Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-08
REAL FUN.
RY MRS. 4. W. CURTIS.

IL T.
GOOD enough not to shock dear old Mad
am. I'm lust brimful and running over
with mischief, and know I'll get into dis
grace by some foolish caper, unless you
can invent something to keep me busy to-
day ,
''We1l, suppose we organize Benevo-
lent Society, and have some real fun dong
good, for once"
Doing qoodr" exclaimed another of the
bevy of Young ladies clustered around the
register in one of the halls OF Madam Ga
Zin's boarding-school.
eyes, doing good 1t would be more
creditable for us to spend our surplus life,
energy, and pocketmoney helping some
poor unfortunate endure the cold and
storms of this terrible winter than in get
ting ourselves into all manner of scrapes,
as we generally do"
But who in the world could we helpe"
said another.
well there is Granny Tweed, living
all alone in that hut Of a house, trying to
bring ND those two little orphaned grand
children. She earns a little by knitting
and spinning, but it must be hard, indeed,
for them to get through this winter. What
wonderful God-send it would be if we
should send her some warm flannelS to
keep her poor old rheumatic bones more
comfortable, and a pair Of warm blankets
for her bed And then, if we could only
fit up those poor little girls so they would
be fit to go to church,
"Why, Grace Kimball! you're real
Sister of Mercy. How came you to think
of such a thing?"
"Oh! papa is minister, you know, and
we see and know more about poor people
on that account [ think it would be just
spIendid fun to do it," said Florence
Percy.
DO let's 90 to work at once" said an
other Its only nine O'Clock, and we have
the whole of this blessed Saturday before
US How shall we begin, Grace?"
Suppose we each give one dollar for q
fund upon which to draw for our supplies
We will tell Madam all about it. | an
sure she will approve of the plan, and give
US permission to purchase the flannel this
morning, and we can be ready to com
mence work this afternoon"
agreed, agreed" was the reply
from all as they fastened to their rooms
for the money, and to invite all the rest tt
Join them if they wished. Half an houl
later nearly all the girls gathered in the
sChool-rOom. They proceeded to form 8
Young Ladies Benevolent Society, by
electing president secretary and treas
urer, and q committee of six, whose duty
would be to purchase material for tht
work, cut and prepare it ready to make
up, and attend to all the business of The
society as they should direct. Permission
was given two of the committee to pur
chase the flannel at once, by kind hearted
Madam, who was delighted to find he
wild, frolicsome girls were planning some
thing really useful and good, for once
tod IL, 81,
cred around the long table covered will
the bright scarlet flannel, there was such
chattering, SO much to say and laugh over
it seemed as if they would never get t.
work But they did, at last, and tn
bright needles flew in and out, until, t.
their surprise and delight, the flannel
We're finished. The day was finished too
but they all declared it was one of the har
piest they had ever spent.
Monday afternoon, during their walk
three of the committee took occasion t
pass by Granny Tweeds door. The tw
little girls were playing outside the gate
Grace asked them how their grandmothe
was, and chatted with them so pleasant
they didn't notice that the other youn
ladies were taking very accurate measure
of the length of their poor little arm:
and their thin cotton skirts. They eve
managed to get the size of their shoes
which were sadly out at the toes. A
length Grace dropped paper of sugar
plums into the little red hand of the eldcs
and with a pleasant "good-bye" the youn
ladies passed on, and were soon relatin
their success to the rest of the society.
was wonderful to see the interest wit
which those gay young girls commence
the work of fitting up those mOtherles
little ones. Two complete suits were mad
for each, bright plaid dresses for Sunda
wear, and dark delaines for every day
They made warm flannel underclothe>
and purchased bright scarlet stockings
and warm, thick shoes for each The
made thick, heavy sacques for them, Oh
Madam's sewing machine, and eXpendet
the last money left in their treasury 70
some little hats and gloves. They wer
SO enthusiastic over their work, and hat
been SO careful not to let it interfere in tn
least with their studies. that Madam wa
greatly pleased and said she would lik
to add her mite, to make the gift complete
SO that very day she brought in drcs
pattern of black alapaca, a thick, warn
shawl, and close, old lady's bonnet
which would he very nice, indeed, fo
granny to wear to church. The girls wer,
so delighted they could scarcel,
refrain from literally devourln!!
Madam with kisses. At last tn,
work was finished, and the gar
ments laid one by one, neatly folded, int,
an old trunk, the girls adding, at the las
moment pound of tea, and cand,
enough to keep the little girls sweet al
winter. The trunk was closed the Ike,
turned in the lock and left there, and thel
it was sent by a trusty man with instruc
tlons to take it into the house, and i
Granny asked where it came from, to tel
her the Lord sent it," She was not a
home, however, and the little girls were a
some neighbours house, but the door wa
not locked, so the trunk was set inside
and when Granny came home, there i
was, with 4 neat little card upon the top
upon which was written, "FOr Granny
Tweed The next day was the Sabbath
Madame Gain and her pupils wer,
at length seated in their accustomed place
and every fair young head had bowed it
self for moment in prayer-a good ole
rule which could not be broken with i'm
punlty then; the next moment, at leas
fifty pairs of bright eyes were turned, no
on the minister, but upon the little cornel
in the gallery where sat Granny Tweed in
her new bonnet and shawl, wondering
awe-stricken look upon her her care worn
wrinkled face, down which, one by one
great tears rolled, and fell UNDECIDED upon
her toil-vorn hands. The two little girls
were not crViug-nO, indeed Their