The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-04-19
miscellaneous
Hospitality Without Grudging.

This morning poor man came to our
house to sell my father a COW. He had
walked five miles through the snow, and
looked very tired. He was sorry to part
with his COW, but said they had all been
sick this fall and he was obliged to do so
in order to get food for the children
through the winter. He looked far from
strong, and pitied him. But my mother
did more than that. She came into the
kitchen where | was pairing potatoes for
our dinner and said:
Just wash your hands, Edith, and get
c 1t 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 mincepie and some doughnuts. I will
cut off some beef from the outside of this
roast, as it is nice and brown. Now all is
ready but the coffee, and that will boil in
a minute or two over the hot coal fire.
Take it innow and 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 my
good mother to do all this for his comfort.
She always offers refreshment to persons
stopping here whom she thinks would be
the better for it. never knew my moth
er's cupboard so empty that there was not
something in it for the needy | do not
believe there is 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
at first. But did not wait long in the
room after placing ii before him, as |
thought he could eat more comfortably if
left to himself. He looked over the waiter
with real taminelike eagerness, much as
he tried to restrain himself
"Give him good price for his COW, ia
ther," | whispered, as pulled his sleeve
when he was passing through into the din
ing room.
"How much are you willing to deny
yourself for the sake of his poor family,
PussyG' he asked, pinching my cheek soft
ly.
About five dollars, think, father"
- Il right, then, he said, giving me one
of hi ,wn quiet laughs in the corner ofhis
grey ,ts.
My father does not beat a poor man
down in his prices. believe he does bus
mess as he thinks the Lord will approve if
he were standing by. If there is one les
son of my childhood which | shall never
forget it is this of being kind to the poor
He made his bargain with the man, and
when he counted out the bills he laid five
dollar note on the top, and said:
"There is Christmas gift for your little
ones"
The poor man burst into tears. After a
while he said:
Mr.. Gray, | always heard you were
good man to the poor, but l never expect
ed such treatment as | have received here
to day May the Lord reward you hun
dredfold! lfyou will let me, Miss, I'll take
these doughnuts 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"
Take them and welcome" l said and
l will send her paper of them beside"
1t did not take my mother long to fill up
the largest basket she had with good things
for the poor family, not forgetting some es-
pecial dainties in one corner for the sick
child.
I'VE 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 pc.
tatoes and salt for dinner for week for the
sake of the pleasure it gives me every time
| think of it. Father hailed team which
was passing and got the man ride almost
to his home. He went away with very
different look from that which he wore
when he came in.
When have home of my own | mean
to use hospitality as my mother does
wish there were more housekeepers "giv-
On" to it, as she is. am sure that poor
family will not soon forget her; and think
after all, we have the most happiness in it.
Edith Gray IN Country Gentleman.