Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-04-11
The Ladies Benevolent Society

The Ladies Benevolent Society.
On charitable lsts-those trumps which told
The publt ear who had in secret done
The poor a benefit, and half the aims
They told of, took themselves to keep them
sounding, a@3 ~
He bhzed his name. Pollock Ea
'They do say said Miss Pitkins to
her next neighbor, at meeting Of the
Ladies' Benevolent Society, a few months
after Melville Thornton's marriage, they
do say, that Miss Thornton is dreadful
stuck-up thing.
Yes, replied the other, sand hadn' t
a cent to her back neither, when she came
there. Such people always do hold their
heads higher'n anybody else, if they
happen to get a little money. For my
part, | wouldn't take no notice of her il
she would come near me. I'd let her
know that some folks was as good as 9th
ers : and Miss Tompkins gave her head
a most significant toss. 4.t
Hadn'ta cent, repeated Miss Pitkins,
with surprise : why, what was that story
about her rich legacy?'
sOh, la! Iknow all about that Miss
Tompkins replied, with consequential
air /; twas. just nothing at ALL q
DO tell us about it, cried several la
dies, who had gathered around the speak
ers to hear the news
pl"'so -'ssss.-% rsn'-7'sse ora nousek a.i;n- -hAr
purpose SO | could know sometnmns g Psrs saast a, 5
going on. So when Mr.. Thornton brought
his wife home, | says to her, Dolly, keep
your eyes and ears open, and she did
Well, the very first day, after Miss Thorn
ton had been round, and seen all the fine
things he bought for her, I s'pose she felt
kind O shamed. so she brings nice lit
tie bundle and gives it to him, telling
him that's her legacy. Dolly says he look
ed real pleased when he first opened it,
and she could see through the keyhole
something shining like gold; but pretty
soon he said something to Miss Thornton
that made her cry, and then he get up
and put it on the mantel shelf, Dolly did
not dare to stay any longer. for fear they
would come out and catch her, but she
went in afterwards to see what it was.'
We'll, what was it?-what was il o
cried the eager listeners, as Miss Tomp-
kins suddenly stopped.
l would call this meeting to order,
said the president, whose reproving
glance had silenced the loquacious spin
ster; we have several items of business
TO be disposed Of, which may as well be
done now. should like to hear the
opinion of the ladies as to the appropria-
ton of our present funds, as also the OBJ
ject TO which we will devote our labors
during the coming year. We have in
the treasury about seventy-fve dollars,
which rightly used, may do much to ad-
vance the cause We profess to love. The
meeting is open for discussion on this
point. 500
81 haar,' ea;a Mrs Rab;nsea, tho as.-
cons wife, that we have many fami-
lies in town who from sickness, hard
times, and other causes, are suffering, in
some cases, at least, for the necessaries Of
life. l think that sum even doubled, or
trebled, would be well applied in reliey-
ing their wants.
This is a matter in which we are all
equally interested, remarked the presi-
dent blandly ; we hope to hear from each
Of you.'
It's my decided opinion, said Mrs.
Wormwood, that ina thriving place like
this, where work is plenty, there is no
excuse for poverty like what Mrs. Robin-
son speaks Of. For my part, ! go against
encouraging idleness.' ~
l thought we were at work for the
poor heathen.' suggested Miss Pitkin !;
I'm sure shouldn't have made SO much
effort to attend these meetings, if hadn t
supposed so.'
"A box of clothing for the missionar.
les, l should like best, added Miss Tomp-
kins. hip
sThere seems to be such division of
opinion among you,' said the chair, that
l will venture to make a suggestion.
see our estimable pastor coming; why