A Daughter of the Land

When Nancy Ellen came, she took only one glance at Kate's

glorified face and asked: "What in this world has happened to

you?"

Kate answered in all seriousness: "My Lord has 'shut the lions'

mouths,' and they are not going to harm me."

Nancy Ellen regarded her closely. "I hope you aren't running a

temperature," she said. "I'll take a shot at random. You have

found out that the Peters family can't take Little Poll."

Kate laughed joyously. "Better than that, sister mine!" she

cried. "I have convinced Henry that he doesn't want her himself

as much as he wants me to have her, and he can speedily convert

his family. He will do nothing more! He will leave me in peace

with her."

"Thank God!" said Nancy Ellen.

"There you go, too!" cried Kate. "That's the very first thought

that came to me, only I said, 'Praise the Lord,' which is exactly

the same thing; and Nancy Ellen, since Robert has been trying to

praise the Lord for twenty years, and both of us do praise Him

when our time comes, wouldn't it be a good idea to open up our

heads and say so, not only to ourselves and to the Lord, but to

the neighbours? I'm afraid she won't understand much of it, but I

think I shall find the place and read to Little Poll about Abraham

and Isaac to-night, and probably about Hagar and Ishmael to-morrow

night, and it wouldn't surprise me a mite to hear myself saying

'Praise the Lord,' right out loud, any time, any place. Let's

gather a great big bouquet of our loveliest flowers, and go tell

Mother and Polly about it."

Without a word Nancy Ellen turned toward the garden. They

gathered the flowers and getting in Nancy Ellen's car drove the

short distance to the church where Nancy Ellen played with the

baby in the shade of a big tree while Kate arranged her flowers.

Then she sat down and they talked over their lives from childhood.

"Nancy Ellen, won't you stay to supper with us?" asked Kate.

"Yes," said Nancy Ellen, rising, "I haven't had such a good time

in years. I'm as glad for you as I'd be if I had such a child

assured me, myself."

"You can't bring yourself --?" began Kate.

"Yes, I think so," said Nancy Ellen. "Getting things for Little

Poll has broken me up so, I told Robert how I felt, and he's

watching in his practice, and he's written several letters of

inquiry to friends in Chicago. Any day now I may have my work cut

out for me."

"Praise the Lord again!" cried Kate. "I see where you will be

happier than you ever have been. Real life is just beginning for

you."

Then they went home and prepared a good supper and had such a fine

time they were exalted in heart and spirit. When Nancy Ellen

started home, Kate took the baby and climbed in the car with her,

explaining that they would go a short way and walk back. She went

only as far as the Peters gate; then she bravely walked up to the

porch, where Mr. Peters and some of the boys sat, and said

casually: "I just thought I'd bring Little Poll up to get

acquainted with her folks. Isn't she a dear?"