Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-07-08
Mrs. Gavett's Box.

The Free Press says: There is not
kinder-hearted, more benevolent woman
in Detroit than Mrs. Gavett. Last year
she was on the committee to canvass for
aid for the grasshopper sufferers, and this
year she intends to send them large box
Of her own getting up. She had: Gavett
bring up box the other day, andwhcn it
had been placed in the shanty, she put on
a calico dress, tied on a check apron, and
rambled around the house to pick up
enough articles to FIJI the box and have it
sent of: next day. Her greatest anxiety
was that the box was too small for one
half the things she wanted to send.
Opening closet door, she took down
an old coat, one that her husband threw
away two years ago.
"l'il Send that for one thing" she lnused
as she held it up. II don't know, though
that's pretty good coat. Put a patch
on the elbow and Thomas can wear it half
the summer
She placed it on chair, and took down
one of her old dresses.
"I'll make some farmers wife glad with
this" she said, as she shook out the folds
and held it up. "Let's see! Why, there
isn't a hole in either sleeye-skirt all ri ght
waist almost as good as new. I believe
I can sell that dress secondhand for
| enough to buy me bracelet''
The dress was laid beside the coat, and
she hauled out Gavett's boots. The heel
| of one was run over, and there was hole
in the toe Of the other.
| 'They'll do for some one to plow ill.,"
she soiloquized, as she took them over to
the light. "Somc farmer-ah! Why these
arc good boots! I believe 1 could get
them fixed up for fifty cents, SO that
Thomas could wear them half the winter.
I don't believe in throwing anything away
even if we are we'll off"
The boots were set aside, and she took
! down a bundle Of children's clothing.
"Al! can send these and make little
hearts glad" she whispered, as she unit
ed the bundle "rhe children have out
grown them, and they will be a prize to
some kansas-Sa!lcs! but these garments
arc almost as good as the day they were
made up! l believe can sell them to
.hc wusl.3r-women for at least Sc, and as
soon as I set s. more, I can buy me a
ncw bGa;d.'
She tied the bundle up and stuck her
head into the closet and brought out an
uthtr dress.
~ hole in each clbow-skirt torn half
off, she unused, as she turned it over.
IN send this, anyhow. Some mother
c;.a take it and get enough cloth out Of
the skirt to make her lilIle girl bran
ncw-lIcyc, what was | thinking Of:
Why, this is exactly the stuff l want for
the blue stripe in that new rag carpet. If
! I'd known this dress was iii the house Ia
Cut it up last week."
She unlocked another closet, peercd in
and hauled cut Gavett's old overcoat-onc
Wurl. out and stained and kicked abound
Tor year
Tint will do splendidly" she said, as
she htll it up. 1T isn't very nice, but
some farmer can wear it to chop III. All!
hold on! want the lining to make a
cushion for my rocking chair and Jennie
will want these buttons for her string, and
the rest of the coal'll make beautiful
rug to lay in front Of the lounge. I'd like
to send it, but probably some one else will
send better one.'
She rummaged around for full hour,
and when she got through the chamber,
her floors were piled high with old "duds."
Those she meant to keep were placed on
the riyht-those she meant to send away
on the left. On the left was wall basket
made OF hoop-skirt wire. She hadn'tsent
the box yet but she meant to. She knows
that all should contribute to the relief Of
the suffering and distressed.