The Van Buren press., 1859-12-09
The Test of Love.

elf ever marry said Margaret Baily
to her cousin, Olivia, it will have to be
man who does not live entirely for himself,
but who, on: of the benevolence OF a chari-
table heart will not pass unheeIed the cry
of tho widow and the orphan who call on
him for relief
1Ou speak warInly, Margaret
Because l feel it. have always thought
that chatitable man would make good
husband
But how will you be able to Judge of
this? You are an heiress, and of course
you have many suitors. Do you not be-
ievc that any one of them would be will
il they supposed that upon ,his issue de
pended the hand Of the wealthy heircss %
Perhaps you are right said Margaret,
thoughtfully; but. she added suddenly,
An idea has just come into my head, by
which l thi.k this e'nbtrrassnent can he
avoided
What is it p asked Olivia, curiously.
Let me confess in the first place, that
among all who are generally considered sui
tors for my hand--perhaps fortune would
be the most appropriate word-there is
mono whom | would think Of as a husband
except Herbert Lee and Henry Ainsworth
The former, you know, is wealthy, the lat
ter a clerk, dependent on his income, which
shonld Judge was not large. Now L have
a mind to sghjcct these two to test
\ good idea, but how Will you manage
it - asked Olivia.
You know that there is q poor family
on Allen street, the one Of whom we heard
to-day, consisting Of a mother, who is sick
and three young children. Now / am GO
/ lng--anonomously, OF course-to recon-
mend this family to the charitable offices
of both Herbert Lee and Henry Ainsworth,
and we Will see the result. They will not
recognize your hand writing therefore l
want you 20 take pen and paper and write
a note at my dictation.'
Olivia procured the writing materials and
her cousin dictated as follows
DEAR SIR Though stranger to you,
| take the liberty of calling your attention
to the cause of my poor family, now living
in single room N Allen-stre who. in
consequence Of the illness of the mother,
who has supported them by plain sewing,
are reduced to extreme want. n little aid
! to them at this time would he to them like
the visit of an angel from heaven. Will
{
and you will be convinced that this is but a
simple, plain statement of the truth.
| CHARITY.
| through the Post Office to the address oi
both gentlemen.
Perhaps three days afterxard, Herbert
lee called at Margaret's residence. Marga-
ret adroitly led the conversation to the sub
ject Of early and charitable institutions.
/ 'Ah,' said Herbert Lee, that reminds
me of an odd circumstance. I received q
letter the other day. recommending to my
notice poor family in Allen street. II
was signed Charity, ard advised me to &c
! and see them
And did you go?' asked Margaret
quickly.
No !? was the laughing reply. 1 haven
time to waste in hunting up all the desti
tute families in the city l should have
my hands full
But the family may be suffering from
want
If they are, Charity would be in better
business in relieving them himself than il
sending anonymous letters of advice t.
others
| w ould Herbert Lee have laughed so mer
rily if he had known the effect of his wan
of feeling on her whom he was most anx
ious to pie ase
| think, after ALL said Margaret, whel
| Herbert had withdrawn, that | must g
and see Mrs. Green myself. If Henr,
Ainsworth is no more charitable than Her
bert, he will fare very hard
The ladies arrayed themselves for walh
4 II
ence of the widow of whom they were i,
search.
To their surprise they found, on bein;
admitted, that a cheerful fire was glowins
in the stove, while a pleasant smell of din
ner filled the apartment. On the table b.
the side of the window was some medicine
Tho hearth was brushed up and the room
though scantily furnished, presented a nea
and very comfortable appearance.
Marga-,t looked round in surprise.