The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-06-24
Mrs. Gayett's Box.

There is not kinder-hearted, more
benevolent woman in Detroit, according
to the Free Press, than Mrs. Gavett
Last year she was on the committee to
canvass for all for the grasshopper suf.
ferers, and this year she intends to send
them large box of her own getting mp.
She had Gavett bring up q boa the other
day, and when it had been plac Il in the
shanty she put on calico dress, tied on
check apron and rambled around the
house to pick up enough articles to fill
the box and have it sent off next day.
the box was too small for ono-h half the
/ things she wanted to send.
Opening q 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
mused, as she heldit up. "I don't know,
though-thot's pretty good coat. Put
a patch on that elbow and Thomas can
wear it half the summer"
She placed it on a 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 q hole in either sleeve-skirt
all right-waist almost as good as new
I believe I can sell that dress second
hand for enough to buy me bracelet. "
The dress was laid beside the coat, and
she hauled over Gavett's boots. The heel
of one was run over, and there was n
hole in the toe of the other.
"They'll do for some one to plow in, "
she soliloquized, as she took them over
to the light. "Some farmer--ah Why,
these are good boots! l believe could
get them fixed up for fifty cents so that
Thomas could wear them half the win
ter. l don't believe in throwing any
thing away even il we are well off.
The boots were set aside, and she took
down bundle of children's clothing.
"Ah! L can send these and make lit
tie hearts gladl" she whispered as she
united the bundle. "rhe children
have outgrown them, and they will be a
prize to some Kansas - Sakes alive! |!
but these garments are almost rs goodas
the day they were made up believe
can sell them to the washerwoman for at
least two dollars, and as soon as get two
dollars more can buy me new braid" !"
She tied the bundle up and stuck her
head into the closet and brought out an
other dress.
ga hole in each clbow-skirt torn half
off,, she mused as she turned it over.
"Ill send this anyhow. Some mother
can take it and get enough cloth out of
the skirt to make her little girl bran
new - Here, what was / thinking
of 2 Why, this is exactly the stuff L
want for the blue stripe in that new rag
carpet. If 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 n year.
"That will do splendldly!" she said,
as she held it mp. "It isn't very nice,
but some farmer can wear it to chop in.
All! hold on! I want that lining to
make cushion for my rocking chair,
and Jennie will want these buttons for
her string, and the rest of the coat'll
make beautiful rug to lay in front of
the lounge. I'd like to send it, but
probably it wouldn't be appreciated, OF
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 right-those she meant to
send away on the left. On the left was
wall-basket made of hoop-skirt wire.
She hasn't sent the box yet, but she
means to. She knows that all should
contribute to the relief of the suffering
and distressed.