The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-05-20
EFFIE'S BREAD UPON THE WATERS.
BY OLIVE BELL.


able avenue up town, and walked briskly
along the almost deserted pavement.
"My. how dreadful sharp the air isl"
cried Gertie Morton, bright, dark-eyed
brunette of fifteen years, as she held her
sable muff to her face to ward off the
piercing Winter wind. She was warmly
and richly clad in furs and soft cashmere,
as was also her companion, delicate
blonde with blush-rose cheeks and thought
full blue eyes.
Yes" she said, shivering slightly, 81
had no idea it was so cold. Last night
must have been bitter night to the poor
scarce of fuel"
Pooh, Effie. you re always in ferment
about something. Let the poor look out
for themselves. We are comfortable"
laughed Gertie, her plump cheeks crimson
with cold and exercise.
"Gerte!" Effie Mason turned her blue
eyes on Gertie with a reproachful glance,
i" How can you be SO thoughtless ? Do
you never think of Alice Carey's beauti-
full lines
"None are too low, and too poor,
For hope to come down to.
And none, in the worlds highest places
Are sure of keeping the heighths they
have won"
"God made us all, Gertie, rich and poor,
and it is through His goodness we are
among the fortunate instead of the unfor-
tunate"
"Ugh! for goodness sake, Effie, don't
begin a sermon. The cold is enough to
bear without being twitted about body's
sins"
"You need little touching up, Gertie.
It's only right for us to help and comfort
the poor and needy. 'Inasmuch as ye
give it unto the least of one of these, ye
give it unto me, the Saviour says. And,
Gertie, out of your abundance how much
do you give to the poor?'
mot cent" laughed Gertie, whose
good humor never failed her. go, yes, l
do. put something into the contribution
box every Sabbath; but like as not that
goes into some deacons pocket
"Gertie, what a heather you are!"
" Not a worse one unconverted, my dear.
Bless me. what's that %
The girls had turned into an alley to
shorten the route to school and avoid the
piercing east winds, and Gertie's toe had
touched something lying in the shadow of
a large building. Etfie fearlessly stopped
over the bundle of rags.
"a man, almost frozen to death" cried
she, throwing down her satchel and mutf,
and lifting up the mans gray head she
looked into the withered face pltyingly.
"Etfie, you must be goose" angrily
cried Gertie, "come on and let the man lie
there How do you know but what he is
dead drunk ~
"Hush!' Effie gently dropped the mans
head as his eyelids suddenly Enclosed.
"No, miss, I'm not drunk" he said, in
a faint voice. "But I'm starving with
hunger, and l think l must have tainted
from weakness"
"Poor old soul" calculated Efie; "Here,
Gerte, let us help him to his feet"
Effie caught one of the cold hands in her
own, and Gertie, with many sniff of con-
tempt took hold of the other, and in an
instant the bundle Of rags was on his feet.
"There!" exclaimed Effie, with childish
delight, "take this and get out of the cold
as soon as possible"
Effie emptied the contents of her pretty
netted purse into the shiVering palm, took
off her feecy white nubia and wrapped it
around the aged mans unprotected neck,
and said cheerily:
"Now, if you need anything more, call
at No. 10 Madison Place and ask for Effie
Mason"
The man, who in spite of his tattered
clothing looked honest and respectable,
bowed his gray head moment, as if in
voking blessing on the youthful head.
"God bless you, and keep you always
he said in trembling voice as he moved
away.
81 hope He will" murmured Effie, as
she hurried after Gertie, GO for it would be
terrible to be cast out of His favor. Better
poverty, hunger, sorrow, anything but
that
"Effie Mason, you have the least pride
of any girl | know" was Gertie's stormy
salute as Ellie reached her side. "And
want you to understand, Effie, that the
next time you want to help a street beggal
to his feet you need not ask my assistance
"Gertie, dear, do not be angry. l never
could have left that man lying, half starved
and almost frozen, such a morning as this
in the open air. Have some charity-some
pity for your suffering fellow mortals, Ger
tie-for, believe me, your life and mine
may be full of privations yet" said Fife
earnestly.
Perhaps so. But l wouldn't give my
pocket money away to anybody. You
have not a cent to buy 6on-bons"
81 can do very we'll without them.
have only done my duty, cast my bread
upon the waters.'"
"Bah!' laughed Gertie, running up the
academy steps. 81 don't believe in any
such nonsense"
Effie followed her school mate very
thoughtfully. For Etfie's goodness and
religion were Unborn, and Gertie's tota
want of every principle of benevolence anG
faith had long been a source of contention
between them.
Both the daughters of successful mer
chants, both reared to every luxury, theil
future promised to be happy and pros
porous one.
Gertie Morton held everything beneath
her in supreme contempt, snubbed her ser
wants, badgered her dressmakers and made
herself generally feared ard disliked by thu
| lower classes. While Etfie with wisdom