Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1877-01-24

rae Beggars's Baskcs.
New York Iederrl
..yvalI Miss Richie, it's your turn
49, tho Beggar's Basket" said Mrs.
ROIIa.
.sIfit IL. / suppose must take it,
aid Miss Richie, holding out hef
hand--a verv pretty hand 10 q very
expensive kid glove. 'Dear me
what trash people do put into H. 10
be sure"
"FilI 1t as handsomely as you IKE,
my dear, . said Mrs Rolla, laughing.
"That,s what we want you to do"
The Beggar's Basket was an instr
tuition of the sewing society fancy
basket, with ribbons on the handle,
which was filed with pin-cushions.
pen-wipers, and other little nick
nacks. and handed to friends, VINO
took something out Of it and put 10
twenty-five cents or what they chose.
As they were warned before, no
change was given. If they chose 10
nay Ave dollars for their toy. they
could. Twenty-Five cents was gen
orally the full value Of the article,
and people felt themselves very gen
erous when they had given half
dollsr The members OF the society
took II home In turn, Keeping u q
week each time, and every one was
sorry when her turn came.
Begging, even for the heather, II
not agreeable work, and no one liked
TO carry the basket back empty, 80
thai its possession was a somewhat
expensive honor.
Just now little Miss Richie, who
had very small allowance for her
dress, and was very anxious to make
q good appearance, was wondering
whether this Beggar's Basket would
cost her the new neck-iie for which
che was preserving two dollar bill,
the last cent she would have until
the last OF the month. IL no one
bought anything, 1t might; she had
not the courage to own herself so
poor or so unchariiable as to put
nothing in ii.
She carried the beribboned basket
home with rather a solemn face,
therefore, and il grew more serious
as father and brother shook their
heads at IL. All the week visitors,
whose attention she strovc to attract
TO the Beggar's Basket, were very
unobservant, and Friday afternoon
came, and it was empty. On Satur-
day the Society came.
II must go without my tie" said
Nellie Richie, "and give the society
two dollars. No one will call now"
Aud her tone was certainly not that
Of t!.e cheerful giver."
But who can prophecy regarding
Ing the future? AT that very moment
the door.tell rang, aud some one
asked for Miss Richie, and rising,
Nellie confronted an elderly gentle
man who had been great friend of
the family, but who had for some
time resided in distant city. He
WAS warm hearted, generous old
gentleman, and loved Nellie a. if she
had been his own granddaughter.
II thought | must see you before !!
went, my dear" he said. 81 have
been at your papa's office all the
morning, and ] stopped In, though !!
must catch my train in an hour"
Then he chattcd on Of this old
friend, and Chat past adventure, until
suddenly catching sight Of Beggar's
Basket, he crossed the room to ex-
anime IL.
"The sewing circle Is still nj work,
! see." he said. "This i the old
Beggar's Basket. Now show me
something yoa have made for IT, and
i will take that"
"Those little velvet boot pin.eush-
ions are my work." said Nellie.
"There 10 never anything but trash
there; wait, aud III put something
else In"
She lifted from her desk very
neat and carefully embroidered let
ter-case.
There" she said. "that should
not have gone in, bat that you were
TO be purchaser. made IL for papa;
but / shall make him another, Mr..
Wortiey.u
~ shall treasure it," said Mr..
Wortley, "aDd put some money into
the money-pocket Of the basket.
And now" he said, 81 must go. !
should like to stay TO tea, but | have
not the time. DO pay my daughter
. visit soon. You will kiss me, as
you did when you were a little girl?
iood-by. God bless you"
He was gone; and when Nellie had
him out OF sight and shut
he door again, curiosity prompted
ser 10 peep into the Beggar's Basket. |
A crisp bank note thrust Itself pnrti-
llly out OF the pocket; she drew Il
'orth and saw, to her surprise. that il
was OF the value Of twenty dollars.
Dear old Mr.. Wortley,' said she;
how nice OF him. Now shall have
ny tie and tho credit Of being n mag.
'i6cent beggar." Then a thought
truck her and she flushed scarlet.
III Mr.. Wortiey gave the money!
vas the fancy that had crept into her
nind, 'sit was 10 please me, and he |
ave II for something that was really |
'ot Ia the basket my own letter
ase that had worked. III j put my
wo dollars 10 the pocket in It's place
md keep the twenty no one will I