The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-08-07

to start the fair, aad thought you would
help US "
Nettie's purse was already in her hand.
Beside the money for the washerwoman
there was only little change, and for a
moment she hesitated Then, thinking,
81 will tell Joe, and he will give it to me
again" she took the gold and handed it
to Mrs Merritt.
- wish it were more she said gently,
her heart full of pity for the sufferers,
shut will begin TO sew for your table
at the fair at once. Suppose l make
some Of those wax crosses you admire SO
much They sell well"
"Anything you make will sell. By
the way, if you are going to buy wax, l
am going down to Us now. Suppose
YOU dress while l warm my feet, and we
can 60 together.
after lunch. You will stop to lunch9'
81 can't, indeed. You see, dear, we
want to strike while the iron is hot. A
month from now some new horror will
crowd this out of memory, though the
poor sufferers will be no better off.
Then will be ready in five minutes. !"
And it was very little more when she
stood ready for her walk.
The wax was purchased, and quantity
Of other material bought for fancy work;
and then, as she was so near her old
home, Nettie took lunch there, and in
terested all the ladies of the family in
the good work.
The Winter afternoon was closing
when she came home, tired, to meet
Bridget, whose face was very long.
please, ma'am, Mr. Hammonds sent
word from the Office that he won't be
home till late this evening. And Mary
Browns been here, ma'am, with the
clothes, and she's in sore trouble, ma am.
The landlord is pressing her for months
rent, and there is two of her children
sick. She was awfully disappointed not
to see you, for she said you promised
her some money to-day. If you are
willing, maa am" she said, hesitatingly,
''Fll take it after dinner, for they are
badly off when she comprehensive amt
one of the whining sort"
I'm sorry, Bridget; but | can't send
il till tonight, when Mr.. Hammond
comes home"
Bridget went to her work, her heart
very heavy, for Mary had told her more
than she had repeated to her mistress.
And Nettie opened her packages, and
thought OF the many pretty things she
could make for the fair.
Dinner over, she stitched busily at
dainty bits Of silk and ribbon, till the
latch-key ratified in the door, and she
sprang forward to meet her husband.
There was no smile on his face as usual,
and he asked her harshly-
"What did you do with the money
gave you for Mary Brown :"
Half frightened at the expression of
his face, Nettie told him of Mrs. Merritt S
visit and the result His face softened
a little, but he said, very gravely-
"You should have waited to contrib
ute to the fair until you had other
money; that was not yours to give.
Willie Brown met me. He had been
waiting, on this bitter night, three hours
for me, and asked me, humbly and pitt
fully, for one shilling on his mothers
bill Sure that you had paid her while
the boy Mas out, went home with him.
Nettie, the room was freiess The poor
mother, wrapped in a shawl, was crying
bitterly, while she tried to warm her poor
little sufferer"
Nettie by this time was weeping bit
ter tears, and sobbed out
"Oh, Joe, l never thought she needed
the money so much Oh, what did you
doP
Il paid her and | told her in the
future to send to me every week for the
money she earns by hard, honest labor"
"Oh, Joe, it shall never happen again.
am so sorry But l did not use the
money for myself, and felt so sorry for
those poor people Mrs. Merritt told me
about"
But justice should come before gen
! crosby, Nettie. | would not stay your
hand from any charity we can afford /;
but the money you owe to hard-work-
ing woman is hers, not yours to give or
use in any way. And, Nettie, rcmcm-
Der another thing: if you had paid the
woman every week, you never would