The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-02-08

er, and she family smiled, as she emphasized the
word, has restored her quite as much as it has
mo-.
Where is Fanny asked Mrs. Somers.
Gone to carry home somo work we have
been doing for Mrs Underwood She is q
very benevolent lady, and though her means
arc limited, does n great deal in her quiet, un-
ostentatious way. for the relief Of tho poor
Had II not been for her sudden and severe i'll
ness we should not have been reduced to the
suffering condition in which you found us last
evening"
1T was through Mrs. Underwood's means
that found you, said Mrs. Somers. 'The mo-
mont she was little better, she remembered
you. and sent to request me to call on you.'
$ Friends arc starting up around us, all at
once said Mrs. Woodbridge. 'You had not
been gono ten minutes last evening. before a
young lady called by the name of Vernon
Her thoughts seemed to have turned the same
way that yours and Mrs. Underwoods have
relative to some plan which would enable Fam
ny and to help ourselves. Perhaps by some
means, she had been made aware, that though
we are willing to work, to beg we are ashamed
Miss Vernon said she wonld call again in the
morning.
4 hope said she will call while Mrs. willer-
ton and are here said Mrs. Somers. 'We
three-I mean Mrs. Wilerton. Miss Vernon,
and myself, have ample means to carry the pro-
posed plan into effect All we shall need from
Mrs. Underwood will be her excellent advice
and have met with no lady whose judgment
and discrimination are superior to hers. II
some of the ladies who preside over our bencv-
olent societies were like her, they would,
think, be conducted in manner quite differ
ent from what they arc.
Mrs. Willerton. when Mrs. Somers mon
toned her name. felt extremely uneasy. She
dreaded the return of Fanny. lest when she
addressed her, she could call her aunt, and
thus betray to Mrs. Somers her connection
with the Woodbridge family; for she could not
hope that one so young would exercise the same
proud forbearanco that her sister-in-aw had
dono. From the younger children she knew
she had nothing to fear. They had no idea
that she was the aunt Willcrton, they had
heard their mother and sister mention. In ad-
dition to her uneasiness on this account she
felt depressed and humbled In the presence of
Mrs. Woodbridge. A sense of her superiority
which she could not throw of. forced itself up
on her mind. Seeing that Mrs Somers was
engaged in saying something to the children,
she rose and went close to the bedside.
q had no idea,' said she. speaking in an un-
der tone that you were reduced 10 the condi
tion in which find you. Your brother will
call and see you, this evening, and 1 shall try
and do something for you.
Il beg that you will not put yourself to the
least inconvenience on my account, replied
Mrs. Woodbridge, coldly. Providence has
seen fit TO raise up friends for the relief of my
suffering family, SO that any aid from you will
be unnecessary.
If you refuse to accept aid from me, you will
be willing to accept it from your brother
m oil fhof ha ia
able to give, and that am sure of receiving
what is il?
His sympathy. The thought of his with
holding il would cause me much unhappincss.
Mrs. Willerton instead of answering started
and turning hastily away from the bedside,
drew her veil over her face. She had caught
the sound of footsteps approaching the door.
and she thought if Fanny had returned, and
should recognize her, il would cause her repu-
tation for benevolence TO suffer in the estima-
tion of Mrs. Somers. oecasioned her quite as
much uncasiness as the idea Of having her know
that Mrs. Woodbridge was her husbands sis
ter. The door opened and Fanny cntered.-
Mrs. Willerton's fears subsided. for merely cour-
tesving 10 her, she tnrued to Mrs. Somers who
greeted her with smile and pleasant words.
Mrs. Willerton, in tho meantime. stood with a.
verted face, and as soon as she could do so.
without breaking in upon Mrs. Somers, told
her that she could not possibly remain longer
Il will detoin you only minute longer re-
piled Mrs. SOmcrs: and after interchanging n
few words with Mrs. Woodbridge, she Joined
the impatient Mrs. Wilerion, whose hand was
already on the doorlaich.
When Mrs. Willcrton. in silent communion
with her own mind, recalled the scene of power
ty and suffering she had been constrained to
witness, her own course during the six years of
her welded life, assumed and expect quito diff
ferent from what il had formerly DONE Being
unimaginatve, one examblc had influenced her
more than many precepts. She saw that TO
he truly benevolent, discretion was necessary,
as we'll as time and money, and tho discovery
was tnrnod to good account. Those degraded
women, who had been accustomed to pledge
the garments given them by the Dorcos socie-
ty. in order to obtain the means Of indulging
habits Of intemberance. soon found that they
could no longer do so without discovery.
Formerly. a large number Of garments at sta
ted intervels, wero given to those who would
take the trouble to apply for them. 1t had
even been found, on investigation, that the
same applicant, by borrowing different bonnet
or outside covering of some kind, had received
what had been intended for several; and what
was still moro provoking, such instances of
fraud had been trnced TO those who at once
parted with the clothing for the above mer-
toned.
In discovering the nature of true benovo.
lcnce she found that she had in its name, been
sacrificing on tho altar of vanity In othor re-
spccts, she also became moro clear sighted
She fonnd that in the midst Of plenty, her hus-
band was over working himself, and that for
the sake Of furnishing the table with those lux
uries, which to her had become necessary, he
was actually at tines, reducce to as great pc
cuniary straits as the humblcst day-laborer.-
She made no verbal acknowledgement other or
ror, dot what was better, acknowledged it by
pursuing different course.
BY the exertions Of those ladies. who had
interested themselves in their behalf Mrs.
Woodbridge and her family were soon provided
with dwelling, with sufficient room for
their comfortable accommodation.
While Mrs Woodbridge was furnished with
work for which she was well paid, Fanny was
apo nd ~ Ioor T..