Middletown transcript., 1876-02-05

lis that your case. my dear? sal
Mrs. Livingston, in a tone in whic
wifely sympathy and womanly anxiet
were about equally blended.
Precisely"
"Please explain yourself"
"You remember the plans for re
trenchment three weeks ago?"
II do; and it was only yesterda.
that you we're descanting on the wisdog
Of the proceedings Of that evening"
THAT is true; but l have learned
since then this wisdom was folly. mo-
to call it by harder name. But l vii
tell you what has opened my eyes
You remember what I said about the
poor fellow whom I assisted yesterday
This morning / mentioned the circum.
stances to my friend. Mr.. Chase. as
we we're speaking Of the hard times
aud the sufferings Of the poor. To my
surprise, he exclaimed. earnestly: i
would not have given the fellow cent. ;"
why not? 2" l inquired. ''Out Of
work, with six children to feed is be
not an object Of charity?'
"No; the same fellow came to me
with the same story. week ago. /
pitied him, of course, and offered him
work at low wages until be could do
better. But be scorDfully rejected the
proposal. No, such man do not wish
to help. There are hundreds who would
gratefully accept of even moderate
wages. made him the best offer ]
could afford, and it would have kept bis
family from absolute suffering until the
times are better"
IF I bad known the fact yeu have
stated. l would have kept my money
for more deserving objects" l replied.
"My plau." continued Mr.. Chase,
lis to give employment to as many as
possible these hard time. / believe it
is the most benevolent investment of
money; it will secure US from becom-
ing the dupes Of those who make the
hard times an excuse for idleness and
riotous gatherings"
II suspect you are right" said
gravely and thougbtfully; for new
light was breaking over 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 do
mestic 2" he inquired.
"Ism pot," replied, "but why do
you ask?'
Il met with case Of suffering yes
terday that touched my sympathies. A
poor girl of neat and modest appear
ance, came in my store to inquire if l
did not wish to hire her. On my re-
plying in the negative. she eagerly in-
quired il I did not know of some one
who wanted to hire. On again receiv-
ing negative, the tears coursed down
her pale. thin cheeks, for very pale and
thin they were, and she turned away
with a despairiug ejaculation which
went to my heart. l called her back
and made inquiries into her circum-
stances. 1t was sorrowful tale Her
father fell from the roof Of house
three months ago. and was SO injured
that be has not left bis bed since. She
had two brothers aud sister. all too
young to earn anything Her mother
had taken in sewing for the shops, and
she had gone out to service. and they
had managed to keep want from their
door. But now she had been out Of a
place for three weeks, her mother
could get no sewing and they are starry
ing. This last statement was fully
BY her own. cudaveruus
appearance I sent her to the house to
get something to eat.
"When / went home to dinner, my
wife, with swimming eyes, told me
about her call. When food was placed
before her. she begged to be allowed to
carry it home. instead Of eating it her
self. declaring it almost broke her heart
to think of poor Sammy and Charles
aud little Tiny. who had been crying
for bread all the morning. When told
to satisfy her appetite. while basket
was filled for her to take home, she fell
at it as something half-starved, yet as
soon as the basket was ready. she would
remain no longer, but FASTENED With it
to her starving family.
This tale Of suffering related BY my
friend, touched my heart. l learned
from him where the poor family was to
be found and that very hour l repaired
to their dwelling. Judge Of my sur
prise when found this girl none other
than Mary herself. Her dismissal from
our service, at a time when situations
are go difficult to be obtained, bad
brought deserving family to the brink
Of starvation. OF course relieved
their present necessities, and told Mary
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