Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-12-06
The Woman who Wanted Nothing.

"Well. what can do for you ?" asked
richydressed lady of neat young woman
who was awaiting her in the hall.
"I'm in the city alone, and my work has
failed, and
"Now my good woman" said the lady,
"I'm going ont this morning. and have no
time to waste. Do you want clothing Tor
| the winter 2"
"No. madam" replied the stranger, with
| flushed cheeks but"
"You want a little money to pay your
board till your work begins, do you 2"
"No, madam; have ten dollars in my
purse vet. | want TO tell you how am stu.
| sted. because have heard that you were
very kind to the poor and to strangers and
| thought you conld help me-.
But you don't want anything;" replied
the lady, Just a little impatiently. She could
give money very easily; but she grudgsd
her time when she had engagements that
promised pleasure.
AZ want work, madam" continued the
| Girl. /" can sew well, and am willing 70
do it at half the usual price, till my work
begins"
"What can you do 2"
"Plain sewing Of all kinds, and boys
Clothes" was the modest reply.
al have nothing of that kind. Can you
embroider ?"
"No, madam.
, "Then | cannot help you"
al thought perhaps among your TRENDS
you might"
A shadow of displeasure passed over the
I lovely face as the lady replied, But you
surely cannot expect me to run about look
, ing for work for you II you have nothing
else to do, why not do that yourself =
81 have tried ten days in vain.
T. "If was in your place, would go from
door to door, and neper gipe up till had
{ found some honest work. If you can't get
: inst what YOU want, you must take what you
!; can get. There is work enough in the
Il world. we all know. If you need little
! money, will give it to you but that Is all
can do"
: Thank you | have what money need
q Just now" said the woman, sadly
y The door closed on her, and she said To
" herself. I" She would not hear me, or would
st have told her that had rung at more than
y thousand doors, and that nine hundred
Ls and fifty of them were shut in my face b,
i, servants. would have told her that had
70 an aged mother who can also work, but who
- cannot eat the bread of charity"
u The lady went back to her friends, and
~ said, So provoking 1t was decent-look
le ing Young woman out of work, who wanted
W nothing but work ! offered her clothing
or money, but she declined both-as II
y, kept n ready-made clothing store, or had al
NJ intelligence office and had nothing to dc
y, le but run about among shops for her accom-
y, III modation And she owned that she had
II, ten dollars in her purse that moment. de
or clare the assurance of such folks is un
III bounded" And the lady went of with al
+, easy mind because, as she said, this appli
cant wanted nothing"
Now, one great lesson the benevolent
~ should learn Is, that the most pressing wan
'1 is often among high-minded working peo
IA pe, who will not, till forced to do so, eat ths
., .. bread of dependence.
~ The easiest thing in the world for mae
y or woman with plenty of money, is to give
~ little OF il away. Sacrifice consists IN CIV
~ lug that which is not so easy, bat which may
be far more useful--a little kind interest ana
70 personal effort for Others. In no possiole
>, way can We help the poor so well as by aid'
w ing them In getting work.
A gentleman or a lady can often influence
e work where the applicant would not get
II hearing, aud in this way save the money
~ which would otherwise have been given the
ID merely unemployed, for the old, and sick
!, aud disabled.
n Let us look tenderly on such as "want
re nothing but work /" and encourage rs far as
10 Ia our power the spirit of noble independ-
ence which chooses TO toll and even 70 suffer
4, rather than to beg lpaichman.