The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-06-17
WESTMINSTER, Md THURSDAY MORNING. JUNE H. 1869
all her thoughts, was rather au absent
minded companion.

mloded companion.
That night, after his wife was quietly
asleep beside him, John Stirling spent
an hour Of not untroubed thought
Unlike Nellie, he had been brought up
IN quiet country home, where five
hundred dollars would have been
thought by no means inadequate pro
vision for the support Of the whole
family during the entire year. Wa it
right, could ii be right to spend il upon
Que evenings entertainment, for the
sake, too, of people who would be in no
wise benefited thereby-whose choicest
pleasures were 50 common that they had
already palled upon their senses But
then, as his wife had suggested, they
had been out so much-would not this
drawing back from return Of civilities
look very meany And John Stirling
shrank, with all the pride OF sensitive
man, from the least iuiputation of mean,
ness. Icy were not rich. True his
capital was his own, aud his business
was good; but he had not felt that he
could spend more than three thousand
year ON home expenses, and here was
live hundred extra, upon which he had
not counted, coming ut once. Surely
he could not dare, for such a cause, to
stint his contributions for the relief ol
the suffering? Could he afford it with.
outy Nellie, the INDUCED child Of
wealthy parents, knew nothing OF such
anxious thoughts; she only heard the
result iu the morning. BE ore he gave
her his good.by kiss, he said, in tone
little more sober than he meant it
should be:
We'll, dear, you shall have your
party. You eau begin making your
arrangements at once. Here is hun.
dred dollars for the feminine adorn.
ments; | will pay Smith aud the music
afterwards"
That was all. John Stirling had
sunny, uuselfsh temper, and when he
had made up his mind to grant his wife
the indulgence she craved, it would not
have been like him to spoil her pleasure
by any indication of dissatisfaction.
Still, as have hinted, her intuitions
were strong aud her nature sensitive
aud impressible, and she had certain
sense OF having persuaded her husband
somewhat against his own wishes, that
rather disinclined her to commence her
preparations. 1t was nearly eleven
o'clock before she dressed for the shop.
ping expedition. She was just tying
the strings to her elegant fall hat when
she heard ring ut the door, and pres.
emily servant came in with the iufor-
nation that little child, who had
brought home sewing, waited to see her
Mrs. Stirling was motherly by in.
stinct, aud her heart warmed at once to
the shy little creature who came timidly
10. 1t was girl not more than seven
years old-quite too young, Mrs. Stirl-
ing thought, to be trusted alone in the
streets but then she herself had been
brought up under the successive rule of
nursery.maid aud governess.
She took the bundle from the childs
hand, and said, with the same bright,
kind smile which had wiled John Stirl.
ing's bachelor heart away:
Where did you come from, and how
did you find your way here alone, you
poor little thing?"
"Sister Annie sent me, ma am. She
had done your embroidery, and she
thought, if she could get the money for
it to pay Mr.. jenkins, may be he would
let us stay in the room till she got lii.
tie better"
"She is sick, then p
"Yes'm. She didn't feel we'll enough
to come. IL has been hard getting
along all summer, for the Indies she
works for were almost all out of town.
aud some Of them owing her; aud |
spose the worry and not having much
to eat did it, ma am"
Mrs. Stirling leaned toward the little
creature, aud looked At her more closely.
Could it be hunger, she thought, that
made those blue eyes look so large and
the skin so transparent Was this
little thing actually suffering for bread,
and she going to spend Eve hundred
dollars 10 one evening, feasting those
who never felt want even of dainties?
She knew not what thoughts had been
in her husbands mind when he spoke
Of suffering among the poor. She said
pleasantly:
"Well, child, you must have some
luncheon, aud then l will 20 with you
to sec your sister. l had better speak
to her about the work
"lsn't it righti Cant you pay herY"
The child gave start Of alarm and
spoke with the premature womanliDess
aud natural apprehensions of misfortune
which are among the saddest fruits oil
poverty.
Mrs. Stirling relieved her with ready
sympathy.
Yes, indeed, the work is all right.
It's done beautifully but | want to see
your sister about some more, and per.
haps can do her good"
IL would have made the kind lady's
heart ache could she have seen the
eagerness with which the half. .iamished
child devoured the lunch which was set
Leiore her in the kitchen.
In few moments they were ready t.
start. Mrs. Stirling had replaced her
velvet mantle by Scotch shawl, her
French hat by simple straw aud with
basket in her hand containing few
dainties with which she hoped to tempt
the sick girls palate, she followed the
child across the city toward C----street
IA locality hitherto terra ineognita to
her