The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-12-07

after putting away these treasures, re-
turned to her chair and the fire. How
pleasant it is to be remembered! What
a happy little woman-yes, for all that
had come and gone-what happy lit
tie woman she was! So deep were her
pleasant thoughts that she scarcely
heard the second knock which fell on
the door-a low, timid one, as from the
hand of child.
Come in," she said, dreamily. The
door opened little way, cold wind
swept in from the staircase, but no one
entered.
"Well, why don't you come IMP" she
called out No one answering, she
jumped up and went to the door,
A little thinly-dressed girl stood in
the hail. She was strangling sob in
her apron, and at the sight of Jenny
seemed half inclined to run away.
go, please, Miss Forde,n she fall
tered, " would you lend mother lump
of coalP She's got one of her bad head
aches-and the fires went out-and it s
so cold-and Alice and me don't know
! what to do" Another sob rounded the
sentence like a period.
Hard-hearted as it sounds, Jenny's
first impulse was to refuse. She did not
know these neighbors of hers, and,
"Once begin, you never know when it
will STOP" crossed her mind. Another
mind. Another look at the sweet wan
face of the child changed her determi-
nation.
YES" she said; "come in, and I'll
lend you a bit. Have you brought
something to carry it IMP"
80, please, I'll take it in my hand"
Such mite of hand!
"That won't do at all" cried Jenny.
"My coal is all fine; there are no large
pieces. Here, I'll take my scuttle and
throw some on your fire. You're Mrs.
Denis girl, [ think?"
"YeS'm."
So downstairs they went, and the
little guide opened the door of a bare
room, and revealed Mrs. Denis lying on
the bed under huddled heap of clothes,
and a still smaller child sitting, with
tear-glazed cheeks, beside the almost
extinguished fire. The room felt alarm
ingly chill, and when Jenny spoke there
was no reply, and the figure on the bed
looked so white and motionless that her
heart gave loud thump for fear.
Hastily mending the fire, she ran up
stairs, filling saucepan with hot water
from her own kettle, and hurrying
back, began to battle the head of the
sick woman. To her great relief, Mrs.
Denis presently opened her eyes, and
feebly uttered: go, that feels good"
"rm glad it does. Here, I'll dip the
cloth into the hot water again for you"
els it you, Miss FordeP It's mighty
kind YOU are.''
so, it's nothing" in business-like
way. "Don't talk. Keep quite still,
and your head'll be better soon"
cit begins to be better already"
whispered Mrs. Denis, after few min
utes' stiffness. my headaches always
go off quick at the end. But you are
standing all this while. Nanny, bring
a chair, Nanny"
cit don't hurt me bit to stand"
declared Jenny; "rm used to it.
Sometimes when | am cutting out work
| keep on my feet for half day at
time, and never mind it,
"Ah, it must be good to have plenty
of workn' sighed Mrs. Denis. 1--WE
seen people going up stairs with their
bundles, and | have envied you, per-
haps, only it was something to be glad
for that there was some one had all She
could do, even if | hadn't
The patient sweetness of this speech
touched Jenny. She could not speak
quite steadily as she asked: "Have
you no work at allP''
Next to none. l did a petticoat
for Mrs. Mallory-that's in the base
ment, you know-and | tried some of
those slop overalls from Riggs. But
it's hard man he is, and only four
teen cents a pair; and what's that for a
days work? I'd take anything, though,
almost, that could get, for want it
sore for the children's sake.n
Now you must not talk-you really
mustn't" said Jenny alarmed at the
flush which had arisen in the pale
cheeks. "Do try to go to sleep. I'll
look to the children's supper. Don't
worry yourself about anything, and to-
morrow, when you're better, we'll talk
about work, and see what can be
done"
All her warm little heart was alive
now.
"What a selfish thing 1 ami she
meditated, when, after making the
children comfortable for the night, she
went back to her own fire and work.
81 almost refused that poor baby the
coal. Jennie Forde, I'm afraid you'll re
no better than a Pharisee. You've got
into habit of passing by on the other
side-looking out for number one, and
letting other people take care of them
selves. You may call it minding your
own business as loud as you like; | say
you're pig" And her philanthropy
broadening under this self-rebuke, a
bright thought just then came to her.
"Why not?" she said "Mrs. Mer-
edith's turkey is big enough, I'm sure.
It's a burning shame that should have
so much, and they nothing. I'll ask
'em all up to dinner, and give them one
nice Thanksgiving, as sure as my name
is Jenny Forde."
1t was like fairy dream to the Denis
children when next day Jenny came
down stairs with her invitation. And
what a dinner it turned out to be!
What additionally delicious turkey!
what lovely cranberry! what a pie!
All! no one can thoroughly enjoy such
a meal, save those to whom dinners do