Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-03-10
THE STORY TELLER.
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
WAS HE BENEVOLENT?
BY A LADY OF BALTIMORE.

band, as he arose from the tea-table, let me
have FIVE dollars tonight before you go OUT
What do you want with five dollars to-
night particularly, MaryP
i want il for Miss Marten.'
For Miss Marten' he repeated with aston
ishment 'why she has not given Ellen over
three lessons-surely she does not demand her
pay alreadyP
SShe does not demand it, neither did she
ask for it; but as found out that the family
was in trouble, told her to call this evening,
and would let her have some
1t must be grievous amount of trouble
indeed, if five dollars will relieve it, said Mr.
Someryille.
The facts are these, James; when she came
TO give Ellen her lesson this morning, | knew
by her looks that something allied her 1t was
some time before | could get it out of her, but
at last she told me that her mother owed twen-
ty-fve dollars house--ent, aud The landlord had
threatened, if it were not paid before twelve
tomorrow, TO turn them out of the house.
had but twenty dollars by me, or ] would have
given it to her at once. She has a good deal
coming in, in the course of month, but she
did not like TO ask for it before it was DUE
You will have enough to do Mary, if you
undertake to relieve every case of distress you
hear of. However, you know never pay be-
forehand, and no one can say ever kept them
waiting day for their money!
Lend it to me, then, said Mrs. SomervilIe
6 i have nothing less than ten with me but
don't bother me any more about it, for | have
meeting to attend, and it is time | was there
now
A less importunate spirit than Mrs Somer-
vile would have said no more; but her sympa-
thies were aroused in behalf Of the young girl,
who was so nobly striving to support widowed
and invalid mother, and she was not disposed
TO give up as long as there was any chance Of
success.
Give me ten, then,' sad she, 'and I'll give
you five'
Here then, answered her husband throw
ing ten dollar gold piece on the table, as he
spoke, and taking in return a fve-dolar bank
blll-'you women are determined to have your
own way, 50 you might as well have il first as
last; but if you lose that, blame no one but
yourself l suppose now can go to my meet
ing
The meeting about which Mr. Somervile |
seemed so anxious, was a ward meeting for |
the relief of the poor. On such occasions he !
was always known as benevolent man.
Soon after the organization of the meeting, he /
was called on TO make a speech. Most elo- |
quently did he portray the suffering condition
Of the poor during the irclement season of the
year; and then will. increasing fervor, showed
that it was not only the duty but a blessed
privilege Of those who were blessed with an
abundance ofthis worlds goods, to minister TO
their wants and necessities. Long and ably
did he speak, and then closed by making do
nation of five hundred dollars. A murmur of
appreciation ran through the place.
What benevolent man. said one.
'Ay! indeed remarked another, pity
there's not few more like him.
Indeed it is, replied the first speaker. He
always seems at home in this work
Yes; and he doesn't do things by halves
either Why it was only yesterday l heard
that he had given thousand dollars to some
benevolent object, while Steward, the lumber
merchant, gave only two hundred for the same
f. purpose
Il don't think Steward is as rich as he is,
though
ooh! no; but he could have given more
than that, if he had been disposed
Another speaker was now on the floor, and
the conversation dropped.
i declare, Somervile,' said friend to him
as they were going home that night, Il should
not wonder if your donation would be more
than all the rest of the ward put together
Z should be very sorry if it would was the
reply. Surely ward like ours Oughtto raise
at least two thousand dollars
: If all were as liberal as you, it might be
very easily done; but you know there are
some pretty tight chaps amongst US. There's
Steward, for instance-b by the way, he was
telling me this afternoon that the Farmers
Bank, of =, was not in a very safe condition.
Indeedl
Yes; have you any of its notes 7!
'TOthe amount of hundred dollars, | be-
lieve.'
'Ah! you will be apt TO lose them. Stew
ard says it would only pass for eighty cents in
dollar this afternoon and it was thought it
would be worse tomorrow,
We'll, | suppose | can bear the loss better
than some others, SO / must not grumble.'
Here the friends parted. Although Mr..
SomerviIIe thus spoke, he was BY no means so
well satisfied as he wished TO appear. The
idea of losing hundred dollars, or any part
thereof, worried him considerably, and he had
already several half-formed plans in his mind
for getting rid of it without much loss.-
Whilst thinking over the matter, il suddenly
fashednpon his mind that the note he had TAX
en- from his wife in the early part of the even
ing was on that bank. This was fresh vexa-
tiOn to him. To give good money for bad, was
too bad
BCt,' thought he, she may not have come
if so, will get it back again.
Not wishing 10 appear over anxious about it.
he waited some five or ten minutes after he got
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