Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-02-13
miscellaneous.
TRUE BENEvoLENCE;
IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO REcE1y


IT is BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.
"And you strip yourself of comfort,
for the purpose of adding to this rich
merchants gains p
The widow replied with flushed check,
at may seem light thing to you, but
the thought that | am slowly and surely
wiping every stain from my husbands
honor is my greatest earthly comfort. =
Mr.. Miner is his last creditor, and, God
willing, every cent shall be paid"
Her coarser relative responded with an
emphatic "fddlestick," and angrily left
her presence.
SAT last | have it," said silver voice,
and sweet face, glad and brilliant,
frightened up the gloom.
"Only see, mother, ten dollars all my
own; ten more make twenty so we
shall have nice little sum for Mr.. Mi
ncr"
Tears trembled on the widows lashcs,
and glittered on her pale cheek '1s it
to be the price of thy life, my precious
one :" she thought. "Is the canker
worm at the heart of my beautiful flow
er? Must give thee up to weary toll,
a sacrifice upon the altar of duty? Can
it be that God requires it?"
Eva knelt at her mothers feet, where
she had fallen with all the abandon of q
child, her glance fastened on the shining
gold.
Lifting her glance she met that of hel
mother, full of anxiety, touched will
sorrow. A sudden smile broke over hel
delicate features.
81 was only thinking of the endless
things this money would buy-don't lool
SO grave, mamma such beauty of ;
warm shawl for you, and neat crimson
cover for that untidy old arm chair ;
bit, ever so little, of carpet, to put dowr
by the bed, that your feet feel not thil
cold floor; and pretty cap, besides coal
and tea, and sugar, and such nice com
Portable things. But never mind, p
and she sprang to her feet, brushed bacl
her brown curls, and drew on her nea
little bonnct-"ne mind, I'll mayb,
write a book one of these days, that'l
make you and me rich. And, dear mo
ther, you shall ride in your own carri
age, and maybe those that scorn us now
only because we are poor, may be thank
full for our notice. A truce to romance,
she gravely continued; stern reality
tells me to 90 directly to Madison street
find Mr.. Miner, give him this twenty
dollars, take receipt, and then come
back home and read and sing to my mo-
ther."
Hurricdly Eva passed from her house
along the narrow streets. As she went
onward street after street diyerged into
pleasant width and palace-lined splcndor
The houses Of greatness and wealth
glittercd in their marble beauty under
the golden sunlight. Up broad steps,
through portals carved and shining, pass
cd the timid steps of Eva Sternc.
At first the pompous servant smiled a
contemptuous denial; but after a moment,
perhaps softened by her childish simpli-
city and winning blue eyes, she deemed
it best not to deny her urgency; and
she entered this palace Of rich mans
home.
Softly her feet sank in the luxurious
hall-carpet. Statuary, bronze and mar
bic lined all the way to the staircase. -
The splendor of the room into which she
was ushercd, seemed to her inexperienced
sight too beautiful for actual use, and he
who came in, with kindly glance and
handsome face, the noblcst perfection Of
manhood she had ever seen.
"Well, young lady" said he, blandly
smiling, "to whom am indebted for
this pleasure?"
My father, sir, died in your debt, "
said Eva blushingly, speuking very soft
/ ly. "'By the strictcst economy and very
hard work, we, my mother and !, have
been able to pay all his creditors but
yourself If you will be kind enough "a
receive the balance Of your account in
small sums--I am sorry they must be
small, strive can in the course Of q
very few years liquidate the debt, and