Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-09-01
EFFIES BREAD UPON THE WATERS
BY OLIVE BELL.

BY OLIVE BELL.
One bitter cold morning in mid-winter
two schools girls tripped down the marble
steps of a brown stone palace on a fash
1onable avenue up town and walked brisk
ly along the almost deserted pavement.
ssMy! how dreadful sharp the air is!
cried Gertie Morton, bright. darkeyed
brunette of fifteen years, as she held her
sable muff to her face to ward off the pierre
ing winter wind. She was warmly and
richly clad in furs and soft cashmere, as
was also her companion. delicate blonde
with bush-rose cheeks and thoughtful blue
eyes.
eyes," she said, shivering slightly, II
had no idea it was's cold. Last night
must have been bitter night to the poor
scarce of fuel.''
ssPooh, Effie! you re always in a ferment
| about something. Let the poor look out
| for themselves. We are comfortable, y
laughed Gertie, her plump cheeks crimson
| with cold and exercise.
! ssGertie!'' Effie Mason turned her blue
eyes on Gertie with a reproachful glance,
s'How can you be so thoughtless? Do you
| never think of Alice Carey's beautiful
| lines
None are so low and tool poor,
For hopes to come down to-
| And none in the worlds highest places
| Are sure of keeping the heights they have won."
| .sGod made us all, Gertie, rich and poor
and it is through his goodness we are among
| the fortunate instead of the unfortunate. ,
ssUugh! for goodness sake Effie, don't
begin sermon. The cold is enough tC
| bear without being twitted about a body
SINS"
"You need little touching up. Gertie
It's only right for us to help and comfort
the DOOR and needy. 'Inasmuch as ye give
it unto the least of one of these, ye give ii
unto me- the Saviour says. And, Gertie
out of your abundance how much do you
give to the poor?"
'sNot cent" laughed Gertie, whose
good humor never failed her. 80, yes.
do! put something into the contribution
box every Sabbath; but like as not that
goes into some deacon's pocket"
| "Gertie, what heather you are ~
ssNot worse one unconverted, my dear
| Bless me what's that ?"
The girls had turned into an alley tx
shorten the route to school and avoid TIN
piercing east winds, and Gertie's toe ha(
touched something lying in the shadow O
a large building. Efie fearlessly stoopet
over the bundle of rags.
ga man almost frozen to DEATH" crie'
she, throwing down her satchel and muff
and lifting up the mans grey head sh
I looked into the withered face pityingly.
ssEfie, you must be a goose" angril
cried Gertie, "come on and let the mai
lie there. How do you know but what h
is dead drunk !"
'Hush p Effie gently dropped the man
head ard his eyelids suddenly Enclosed.
"No Miss, Pm not drunk" he said in
faint voice. ssBut Pm starving with hun
ger. and think I must have tainted fro1
weakness"
ssPoor old soul !" calculated Effie; ''her
Gertie, let us help him to his feet"
Efie caught one of the cold hands in he
own, and Gertie, with many sniff of cor
tempt took hold of the other, and in a
instant the bundle Of rags was on his feel
! s.There! ~ exclaimed Ef1ie with childis
delight. ..take this and get out of the col
as soon as possible -
Effie emptied the contents of her prett
Melted purse into the shivering palm, too
off her heecy white nubia and wrapped
around the aged mans unprotected neck
! and said cheerily:
''Now if you need anything more, com
to No. II Madison Place and ask for Eff
7 Mason"
The man, who in spite of his tattere
clothing looked honest and respectable
bowed his gray head moment, as it il
voking blessing on the youthful head.
"God bless you, and keep you always !!
he said in trembling voice as he move
away.
II hope He WILL" murmured Effie, a
she hurried after Gertie, ''for it would {
terrible to be cast out of His favor. Bette
poverty, hunger, sorrow, anything BIT
that"
ssEflie Mason, you have the least prld
of any girl I know,'' was Gertie's storm
salute as Ef1le reached her side. land
want you to understand. Effie, that th
next time you want to helpa street beg
gar to his feet you need not ask my assist
ance.
"Gertie, dear, do not be angry. ! neve
: could have left that man lying, half-sta
ed. and almost frozen, such morning q
this in the open air. Have some charity
: some pity for your suffering fellow NOR
tails, Gertie-for, believe me, your life an
mine maybe full Of privations yet" sal
Effie earnestly.
s.Perhaps so: But wouldn't give m
). pocket money away to anybody. 70
o have not cent to buy bo'a-bons."
81 can do very well without them.
q have only done my duty, cast my brea
upon the waters.''
ssBah p laughed Gertie, running up u
3 academy steps. II don't believe IN an
l such nonsense"
; Ef1e followed her schoolmate vel
! .thoughtfully. For Efie's goodness an
| religion were Unborn, and Gertle's tot