Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-04-21
miscellaneous.
From Gleason's Pictorial.
7 HE SOCIAL SERPENT.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.


of poor, sick widow, who had three small
children, determined from an impulse Of
| true humanity, to awaken, if possible, in
the minds of some friends and neighbors,
an interest in her favor She made few
calls one morning, with this end In view
and was gratifed to find that her appeal
made favorable impression. The first
| lady whom she saw, Mrs. Miller, prom
| ised to select from her own and children's
wardrobe a number of cast-off garments
for the widow, and to aid her in other res
poets, at the same time asking Mrs. Hard
ing to call in on the next day, when she
would be able to let her know what she
could do
Pleased with her reception, and encour-
aged to seek further aid for the widow,
Mrs Harding withdrew and took her way
to the house of another acquaintance
Scarcely had she left, when lady, named
Little, dropped in to see Mrs. Miller
To her the latter said, soon after her en-
trance:
I've been very much interested in the
case of poor widow this morning. She
is sick. with three little children depen-
dent on her, and destitute of almost eve
rything. Mrs. Harding was telling me
about it.
Mrs Harding The visitors coun-
tenance changed, and she looked unutter-
able things. wonder 7 she added, in
we'll assumed surprise, and then was 81
lent
What's the matter with Mrs. Hard
ing p asked Mrs Miller
I should think, said Mrs. Little, she
was in nice business, running around, gOs-
slipping about INDECENT widows, when some
of her own relatives are so poor that they
can hardly keep soul and body together
Is this really SO p asked Mrs Miller
Certainly it is. I had it from my
chambermaid, whose sister is cook next
door to where cousin of Mrs. Harding's
lives, and she says they are, one half of
the time, she really believes, in starving
condition
But does Mrs. Harding know of this p
She ought to know it, for she goes there
sometimes, | hear
She didn't come merely to gossip about
the poor widow said Mrs Miller. Her
errand was to obtain something to relieve
her necessities
Did you give her anything? asked Mrs.
Little.
No but [ told her to call and see me
tomorrow, when l would have something
for her
Do you want TO know my opinion Of
this matter p said Mrs. Little, drawing
herself up, and assuming very important
air
What is your opinion p
why, that there is no poor widow in
the case at all
Mrs Little =
You needn't look surprised I'm just
in earnest. I never had much faith in
Mrs, Harding, at the best
I am surprised If there was no poor
widow in the case, what did she want with
charity 2
She has poor relations of her own, for
whom, suppose, she's ashamed to beg
So you see my meaning now !?
you surely wrong her
! Don't believe a word of it. At any
rate, take my advice, and be the almoner
of your own bounty When Mrs. Hard
ling comes again, ask the name of this poor
widow and where she lives If she gives
you a name and residence. 90 and see for
yourself
/ i will act on your suggestion" said Mrs.
/ Miller. Though | can hardly make up
my mind to think so meanly of Mrs Har-
ding still, from the impression your words
produce, deem it only prudent to be, as
you term it, the almoner of my own boun-
| ty.
The next lady upon whom Mrs. Har-
ding called, was Mrs Johns, and in her
mind she succeeded in awakening an in
terest for the poor widow
Call and see me tomorrow said Mrs,
Johns, and I'll have something for you
Not long after Mrs Harding's depar-
ture. Mrs Little called, In her round of
gossipping visits, and to her Mrs. Johns
mentioned the case of the poor widow, that
matter being, for the time, uppermost in
her thoughts
'Mrs. Harding's poor widow, I suppose,
said Mrs Little, In a halfsneering, half
malicious tone of voice.
Mrs. Johns looked surprised, as mat
ter of course.
what do you mean p she asked.
20. nothing, much Only I've heard Of
this destitute widow before
You have ?,
Yes. and between you and me'-the
voice of Mrs Little became low and con
fdential-'it's the opinion of Mrs Miller
and myself, that there is no poor widow
in the case
Mrs. Little You astonish me Nc
poor widow in the case can't under
stand this Mrs Harding was very clear
in her statement She described the wid
ow's condition, and very much excited my
sympathies What object can she have
In view p
Mrs Miller and think said the Wis
itor, and with good reason, that this poor
widow is only put forward as a cover
AS a cover to what 2
To some charities that she has reasons
of her own for not wishing TO make pub
lie
Still in the dark Speak out more
plainly
/ Plainly, then, Mrs. Johns, We have
good reasons for believing, Mrs. Miller
and l, that she Is begging for some of her
own NOR relations Mrs Miller Is Coino