St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-03-05

NUMBER 26.

to go around among her acquaintan-
ces, and procure money enough to
meet all the funeral expenses. and af.
forwards to visit the destitute and
flicted family.
If l am not mistaken, tho
without food, said the doctsx. =
night was called in TO see the hus-
band and father. prescribed for him,
but they had no money, even to buy
medicine"
$50 poor as that! Something then,
must be wrong with then."
Nothing more, think, than being
in strange place, and he to whom
they had been in the habit of looking
Up to for support unable to afford it"
~ will see them at once" 80
~ wish you would. Good day. 1
will call upon you again this after
noon." "f@
All that was necessary forr tie de-
cent burial Of Gray was provided by
the kindness of strangers. On the
day after, he was consigned to the
cold earth, and his bereaved wife,
daughter, who, almost alone, had fol-
lowed his remains to their earthly
resting place, returned to their cheer
less home. There they found, deposit
ted during their absence, supplies Of
food, clothing, and a. small sum of
money The donor had departed,
After the death of Mr.. Gray, his
wife and daughter, through the kind
ness Of Doctor Minor, were able to
get sewing enough from families in
the neighborhood to supply all their
immediate wants. Sad hearted, but
with patience and industry, they NJ
ed on, day after day. A few ladies,
whose sensibilities had been touched
by hearing their story related by the
doctor, visited them, occasionally, at
first ; but Mrs. Gray seemed to shrink
with such evident sensitivencss from
these intrusions, that they were soon
discontinued, and in one or two casen
with offended feelings on the part OF
the well-meaning visitors.
q" If she is poor, she is as proud as
Lucifer," was the remark Of one.
there is something wrong about
her." said another.
II wonder if she were ever married
to that man 2" was the suggestive in
quiry of third. - - -
| don't know. But l feel very
sure that she must have done some
thing to cut her off from her family
and friends for any one can see, at
a glance, that she has been well edu-
Gated, and used to moving in refined
circles. Perhaps she has married some
one beneath her, who has dragged her
down to his own dead level in society"
" Nearer the truth, no doubt. But
there is no telling" ..
Thus was suspicion engendered.-
Its effect was, to make those who had
felt in the first instance, interested in
the destitute strangers, lukewarm in
their cause. At the expiration of a
month or two, they found it less ca
to procure sewing than at first. This
lady and that, for whom they had
worked, had nothing more for them to
do. Finally, what little came rs and
their hands, was given so reluctantipt
and in the form, always, of favor ban
slowed, ao yea that poor Anna =. shrunk frot
81 don't think Mrs. W careA
about our doing any more work for \
her." she said to her mother, on COM
ing home one day, with few coarse
garments to make.
Why not, Anna 2"
She seems as if she don't"
did she say any thing?"
" Not very distinctly. But her man
ner was very cold, and she said some-
thing that could not clearly under
stand, about there being plenty of peo,
pie needing work that they know ali
about"
A shadow fitted over the face of
Mrs. Gray. Her lips were tightly
closed for few moments. Then with
composed manner, and calm voice
she said
TO eat bread earned in this way,
Anna, is to eat the bread of charity.
that neither you nor must do"
Anna made no reply. She laid the
bundle she had brought home, upon a
table, but did not unroll it. She felt as
her mother did-honest and indepen-
dent. She could work, but not beg:
no, nor ask for work that was grudg.
inSly given.
It's the last lot of sewing thew
get from me-" said Mrs. W. in q
worried tone Of voice, as Anna GRAY
retired with the small bundle Of work
she had given her. "There are plen.
ty Of poor women, that l know. all
about, who stand in need of v hateyer
sewing | have to put out. There is
something mysterious about these peo- :
pie that l don't see through. Some.
thing wrong, depend upon it."
An hour afterwards, while Mrs.
W was still thinking about Mrs.
Gray, servant handed in the very
bundle she had given to Anna. IL
was accompanied by note, tasteful /.
ly written, and to this effect:
DEAR MADAN:-From something said by
You when you gave my daughter the work +
now return you, infer that you did SO with
sure that we were deserving the privilege Of
\ L.