Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-03-13
Hospitality Without GrudgIng.

This morning poor man came to our hous
to sell my father a cow He had walked fiv
miles through the snow, and loked very tired
He was sorry to part with his COW, but sai
they had all been sick this fall, and he wa
obliged to do so in order to get food for tn
children through the winter He looked ia
from strong, and | pitied him. But my moth
er did more than that. She came into tn
Kitchen where was pairing potatoes for ou
dinner, and said
Just wash your hands Edith, and get ou
the little waiter put plate Of biscuit on it
while ] heat up this coffee now you may
/ put on little plate Of butter, piece OF minee
pie and some doughnuts. | will cut off som,
/ beef from the outside Of this roast, as it i
nice and brown. Now all is ready but th,
coffee and that will boil in minute or twt
over the hot coal fire. Take it in now, anC
put it on the little stand before Mr.. Weaver
know it will do him good | dare say they
live poorly this hard winter
felt sorry for the man, but it took ny
good mother to do all this for his comfort
She always offers refreshment to persons stop
| ping here whom she thinks would be the bot.
ter for it. | never knew my mothers cup
board so empty that there was not something
in it for the needy. | don't believe there is q
poor child in the town who has not had cause
to remember it one time or another They
like to come to our house on errands
1t did my heart good to see the pleased
look on the poor mans face. The surprise
was so great he hardly knew what to say al
FIRST But did not wait long in the room
after placing it before him, as | thought he
could eat more comfortably if left to himself
he looked over tho waiter with a real famine
| ike eagerness, much as he tried 10 restrain
himself
"Giye him good price for his COW, father
| whispered, as | pulled his sleeve when he
was passing through into tine dning-room.
How much are you willing to deny your
self for the sake Of his poor family, Pussy p
he asked, pinehug my check softly.
About five dollars, | think, father
An right, them he said, giving me one
of his own quiet laughs in the corner Of hi.
grey eyes.
My father does not beat poor man down
in his prices. believe he does business iusl
as he thinks the Lord would approve if b.,
were standing by. If there is one lesson o
my childhood which shall never forget it is
this Of being kind to the poor. He mad,
his bargain with the man, aud when be count
ed out the bills be laid five dollar note on
the top, and said
There is a Christmas gift for your little
ones"
The poor nau burst into tears After q
while he said
Mr. Gray, | always heard you were a
good man TO the poor but never expected
such treatment as have had here to-day.
May the Lord reward you a hundredlold II
you will let me, Miss, I'll take these dough.
nuts you have set for me home to my little
Jane. wouldn't be so bold, but she has been
poorly ever since she got over the sickness,
and yesterday she was crying for one of these
very fried cakes"
"Takc them aud welcome" | said, "and |
will send her paper of them beside"
II did not take my mother long to fill up
the largest basket she had with good things
for that poor family, not forgetting some es-
pocial daintie5 in one corner for the sick
child.
1--WE can do without doughnuts till next
baking day." she said, as she emptied the
whole painful into the basket,
| know that poor family will have one
good meal this winter, and | would eat po-
tatoes aud salt for dinner for week for the
sake of the pleasure it gives me every time
| think Of it, Father hailed a team which
was passing and got the man a ride almost to
his home. He went away with very differ.
eut look from that which he wore when he
came in.
When | have home of my own, mean to
use hospitality just as my mother does. | wish
there were more housekeepers "given' to it,
as she is | am sure that poor family will
not soou forget her aud | think, after all,
we have the most happiness in it-Eduh
Gray, IN Country Gentleman.