Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1903 — Nell’s Easter Embroidery [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Nell’s Easter Embroidery

WHAT a magnificent piece of embroidery, Nell! I’ll give you S2O for It," mid Angelu White, ■a aha bounded Into the room where Nellie Vnnce *at In a tangle of white nDd Eld and green silk floss, busily working liter lilies upon an Immense square of snowy white linen. And truly, though Angela was n connoisseur in nrt ncedlowrork, the piece of work In question might have evoked a like exclamation one less enthusiastic; for Nellie ,waa an expert needlewoman, and long practice, nddrd to an aijstlc tempera- • Mat, bad made her a past mistress of fthe art of embroidery. The llliee shone wttb a satiny luster ngalnat the dull background of the linen and the delicate sreen of the leaves, with their perfect {•tending, stood out In beautiful oontrast, AriMe a Greek border In dull pink and .gold completed the effect. '! "Thanks, Angela,” said Nellie, "but 1 4o aot cart to aell It." , “Yoa silly goose T* responded Angela, P«at think what you could buy with

$2Ol You could get a handsome spring coat, or the swellest kind of a hat for Easter. Ilefore I’d wear out my eyes and patience for nothing over such a glorious piece of work as that, to hang over a church pulpit! Come, I must have that for an Easter gift to Aunt Mary, In Naw York. I’ll give you $25 If necessary." But Nellis was obdurate. She had thought and plnnned and dreamed too long about her Easter gift to the church to give it up In a moment She was not rich like her cousin Angela, and even the materials for the scarf had cost no small sacrifice, but site was proud of her talent. This much she could and would do, nnd though she had lu common with the other girls her share of vanity nnd love of finery she resolutely put away from her all thoughts of accepting the money for herself, although she recognized fully how hard It would be to wear her old clothes while the other girls shone resplendent In their new spring outfits. Days passed on, and the last etltch was lovingly set In tho altar cloth, which, wrapped in pink tisane paper, was laid carefully away In Nellle'a bureau drawer. On ths Saturday before Easter as she was paslng through tha kitchen ahe found

Bridget, the washerwoman, In tears. “Why, what Is the matter, Bridget!" ahe kindly inquired. “Are you In any trouble?” “Oh, had luck to the day I iver was Dm), Miss Nellie,” cried Bridget, bunting into loud sobs, “and shure I don’t know why it’s nfther livin’ I am. Wld me man Tint down wld the rheumatism and five childher to clothe and feed, and only me Uvo poor hands to deplnd upon, and the rrat due last week, and me widout a dollar in me pocket, and the landlord thritenin’ to turn us out this blissid day If it’s nett paid. Och, honel Och, honel” and the poor woman covered her face with her hands and sobbed pitifully. “Who is your landlord, Bridget?” “Deacon Green, miss.”' “And what is the rent?” “Tin dollars, miss," wailed Bridget. "Oh, the Blissid Vargin, and how am I to git tin dollars betwixt now and tomorry night? And the childher wid no breakfast.” It was only a moment that Nellie hesitated. Straight to her room she went, and taking from the drawer the precious pink parcel she walked swiftly to her cousin Angela’s home. "I’ve concluded to accept your offer, Angle,” she said, as she threw it into her lap. “Thought you’d come to your senses,” said Angela. “Say, if you want a hat go down to Stewart’s and get that gray chiffon with the violets. It’s a perfect dream!” Nellie almost sobbed ns she hurried back toward home, her purse enriched be $25. She made straight for Deacon Green’s. “I’ve come to pay Mrs. O’Leary’s rent, Deacon,” said she. “Will you please give me receipt?” The deacon looked somewhat abashed, and muttering something apologetic about “heavy expenses and hard times,” made out the receipt which Nellie accepted, and thanking him hurried on to the nearest grocery, where she. ordered a bill of groceries to be delivered at Tin! O’Leary’s that cause dthe clerk to open his eyes in mild astonishment. She reserved $5 of tho money for n final call, which she paid to their own family physician, who, after listening to Nellie's story, promised to look after Tim until he was able to go to work again. Eight people were happy tli.it night, and as Nellie stopped at the O’Leary’s next morning on her way to church and saw the children’s happy faces and heard the heartfelt thanks of the honest woman and her helpless husband already better from the little encouragement that had brightened their apparently hopeless prospects, she was more than- repaid for her sacrifice. Her cousin Angela's look of astonishment and disgust' ns she entered the church—posing airily In her pew arrayed in an Imported gown and artistic hat, had no terrors for her, and as tho beautiful notes of tbe Easter anthem rose and swelled around her and she inhaled the perfume of the iiiieg which drifted

tot her from the altar, she bowed hes head uypn her hands in silent prayer at peace with all the world.—Cincinnati Enquirer.

“I ACCEPT YOUR OFFER, ANGIE.”