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18 TH] The Family ( ABOUT ABBIE. Abbie Ben Adams?may her life be spared! Awoke one night, and felt a trifle scared; For on her shirt-waist box, cross-legged, sate A Vision writing on a little slate. Exceeding nervousness made Abbie quake; And to the Vision timidly she spake: "What writest thou"? The Vision looked appalled At her presumption, and quite coldly drawled: "The list of Our Best People who depart For waterinE-nlaces sumntuous and smart." "And am I in it"? asked Miss Abbie. "No"! The scornful Vision said. "You're poor, you know." "I know," said Abbie; 'I go where it's cheap. I can't afford mountains or prices steep. But, ere you leave, just jot this item down, I never leave my cats to starve in town." The Vision wrote, and vanished. Next * 1a?A ui&ui, mic, He came again, and brought his little slate. And showed the names of people really best. And lo! Miss Abbie's name led all the rest! ?Carolyn Wells. HOSPITABLE SABBATH. By Lucy Jameson Scott. "Arent you going to church, mamma"? Claire asked wonderingly, as she noticed that her mother was making none of the usual preparations on a bright Sabbath morning. "NInt o/low T om +1 ? r?/i '' AlVb tvuaj I a am TCI J 111 cu, ucai. The little girl looked keenly at the downcast face. "Mamma, would you be too tired if we were back in Edendale"? "Don't speak of it. That would be so different." Claire sat down and leaned both arms on the table. "I know it, mamma. Wouldn't the folks be glad to see us come in? Auntie Jovee and all the la. dies would say so and our mlnlster'd say, 'How Is my little girl this morning'? and your Sabbath-school class would smile at you, and all the girls would . smile at me, and?oh, mamma"! here the sunny head went down upon the folded arms and Claire sobbed: "I don't see?why the girls here?are so diff'rent. They Just looked at me and whlsDered to each other Thev ifnn't smile a single?nor ask me to be in things." Mrs. Leslie patted Claire's head soothingly, but could not speak. She let her cry until th? little girl's hopeful spirit * > E PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOI checked the homesick tears, and she lifted her head. "But I'll have to go to church, mamma, because you know I promised Miss Carey with all the rest, and the year isn't out yet. Don't you think I ought to go same as if I was at home, even if 'tisn't nice"? "Yes, Claire; I had forgotten your promise. There's time to get ready, if you hurry, and I'll try not to be so foolish another Sabbath. You won't mind going alone"? "Not so very?prob-bly that usher man will put me in the same back-most pew where I can get into the corner. With her mother's help Claire was ready in season, and started off bravely, turning at the corner to throw back a kiss to the watcher at the window. "How can any one help loving her"? Mrs. Leslie asked herself as the energetic little figure disappeared. Six months she and Claire had been in the city and going regularly to the church of her choice, but were still treated like strangers. It was all so different from the village church at home where ahe and her hnahnnd?until hio Haotv.? nad been working members, and where Claire had been "in things" to her heart's content. Xow, with the mother in a store all the week, the change meant homesickness and discouragement. It was nearly two o'clock when Claire came in, rosy and excited. "Oh, mamma"! she began, "you'll like to go to church next Sabbath, for they're going to have a Hospitable Sabbath. The minister said so, and he hoped the people would remember that everybody waB expected to do something. He said he wanted even the children to do their part. Think o' that! After Sabbathschool I asked my teacher would she please tell me what hospitable meant, miu aim ?ctiu( pieasant ana Kina ana generous.' So I guess the people here have just one Sabbath when they smile and shake hands, and if we're there we'll get acquainted." She paused, quite breathless, and Mrs. Leslie looked at her with puzzled eyes. "Are you sure, Claire? I can't think what the minister meant, but I never heard of a Hospitable Sabbath." "That's what he said, mamma, just as earnest as'could be. He didn't mean a joke, for you see he isn't that kind." Mrs. Leslie laughed. "No, dear, Dr. Webb certainly would not Joke. Well, we will ?ee when finhhath nnm/ni " It was a very happy Claire who helped dress herself In her best clothes a week later. "I'm rather unstylish, mamma," she said, "for a girl in my class told me so. She said my sleeves were small where they ought to be big, and big where they ought to be small; but I don't believe people will notice on Hospitable Sabbath." "No, dear. Yowr clothes are clean and miuic, nuu juu iuuhi iry 10 rememDer that Qod looks at our hearts." "Yes'm, I told that girl so, and she laughed and said per'aps you could turn JTH. September i, 1909. my sleeves upside* down if you tried. Could you?" "We'll see," said Mrs. Leslie, hopefully. Claire's face was radiant as she entered the vestibule of that great church. An old lady, beautifully dressed in black silk. ner an answering smne, tnen stopped, and said: "How happy you look, darling! Are you strangers?" and she shook hands warmly with Claire's mother. "Come and sit with me this morning." She kept the little girl's hand in hers as she led the way to her pew, much nearer the front than they had ever been before. "I used to have a little girl with a bright face," she whispered. "Where is she?" Claire inquired. "She grew up, and now she lives away over on the other side of the ocean. I haven't seen her for two years." "Oh, that's too bad!" and Claire gave the softly-gloved hand a sympathetic little squeeze. While they were singing she whispered very softly to her mother, "Isn't it splendid? and so diff'rent." Before the sermon the very dignified minister said to his very dignified people: "I hope you will remember the worthy cause to which we contribute this morning. Please put your offering in the envelopes which you will find in the racks, and give them to the collectors." Mrs. Leslie quietly examined the small brown envelope. "For the City Hospital," she read. Then she knew it was "Hospital Sabbath," instead of ?. day when everybody was to be "pleasant and kind and generous." But Claire sat serenely unconscious arirt H M nnt ? I.v?. uv/klVC CVCU when her dear old lady folded a bill and tuckefl It Into the envelope. After the sermon she fancied that there was a sort of gladness among the people that she had never seen before. Pretty ladies, with sleeves of just the right shape, came to speak to the dear old lady and to her mother. "Won't you come to our missionary meeting on Wednesday night?" and "Shall we see you at our mothers' meeting? Do come," they urged; and the dear mother's face grew bright as she thanked them. "Is that your little girl?" one of them asked, adding in a low tone, "Her face is (in hnnnv T oh^ni/i ?ui? ?* v * ? ?t.,.j ? auuuiu muni Bim mignc mane sunshine anywhere." Before Claire reached the Sabbathschool room, two of the girls seized her. "Oh, Claire Leslie!" one of them exclaimed. "did you know that you sat with that rich? rich Mrs. Pratt? She lives in the big house with lions in front." And the other said: "Won't you sit between Lou and me today? I'm going to have a birthday party month after next, and I'll invite you." Claire responied with all her lovlne. happy heart 4.o these friendly advances,* and for the first time in six long months felt at home In the big church. The teacher inquired where she lived, and when she could call, and gave her a mite box such as she had had In Edendale, to hold missionary pennies. She ran home