The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-02-15
Poverty's Compensation.

Sl
ooh, Mrs. Winslow, it's horrible to
be poor, and it makes me outrageous
to see how little rich people seem to
make of their opportunities Of enjoy
ing life" said Kate Miller.
. But poverty has its sweets and
compensations too, Kate, and after all
yours is not real poverty"
'.Ah, that is just where it is! In
real honest poverty that hath no
shame, but can dig, or scrub, or wash
for its dinner, believe there may be
compensation, but not in our shabby
genteel way. | long to be active, to
see and do, and enjoy, and am met at
every turn by the dreadful fear of
spending too much. want to do a
generous and kind thing, and am re-
pressed and made to feel mean by the
same miserable prudence"
But even those who can dig, scrub
and wash, that you think are to be
envied, may have just such impulses
as You, and be obliged to repress
them"
81 don't believe they have. For
instance, | am going to a wedding,
and have no dress; but if was Brid-
get in the kitchen I should have my
Sunday BEST which would be good
enough for any occ en. Oh! if l
only had some talent, SOme ability, by
which could earn money in a man
ner that would not be Objectionable
to papa. II it were not for him I'd
like to step out Of my own rank, and,
going among strangers, try the COM
forts and the sweets of working pOy-
erty."
"a great difference, Katy, between
the last aspiration and the eager de-
sire for wealth you began with. But
| should like to see you rich, child"
"Oh, l never shall be; should en-
JOY it too much." =
The next day Kate Miller received
a bundle from the hands of fat boy,
with delicate, feecy dress, just such
an one rs she had been dreaming of
when stung by the consciousness that
she must 60 to her Cousins wedding,
and must either wear shabby, un-
suitable dress, or run her father into
debt. The latter alternative she was
not the girl to accept, and in her
minds eye she already saw herself,
notwithstanding her beauty, feeling
out of place and miserable under the
supercilious glanccs of the wealthy
family into which her cousin was
about to marry. 1t was very weak
minded, of course, but Kate was ev-
eryday flesh and blood; and so now,
with the elegant dress before her, her
checks burnt with modification. She
had what she had been wishing for,
but oh, how bitter it WAS to think that
her passionate betrayal of need yes
terday had brought it :! There w;ls no
message with it, but she knew it had
come from Mrs. Winslow, and SO
knowing, the humiliation of accepting
it was, she felt, worse than that Of
going among the proud Grahams in a
made-over dress.
"Of course, | must return it and
thank her; she must have thought !
was begging for it yesterday" I
Kate locked tearfully at tit was
so lovely, would suit her SO well-and
then wrote a grateful, firm little note
to Mrs. Winslow to decline the gift.
The note brought that lady, who,
by various arts, proved to Kate that
she had intended giving her the dress
before she had betrayed the need of
it, and at last prevailed upon her to
bewail her poverty to rich woman
again. She had felt safe with Mrs.
Winslow, because it was understood
that that lady had already made her
will, disposing of her wealth to v;ri-
GUS charities.
A gay party was assembled on the
deck Of an outgoing Cunarder, and