The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-07-20
Mrs. Smiths CHARITY,
BY ELLEN ASHTON.


Mrs Smith, as she spoke, leaned over
the balustrade, calling down stairs to the
footman.
"No num-"
Il Declare" muttered the ladv, but
quite loud enough for the servant to hear,
that lazy thing ought to be turned off
It's s o'clock already. A pretty days
work it will be, begun at such an hour.
john" and she raised her voice to high
er key, be sure you tell the coachman to
be around by eleven, for I've got TO 90
collecting with Mrs. Huntly, for the poor,
this morning"
She left the staircase as she spoke, and
passed to her chamber, where she expect
ed to spend the next two hours in dress
ing to 90 out.
1t was cold wet morning in March
While this scene was transporting in the
elegant mansion, thinlv clad, delicate
looking girl, was feebly struggling
against the rain on her wav 20 Mrs.
Smiths. She had been awake for half
the night, tending her sick sister, who lay
dying of consumption, in the comfortless
and fireless room which they occupied to-
gether, up three pair of stairs, in a narrow,
ill-ventiIated alley. For breakfast she had
eaten nothing 5ut dry crust, and drank
nothing but cup of cold water. And
now with faded summer shawl, a pair
of thin, worn shoes, and an umbrella that
only half protected her. she was Drawing
the inclement weather. in order to do
Mrs. Smiths plain sewing at dollar and
a quarter week.
The bell rang AMI the rich lady, throw
ing on splendid dressing gown, went to
the staircase
"That's you at last, Miss Jones, is it?'
she said sharply. A full hour behind
time. Recolect, Miss, whatI told YOU
| shall keep my word, and take off shil-
ling every day you are so late Go at
once into the back room, where everything
is waiting for you
Too heart broken to demonstrate, the
girl did as she was directed, aud took her
place in an apartment which, as it was to
be occupied . only by the seamstress, as
Mrs. Smith said, Was. from motives OF
economy, never more than half heated l.
Here the girl sewed, in her damp clothes
and wet feet, all day, there not being
warmth enough in he tlue to dry either !;
and at night went home Though The
storm to her sick sister, AMI tie cod, un
furnished room they occupied.
All that morning Mrs Smith, protected
from the rain by her comfortable carriage,
drove about os.ensbIy to collect for the
poor, but really to indulge in gossip, and
CRAFTY her vanity by being called bencvo.
lent. While exhibiting her splendid ia
bies, on which 10 write the names Of do
nors, and expatiatiug sentimeutally on the
sufferings of the inIigent, she took good
care to say nothing of the needlewomau
she had left working at a starvation
price in cold, unhealthy room.
The next day the seamStress did not
come at all Mrs. Smith was highly in
dignant, especially as piece OF work,
which she had particularly wished to he
finished, was incomplete.
You may tell Miss Jone', if she comes
again to morrow" she said angriIy, late in
the day, that don't want her services
any longer. People who work for me
must be punctua."
When the footman went back into the
kitchen, and rehearsed the message with
which he had been charged, there was a
general outcry amongst the servants.
"'Pears to me-" said the cook, dat
some oh de rich hab no heart at all, deed
it does. Dat poor chile was almost starry
ed Yesterday, and looked as ef she had de
acer an she has sick sister dyin' of a
CONSUMPTION, she says. Ef was YOU
jim. I'd tell missus she night turn her of,
herself, deed | would And Dinah,
thoroughly aroused, nounced around the
room Indignantly.
But the seampstress never returned to
receive her dismissal, The exposure of
the preceding day had brought on vio-
lent inflammation Of the lungs, and she
was now lying in a high fever, and draw
ing her breath in agony, by the side of her
dying sister. Here, about dusk, her land
lady found her accidentally, both having
been too i'll to summon assistance.
It was the charity of this woman, only
less INDECENT than themselves, that saved
-
the two sisters from perisbing with cold
and want. Not that they lived long, how
ever. to consume her hard earnings. The
violent inflammation soon carried off the
seamstress, and her sister speedily follow
ed her.
One day, while Mrs. Smith was making
calls, her luxurious carriage passed pau
per funeral. The sight of the coarse pine
coffin made the rich lady shuider, as she
rolled by; and she told to all her acquain-
ces, that morning, how inexpresslbly she
had been Mortified by the sight
"I1s dreadful to think how many poor
people there are" she said, q aud in spite,
too, OF all we are doing for them. There
must be great deal of improyideDce aud
Iaziness to cause it. Only to think, | had
a sealnpstress week or two ago, who,
because reprimanded Ler for coming late
to her work, left in pet, and haven't
heard Of her yet"
| at the Judgment day, proud lady, you
will hear of her.
| Vain. indeed. is the charity that gives
+ publicly to the door 4" of our abundance,
/ if we reglect the greater charity of sym
patty with the INDECENT ana suffering
whom we actually know - Peter5en