American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-06-26
Mrs. Gavett's Box.

THERE is not a kinder-hearted, more
benevolent woman in Detroit than Mrs.
Gavett. Last year she was on the com
mittee to canvass for aid for grasshopper
sufferers, and this year she intends to
send them large box of her own get
ting up. She had Gavett bring up box
the other day, and when it had been
placed in the shanty she put on a calico
dress, tied on a check apron, and ram
bled around the house to pick up enough
articles to fill the box and have it sent of
the next day. Her greatest anxiety was
the fear that the box was too small for
one-half the things she wanted to send.
Opening the closet-door she took down
an old coat, one that her husband threw
away two years ago.
"I'll send that for one thing" she
unused, as she held it up. 81 don't
know, though-that's pretty good coat.
Put patch on that 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 seel Why,
there isn't hole in either sleeve-skirt
all right-waist almost as good as new.
l believe l can sell that dress second
hand for enough to buy me bracelet"
lue uIeSS WAS ldiu UColuC thC OOoes
and she hauled out Gavett's boots. The
heel of one was run over, and there was
a hole in the toe Of the other.
They'll do for some one to pillow in, "
she soliloquized, as she took them over
to the light. "Some farmer-ah! Why,
those are good boots! believe I could
get them fixed up for fifty cents SO that
Thomas could wear them half the win
ter 1 don't believe in throwing any
thing away, even if we are well Oft"
The boots were set aside, and she took
down bundle Of children's clothing.
"Ah! / can send these and make little
hearts gladm she whispered, as she un-
tied the bundle. "The children have
outgrown them, and they will be a prize
to some Kansas-sakes alive! but these
garments are almost as good as the day
they were made up! / believe can sell
them to the washerwoman for at least
two dollars, and as soon as get two dol
lars more can buy me new braid
She tied the bundle up, and stuck her
head into the closet and brought out an
other dress,
"a hole In each elbow-skirt torn half
off," she unused, as she turned it over.
CPL send this anyhow. Some mother
can take it and get enough cloth out of
the skirt to make her little girl brand
new-here, what was l thinking of?
Why, this is exactly the stuff want for
the blue stripe in that new rag carpet. II
I'd known this dress was in the house I'd
have cut it up last week"
She unlocked another closet, peered
in and hauled out Gavett's old overcoat
one worn out and stained and kicked
around for a year.
"That will do splendid" she said as
she held it up. at isn't very nice, but
some farmer can wear it to chop in. Ali
hold on! l want that lining to make a
cushion for my rocking chair, and Jen-
ME will want these buttons for her
string, and the rest of the coat1l make
a beautiful rug to lay in front of the
lounge I'd like to send it, but probably
it wouldn't be appreciated, or probably
some one else will send a better one"
She rummaged around for full hour
and when she got through the chamber
floors were piled high with old "duds."
Those she meant to keep were placed on
the right-those she meant to send away
on the left On the left was wallbas-
ket made of hoop-skirt wire. She hasn't
seIt the box yet, but she means to. She
knows that all should contribute to the
relief of the suffering and distressed
Detroit Free Press.