Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1856-02-07
Mistellanp.
Mrs. Smiths Charity.
BY ELLEN ASHTON.

The following is a sample of much of the
popular religion of fashionable city churches.
1t is mirror in which many long faced hyp-
ocrite may see himself as he is.
Isn't that seamstress come yet Z
Mrs. Smith, as she spoke, leaned over the
balustrade, calling down the staircase to the
footman.
No, num-
Il declare,' muttered the lady, bu, quite loud
enough for the servant 10 hear, the lazy thing
ought 10 be turned off, It's eight o'clock al
ready. A pretty days work it will be, begun
at such an hour. John, and she raised her
voice TO a louder key, be sure you tell the
cnachman 10 be around by eleven. for I've got 10
90 collecting for The poor, with Mrs. Huntey,
this morning. a"0
She left the staircase as she spoke, and pass
ed to her chamber, where she expected 10
spend the next two hours in dressing to go out.
1t was cold, wet morning in March, and
while this scene was transacing 10 the elegant
mansion. thinly clad, delicate young girl was
feebly struggling against The rain on her way
TO Mrs. Smiihs. She had been awake for
half the night, tending her sick sister, who lay
dying of consumption, in The comfortless and
frelcss oom>whieh they occupied together. up
three pair of stairs, m a narrow, i'll ventilated
alley. For breakfast, she had eaten nothing
h,t dry crnat and drapk nothinu NJ nun NJ
cold water. And now, with a faded summer
shawl pair of thin worn shoes, and All um-
brella that only half protected her, she was hra-
wing the inclemented weather in order 10 do
sirs. Smiths plain sewing at a. dollar and a
quarter week.
The bell rang. and the rich lady. throwing
on a splendid dressing gown, went TO the head
of the staircase.
.Ah, that's you at last, Miss Jones, is h,'
she said, sharply. "A full hour behind time.
Recollect, Miss, what told you. shall keep
my word, and take off shilling for every day
you are so late. Gu at ouce into the back room
where everything is waiting for you.
Too broken hearted to remonstrate, the girl
did as she was directed, and took her place in
an apartment, which. as it was to be occupied
by seamstresses, as Mrs. Smith said, was, from
motives of economy, never more than halt
warmed. Here the girl sewed in damp clothes
and wet feet, all day, there not being warmth
enough at the ine TO dry either, and at nigh,
went hume through the storm TO her sick sister,
and the cold, unfurnished room which they &C.
cupied.
All that morning, Mrs. Smith, protected
from the rain by her comfortable carriage, drove
about os,ensibly to collect for the poor, but re-
ally to indulge in gossip, and crafty her vani
ty BY being called benevolent. While exhb
| iting her splendid tablets, on which to write
The names of the donors, and expatiating senti
mentally on the sufferings Of The INDECENT, sht
took good care 10 say nothing of the reedle
woman she had left, working at starvation
prices, in cold. unhealthy room. a--
The next day the seamstress did not come a
all. Mrs. Smith was highly Indignant, espec
tally as piece of work which she had partic
ularly wished to be finished, was incomplete.
you may tell Miss Jones, if she comes npail
Tomorrow she said angrily, late in the day
that do not want her services any longer
People who work for me, must be puuclual.'
When the footman went back into the kitch
en-, and rehearsed the message with which HI
had been charged, there was a general outer,
among the servants. -7 ait3
.'Pears to me. said the cook, dat some Of d
rich hab no hearts at all deed il does. D.i
poor child was almost starved yesterday, an
looked as if she had the ager, aud she has
poor sick sister dying Of the consumption, sh
says. Eff was you, Jim, I'd tell missus sh
might turn her off herself; deed | would
And Dinah. thoroughly aroused, founce
around The room Indignantly. NV 'ieI
But the seamstress never returned to receiv
her dismissal The exposure of the precedin
day had brought on violent Inflammation {
the lungs, and she was now lying in high f
yer, and drawing her breath in agony, by th
side Of her dying sister. Here, about dusk, he
landIady found her accidentally, both hsvin
: been too i'll 10 summon assistance. oli'y'5 7A
- Il was the charity Of this woman, only le,
: inGigent than themselves, that saved the "