Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-11-28
The Old Chalk-Pit.
A TALE OF SOUTH DOWN.

TALE OF SOUTH DOWN.
South Down, though charmingly
situated in one of the eastern counties
of England, is not place OF general
resort.
Here and there a cottage or two may
be found, making pleasing variety in
landscape rich in natures loneliness
but as cur narrative has only to do with
that part of South Down in the imme-
date vicinity of the chalk-rits, we will
briefly introduce the reader to Adam
Rawley and his wife, an old couple &C.
cupying one of the little dwellings near
to this locality.
Adam spent most of his days in cart
ing away mud and rubbish from the
roadside, and at other times he would
work in the pits, earning enough to
keep himself and his wife in comfortable
circumstances, .,.,..,..
These old people lived on from day
to day, from season to season, without
change in their mode of life. They
were quiet and orderly, causing neither
trouble nor annoyance to; their neigh
bors; but for all this they we're no "a
vorites.
The fact is. Deborah Rawley and her
husband lived only to please them
selves.
Possessed of every comfort-for, be.
sides the bread-winner's earnings, they
had little income of eight shillings
week coming in, regularly-and, en-
crossed in their own concerns, they
never troubled themselves about being
neighborly thus, much of the sun.
shine of life was unknown to them,
through the unapproachableness of their
own characters. "'1 :" 'ti.yn'j'
They were certainly striking con.
trast to the rest of the inhabitants of
Lime Cottages. as the collection of little
dwellings, was calfed-among whom
there Was feeling of friendliness, and
many helpful deeds made life's day
brighter to many of them: III.
But the Rawleys were strangers to
acts OF kindness, and 80 long as no mis-.
fortunes happened to themselves they
never thought of relieving the ills Of
other folks. a., ,...
Mrs. Higgins, their rext door neigh.
Dor. whose husband was down with
brain fever, and required constant
watching day and night, had three of
her children laid up q: the same time
with Inflammation of the lungs yet, in
her domestic difficulties, she never ven
tured on asking aid from Mrs. Rawley !;
but Mrs. Keen, bony matron, with
half dozen little ones of her own, and
engaged nearly every hour of the day
in ministering to their wants. proffered
the necessary help, even before it was
solicited.
The whole community, with the ex-
ception of old Deborah and her hus-
band, We'd with one another in helping
poor Mrs. Higgins through her trouble.
Not even kind inquiry as to how the
invalids were progressing, passed the
old couples lips A.; and as to few of the
new-laid eggs, that Mrs. Rawley's hens
supplied her with so plentifulIy finding
their way into their sick neighbours
house, such thing was never thought
OF. Sooner than give them away, they
were allowed to ornament the shelves
in the little parlor till they became too
bad to be eaten by any one.
The faculty for performing kindnesses
certainly did not belong to these old
people. All their lives they had closed
their hearts to works of benevolence,
and now, in their declining years, no
gentle promptings from earth or from
heaven seemed to arouse them to deeds
of love. III(I
Once only an angels whisper reached
Adam Rawley, making him for mo-
ment seem troubled and uneasy but the
bright spark, which, had he aifo@edit
to kindle. would have filled his rugged
countenance with sunshine, was then
quenched as he muttered: ..,.
What is it to us if they do want
new-laid eggs? Let them keep fowls of
their own and they'll get some"
So the communication which he hal
overheard Mrs. Higgins make to friend
concerning the requirements of her
sick family, was blotted from his mind,
as be convinced himself that it was NOT
needful to bother himself with other
peoples troubles.
Nevertheless, he repeated what he had
overheard to his wife, and as a woman's
influence in whatever rank of life is
powerful, Mrs. Rawley's reply, had it
been in favor of a charitable action,
might have done much towards its &C.
complishment !; instead of which her
verdict, 80 Let them get eggs for them
selves If they want them," strength
ened her husband in his opinion that
the matter was no concern of theirs.
So, while others with far scantier
means, deprived themselves ofeyen lit
tie necessaries in order to relieve the
pressing wants of Mrs. Higgins house
hold. this couple. who, in comparison,
could have given of their abundance,
shut their eyes and ears to their neigh
boris necessities, though moro than one
OF the invalids might have been max.