Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-03-18
sE1RENcAMtHr.
STORY FvU THE TlMs5.

seasonable one."
Mrs. Livingston looked inquirinsly Into hel
husbands face and there was shade Of anxiety
in the tone of her voice as she inquired
"Is there necessity for it in our case, my
dcar2"
"Not exactly necessity. au happy to say
1t is rather measure Of expedency than neces
sity. Every man ought to ask il he cannot lesser
his expenses st such time AZ this. AZ said, re.
trenchment is the watchword now."
at ought to be with many, . doubt, but
cannot req why all should adopt it. Our ex'
penses have ever born wise and reasonable
proportion to our income, and you admit tina,
even now there 10 no necessity for retrench.
ment."
"That is true. Still, think, in these hard
times, it is wise to cut OF all unnecessary ex.
penses. There is propriety in doing so. Bo-
sides, the claims Of charity will be great this
winter. There will be an immense
amount Of suffering among the poor, and we
should cheerfully economize that We may have
more to bestow on the needy and suffering"
There IL something IN that, certainly" said
Mrs. Livingston, who was never very pertinacious
in her opposition to any plan proposed by her
uusUAuN. WuoTe 5l1li We UtsH
" Have We not more servants than we really
need2 think We might spare one or two with
out serious Inconvenience"
After thoughtful silence, Mrs. Livingston
II could spare Mary. really don't need her
very much, though she is such good, faithful
creature, that shall regret to part with her."
IF you can spare her without Inconvenience,
l think you had better send her away. Can't We
find some other place to economizs|
~ might dismiss the girl who has done plain
sewing for us for month past. l told her !
should want her two MONTHS and could easily
find work for hor that tme but can do with
out her service very WE'LL and will dismiss her
on Saturday night, il you think it best
Mr.. Livingston assented. Retrenchmsnt in
plans proposed, some Of which were adopted,
and others laid OH the table for future consider
alton.
Threc weeks later Mr.. Livingston observed to
his wife, with an air OF comfortable self satis-
faction
"My dear, I am more convinced every day
that We were right in the plans we adopted three
weeks ago. / can assure you it is hard times
for the poor people. A poor fellow csme to me
to-day. He was out Of work, and SIX children
"I hope helped him."
"Yes gave him twenty dollars. 4 portion OF
what we have saved by economy"
The next evening Mr.. Livingston settled him.
self In his easy char with grave and somewhat
troubled look. The expression of his counte-
nance WAS that OF man whose self complacency
had been seriously disturbed. Mrs. Livingston
was quick to observe this. She waited some
time for her husband to break the silence, but
seeing that he WAS not disposed to do ii, she
said:
"You look grave tonight, Edward. Has any
thing occurred to annoy you 7"
"Not unless you call it annoyance for man
TO discover that he has been acting unwiseiy and
without due consideration, when he really sup.
posed that he was doing very wise thing"
N that your case, my dear ?" said Mrs. I.v
ingston, in = tone in which wifely sympathy aud
womanly anxiety we're about equally blended.
"Precisey."
"Please explain yourself"
"You remember the plans for rctrenchmen
adopted three weeks ago
II do; and it was only yesterday thAt yt!
were dsscantipg on the wssdom OF the proceed
ings OF that evening"
"That ia true; but have learned since thel
this wisdom was folly, not to call il by harde
name. but will tell you what has opened m.
eyes. You remember what said to you abou
the poor fellow whom | assisted yesterday
This morning mentioned the circumstance Il
my friend, MIR. Chase, as We were speaking o
the hard times and the sufferings OF the poor
To my surprise, he exclaimed, earnestly
~ would not have given the fellow cent.
"Why not 7" inquired. "Out Of work, witt
six children to feed; lis he not AL object of chari
typ A., ,.,,o,. o.mo to ma Wit, ,,0 .,,0,
story, week ago. pitied him, of course. ant
offered him work at low wages until he could d
better. But he scornfully rejected the propos
al. Now such man l do not wish to help
There are hundreds who would gratefully accep
Of even moderate wages. made him the bes
offer could afford, and it would have kept hi
family from absolute suffering until the time
are better"
"If / had known the fact you have stated,
would have kept my money for more deser'
ing object replied.
"My plan," continued Mr.. Chase, "is to Civ
employment to as many rs possible these har
times. believe it is the most benevolent IN
vestment Of money; it will secure US from bt
coming the dupes OF those who make the liar
times an excuse for idleness and rioton7 sa'he'
III suspect you are right" l raid, gravely an
thoughtfuliy for a new light was breaking
upon my mind.
"Half an hour after Mr.. Chase left the store
his brother-in-law, Mr.. Mills came in.
"'Are you in want Of female domestcT
incurred. ,.u.s ;. H., ,,, 4, ,.,o, 40,
80 met with case OF suffering yesterda
that touched my sympathies. A poor glri Z
neat and modest appearance, came into my stoi
to inquire II l did not wish to hire her. On m
replying in the negative, she eagerly inquired
did not know OF some one who wanted to hir
On again receiving negative, the tears course
down nGT Ihie, tHiu Clcohh, iul fotS phio ~
thin they were, and she turned away with IL de
pairing ejaculation that went to my heart
called her Ia * and made inquiries into her CT
cumstances. 1t was sorrowful tale. III
father fell from the roof of fouse thr'
months ago. and was so injured that he has m
left his bed since. She had two brothers and
sister, all too young to earn anything. II
mother hai taken in sewing for the shops, III
she had gone ont to service, aud they had ma
aged to keep want from their door. But nc
.,F r. Tl.rf.. .yuH.l ~ Ia
mother could get no sewing, and they are star
ing This last statement was fully corroborr
ted by her own cadaverous appearance. l be
her to the house to get something to eat.
.''Wnsn went home to diuner, my wiGe,wi
swimming ewes, told me about her Call. VIII
food was placed before her, she begged to
allowed to carry it home, instead of eating IL h'
self, declaring that it almost broke her heart
think OF poor Sammy and Charles and little llf
who had been crying for bread all the mornir
When told to satisfy her appetite, while bast
was filed for her TO take home, she fell at it
one half-starved, yet al soon as the basket "
ready, she would remain no longer, but hastt
ed with 1t to her starving family
"Ihis tale Of suffering, related by my frlel
touched my heart. learned from him wht
poor family were to be found, and that W
hour repaired to their dwelling. Judge Of
surprise when fonnd this girl none other IL
Mary herself Her dismissal from our service
q time when situations are so difficult to be
brink OF starvation. OF course l relieved til
present necessites and told Mary to come b.
tomorrow morning They overwhelmed
with expressions OF gratitude, but felt NJ
like culprt than benefactor."
But you did not Iteud any wrong," r
Mrs. Livingston.
"True but adopted wrong corrre Of c
Duct without due consideration Strange
not use q little common senee and ask my
what Mary would do If thrown out Of emp
mont at such time. We began Ietrenchn
Ia the wrong place."
81 observed that Mary looked very down,
when informed her that we should require
services no longer. But Lucy Tilien loo
even more sad than Mary"
Lucy Tilden y
"Yes the girl who sewed for u.s."
"Ah, 1 remember now. Another bad
take, very likely. Do You know where
lives2 We must ascertain il she is suffering
Mrs. Livingston WIS able to give the street
number OF her residence. Tho next day
Iivingston made his way thither. As he asc'
ed this stare leading to the humble apartmel
the sowing girl, he beard, issuing from the +
pointed out to him as Alss Tildens. the ro
harsh voice OF q man, and the sobs of fen
The story was soon told Lucy had been
able to obtain work since the day she was
missed from the employ Of Mrs. Livings
She could not pay the months rent Of her n
and she and he. little all were being eje
from it. Mr.. Livingston hastened to repair
mischief of this second measure Of retire
ment. The rei t was paid, and Lucy wa
formed that there was plenty OF sewing for
At the house Of her ol patron.