Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-10-17

actly like the real ones. Illusion will
be much prettier than silk or satin at
this time of the year, and diaphanous
dresses are so becoming 1t will be an
improvement on your quiet muslin and
scarlet rose, mamma" Nett1e cried,
gayly, as she opened her pretty purse
and pushed the crumpled notes in.
"Wel, Nettie," her father asked at
dinner did your money go as far as
you expected? can give you five dol
lars more to help you out, if it didn't
stretch as far as it should have done"
haven't ordered my dress yet. papa;
Eve been SO busy looking over the styles
all the afternoon. I'll take the extra
five dollars, though, if you please
can make good use of it."
So can |, if you don't really need
it," her father returned, smillngly.
Here, little: Essie, is your share" he
said dropping a crisp new note IN his
younger daughters lap. 81 don't know
what [ shall do when Essie gets old
enough to go to parties, unless Forum
atus should die and leave his purse.
It's lucky [ have no more girls to dis
sipate my substance-Nettie going to
balls, and Essie inviting her young lady
friends to opera matinees and luncheon
parties p
eff you please, papa, | haven't invi-
ted them yet, and I'd like to do some
thing else with the money; may p
little Essie said, looking up from the pa
per she was reading.
What do you want to do with it q
Lend it to me-" Nettie cried, laugh
ing1y cit will be a charity"
Is that what you want to do with
It ?" her father asked. "Td rather you'd
devote it to your original intention"
No, Sir" she said, blushingly
want to give it away. | want to send
it Oh, papa, I've been reading in this
paper about that terrible factory fire,
and of all those poor people who lost
not only the places where they worked,
but their homes and furniture, too, by
the fire. This paper says they are starry
ing-men, women, and children, even
little babies papa and they need food
and clothes and every thing. And don't
you think ought to give this money to
them instead of spending it? We don't
have to go to the matinee, but they naets
have something to eat. Isn't it dread
full, papa, for Il person to have nothing
to eat %
Every dreadful, " her father said, smil-
ing thoughtfully down on the pretty,
earnest little face
Il want you to send it to those poor
people, papa. | couldn't enjoy the
matinee it would spoil all my pleasure
thinking how selfish I'd be to spend so
much money just for pleasure when
they need 1t so much to buy clothes and
things to eat
| think you put your money to a
wise use, little girl" her father said, APP
provingly. 1t is your own, my dear );
do what you like with it. And some
other time, when papa has more money,
you can take Alice and Blanche to the
matinee"
Thank you, Sir; we can go to the
matinee any time, but the poor people
need the money now" Essie said, giving
the bright new note back to her father.
Yes, now is their hour of need. I
will send the money ediately-in
your name, my little girl. | wish /
could add fifty or hundred dollars to
your mite, Essie but it is impossible
1OI me 10 spare III NOW.
Il hope you didn't think was mean,
Nettie, not to lend my money to you J;
but you have so many pretty dresses
already that I thought I'd rather give it
to those poor starving people" Essie said
to her sister as they were going to bed
that mig ht.
Certainly not, little goosey. | think
like papa, that you put it to good
USE"
Nettie lay awake a long while that
night, for a sudden, startling, and per-
picking question presented itself uncer-
enormously to her consideration if
Essle had made a wise use of her money,
was not she going to make a very fool
ish use of hers? She debated the ques-
ton in all its bearings, and tumbled and
tossed uneaslly on her very easy and
comfortable bed. Nettie was not used
to making sacrifices. There had been
no need of any selfsacrifice in her
bright young life, and this was the first
time she had ever felt called upon to
deny herself in any way.
Fifty dollars will go but little way
In relieving their great Distress" she
thought and there is no Use Of wear
ing my old dress, and having all the
girls make disagreeable remarks about
me, because a lot Of people whom I
never saw and never will see, and who,
Pm sure, would never help me, happen
to be poor and needy. There are plenty
of people who will help them, and there
is no need of giving up my dress"
But then if every one should think as
she did, and selfishly leave it to some
one else to relieve the necessities of the
poor? But then, again, every body was
going to have a new dress for this party;
and Phil would be there, and he always
liked her to appear among the best.
WE'LL it was perplexing and disagreeable
either way, SO why not decide on the
most agreeable alternative?
" I'll buy my dress the first thing in
the morning; then [ can't be tempted
to No, I'll ask papa which I ought
to do. No, can't do that, for he'll only
say. as he did to Essie, Spend your
money as you like it is your own,' and
will contra ST tho n iffaranco hotmoop o,,r