Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-06-24
work and six children to support. He told

es, l. gave MIN twenty dollars, pOr-
tion Of what we have saved by economy.
The next evening Mr. Livingston settled
himself in his easy chair with grave and
somewhat troubled look. The expression
of his countenance was that of man whose
self-complacency had been seriously dis
turbed. Mrs. Livingston was quick to OBJ
serve this. She waited some time for her
husband to break the silence; but seeing
that he was not disposed to do it, she said
You look grave tonight, Edward. Has
anything occurred to annoy your
Not unless you call it annoyance for a
man to discover that he has been acting un-
wisely, and without due consideration, when
he really supposed he was doing very wise
thing
Is that your case, my dear?' asked Mrs
Livingston, in tone in which wifely SYM
pathy and womanly anxiety were about
equally blended
Precisely
please explain yourself
'You remember the plans for retrench-
ment adopted three weeks ago?'
Il do, and it was only last evening you
were descanting on the wisdom of that
evenings proceedings
THAT is true; but [ have learned since
that this wisdom was folly, not to call it by
harsher name, But will tell you what
has opened my eyes. You remember what
[ said to you about the poor fellow whom |
assisted yesterday? This morning l men
toned the circumstance to my friend, Mr.
Chase, as We were speaking of the hard
times and the suffering of the poor. To
my surprise he exclaimed earnestly:
[ would not give the fellow cent
Why not? inquired. 'Out of work
with six children to feed, is he not an OBJ
ject of charity?'
NO. the fellow came to me with the
same story week ago. | pitied him, of
course, and offered him work at low wages
until he could do better; but he scornfully
rejected the proposal. Now such man |
10 not wish to help. There are hundreds
who would gratefully accept of even mod
crate wages | made him the best offer |
could afford, and it would have kept his
family from absolute suffering until the
times are better
IF had known the fact you have stated
I would have kept my money for more
deserving object
My PLAN continued Mr.. Chase, is to
give employment to as many as possible
these hard times believe it is the most
benevolent investment of money, and will
secure us from becoming the dupes of those
who make the hard times an excuse for
idleness and riotous gatherings
Il suspect you are right | said, gravely
and thoughtfully, for new light was break
ing in on my mind. Half an hour after
Mr. Chase left the store, his brother-in-law,
Mr.. Mills, came III.
Are you in want of female domestic?'
he inquired.
Il am not l replied but why do you
ask p
Il met with case of suffering yesterday
that touched my sympathies. A poor girl
of neat and modest appearance came into
my store to inquire if did not wish to hire
her. On my replying in the negative, she
eagerly inquired if | did not know of some
one who wanted to hire. On again receiv-
ing negative, the tears coursed down her
pale, thin cheeks, for pale and thin they
were, and she turned away with despair
ing ejaculation that went to my heart I
called her back and made inquiries into her
circumstances. 1t was a sorrowful tale
Her father fell from the roof of house
three months ago, and was SO injured that
he has not left his bed since She had two
brothers and sister, all too young to earn
anything. Her mother had taken in sew
ing from the shops and she had gone out
to service, and they had managed to keep
want from their door But now she had
been out of place for three weeks, her
mother could get no sewing, and they were
starving The last statement was fully
corroborated by her cadaverous appear
ance, and | sent her to the house to get
something to eat.
'When | went home to dinner my wife,
with swimming eyes, told me about her
call When food was placed before her
she begged to be allowed to carry it home,