Show The Missionary Box r r-j r I IA S A Thanksgiving Story P IN THE wild northwest V T the winter had set In early early ear ear- U eI ly and on the morning before be fore Thanksgiving the prairies for miles around were one great drifting sea of ot snow while the soft feathery flakes were still falling Ruth Hayward Harward c stood at the tho window of the parsonage room dining-room 1 and looked out Into the storm with disconsolate eyes There doesn't seem much to be thankful for this ye year f she thought with a tl sigh No winter clothes and Ralph and father sick and m mother ther worn out with trying to make ends meet I dont don't see why some people have so BO much and others so little Ruth said her mother coming into the room just then have you practiced the Thanksgiving hymns for to-horrow to Yes mother answered Ruth but butI I dont don't see how we can hold services if It the weather keeps bad People wont won't come to church in a ft blizzard There will be services whether any comes or not daughter No matter what our difficulties may be they must not interfere with our religious duties Remember that the ministers minister's family sets an example for the settle settle- ment So Ruth sat dutifully down clown at the wheezy old cabinet organ and went over the hymns again doing her best to extract sweet music from the yellow yellow yellow yel yel- low keys And on the whole she succeeded succeeded suc sue better than you might think for she had a musical gift that seemed to bring out all an the harmony the worn-out worn instrument nt was capable of She was a hopeful little body too and while she practiced she tried to i.- i. 4 S I 1 1 e h c or n nw or n f W Ar e 1 OV O 54 L rS sr comfort herself with the thought that perhaps some day the clouds might be lifted and the opportunity given her to do better things Suddenly above the wheezing of the organ and the howling of the wind In Inthe Inthe inthe the chimney Ruth caught the merry sound of cit sleigh bells She got up and rushed to the window just in time Ume to see the mail mall carriers carrier's covered sleigh drive around to the back of the house She was all excitement as she ran out to the kitchen where old Jean muffled to his nose and covered with snow was telling Mrs Hayward In his bis queer broken English about the big box he had brought for tor the minister minister minister minis minis- ter which box Mist Larsen the express express express ex ex- ex- ex press agent at the depot had told him to be sure and deliver in time for Thanksgiving just like Uke Nils Larsen said the minister who vho had come in from his study Always anxious for somebody's somebody's somebody's some some- body's happiness What a time they had opening and unpacking that wonderful box which turned out to be a missionary box from Mr Haywards Hayward's old church back in York state Clearly it had been packed by loving fingers with thoughtful thought thought- ful brains to guide them for or It contained con con- tamed everything that was most likely likely like like- ly Iv to bo be appreciated by a poor missionary missionary mis mis- s in a remote frontier settle settle- ment There were even cereals and crackers crackers crack crack- ers with several Jars of beef extract and a store of idee hice canned things Mr Haywards Hayward's sunken eyes lighted up as they rested on a heap of new books booles and magazines and still more when a n pile 1110 of warm garments came cameto cameto cameto to light including coats for or the children chil dren dron an o overcoat for or himself and a cloak that was plainly Intended for tor his wife There never was such a wonder-box wonder as that Ruth thought as na one treasure after another revealed itself and her cheeks flushed when she opened a mysterious package and disclosed a pretty beaver hat looking as fresh and dainty as If It it bad had come como direct from the milliner And pinned to the wrappings r was a letter and in the letter what letter what do you think Why a new brand 10 bill to bill to be bo spent as the Writer stated for any little wants that the box didn't happen to supply God bless the dear people at home exclaimed the minister fervently fer er- er vently while white his wife quietly wiped away her happy tears And to think I said there wasn't much ranch to be thankful for tor said Ruth with mingled penitence and pleasure Stella G. G Florence in the Christian Advocate I 0 |