The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-05-19
CHARITY HNv1HTH NOT.
BY ALICE b NEAL
You DON. say so!'

That yelve, cloak of hsls---she calls il
Talma.- cost every cent Of twenty-five
dollars. Then there's her bonnei-thai
eame from New York, too; Miss Dunn's
work ainh good enough for her Of late
years. Well, that bonnet couldn't be
bought for less'n eight dollars. Why,'he
ribbon must be .wor,li, four and six yard.
moi 10 speak of,he feathers. Then there's
shat new plaid silk, you know, and that
French merino; neither OF 'em less'n
twelve shiIlings, and that's. the way she
dresses. Time was when she was glad
enough to get me to sew for her. I've
had her beg, and beg, and beseech me TO
give her a day, or oven halfa day, in my
spring hurry; and now she's got seam-
stress, as she calls that stuck up gIrl, ,ihat
sets in tho sei.in'-room all day. She
makes the children's clothes, and her'n
are cut and fixed in New Yolk, when ihey
nin'i made there
She's dreadful ex,ravagant for church
member,' said Mrs. Smelling, with sigh,
as she turned herself slowly louud before
the little looking glass. She was having
lining fitted by the village dressmaker,
Miss Prime, and a merino dress she had
worn two years was partly ripped up on
the chair by the window. Is was the on
ly dressmaking she had on hand for the
season. II was hard winter, and, what
with the sickness of the children and Mr.
Smelling losing so much time by the
frost, their means were unusually limit
cd. No wonder that she thought of the
ease and plenty Of the rich manufac'u-
rer's household with feeling Of envy
She did moi know it, though. She was
a plain, good.hcarted person naturally,
struggling on 10 do her duty through the
encouragement Of i'll health, ailing chi'>
dren, and very narrow means; but she
could no, help thinking Mrs. Hubbard
was getting worldly and exiravagant as,
year by year, her household arrangements
and personal expenses increased.
Only the day before, at meeting, she
could no, fix her attention upon the SER
mon for looking at the velve, Talma worn
for the f's, time by her old fiiend and
still kind neighbor, Mrs. Hubbard. They
we're members Of the same church, OF
which Mr.. Hubbard was the most liberal
supporter. lie gave according TO his
means, and, at the same time, desired his
wife and family TO dress and live as be-
came his altered position and prospects,
sTime was when she had 10 work hard
enough continued Miss Prime, pinching
in 4 side seam in the endeavor 10 pro-
duce the hour glass shape, ,orthodox when
she sl.arned her nade.' i remembel
when they rsI sci up housekeeping, unt
she had 10 do her own work as well a'
other people, aud her own sewing, too
Now | don't believe she takes a needle
in her hand from morning ill night, while
YOU aad l, Miss Smelling, DON. git man!
play spolls.'
The leaven Of uncharita5leness work
ed on in Mrs. Snelling's heart.
20 I'm afraid there isn'i much spiritua
growth, Miss Prime. The cares Of tbi
world choke the seed.' Poor woman
she thought il was only an interest il
her neighbol's best good that prompted
such constant review Of her conduct
sPeople that have their hearts set on dres
and high living can, have much time 70
better things
sTha,'s, what think. How do yo'
like them bask waists, Miss Snellingi
hear they're all the fashion in New York
Miss Dunn said she'd Try an Gil me !
pattern when she went down in th'
spring. ! wouldn't ask Miss Hubbard 4
lend me hers 10 look at for nothing il
the world. How am goin' to get ou
new backs, Miss Snelling!' %
'Thsre's The cape, you seo."
" Why, so there is! I never calculates
the cape. was studyn' an contrivip
all the while you was 10 breakfast. Say
i, Miss Snelling'll have TO make then
backs pieced. and then everybody il
town'll know it's been made over.''
Az if everybody in Mrs. Smelling
community would not have known an,
noticed, under any circumstances, tha
her brown merino Of two winters ago ha,
been turned and made up again for he
best dress. She had set her her heart