman had had
to battle alone!