Louisiana capitolian., 1880-03-27
Kindness and its Reward.

seated on wheeled CHAIR, by means
Of which she propelled herself back
and forth.
Yet, although she herself was the
only servant Of the establishment,
the floor was daintily cleaned, the
windows shone like sheeted diamonds
and the curtains were white and neat
ly darned.
For little Alice, ut eighteen, was a
born housekeeper;; and took Us much
delight in the details Of her homely,
domestic life rs II she had Deen child
playing with q dolls house instead Of
Moses Haywood's crippled daughter.
"It is puzzliDg sometimes" said
Alice, wrinkling her pretty brown
brows over the housekeeper's book;
"because there's only just SO much
money and the expenses have got to
be met; and if you get the least little
bit in debt, there it il, hanging around
your neck like a milestone to the end
of the year. But then, again, if there
weren't any difficulties in this style of
housekeeping, where would be the
crediti"
And then Alice would shake her
bright brown braids, bite the end Of
her pencil and begin again with the
troublesome array Of figures.
But on this particular day the color
burned more feverislly than ever in
her cheek; the teacups clinkcd nerv-
ously together as she rinsed them.
But Moses Haywood, a white haired,
prematurely old man Mt over his
"classlcal dictionary" at the other end
of the room and only smiled quietly.
"Fifty pounds" said Alice, ,--''lts a
deal Of money, father, dear, and you've
been years saving it up"
"But what is money worth, my
Alice, if we can't use it to help our
fellow crcatures9
"But, father, dare say Mr.. Wat
kins is richer than you arc"
"He is my wife's cousin, Alice and
is sore in need"
81 can't believe" said Alice, che
needs it as much as we do"
Alice was charitable in her heart,
but she could but regret to
see her father envelope the
fifty pounds and address it to Mr.. w.
Watkins, especially as there would be
no chance then, for her father to get
the books he needed, and the new
dress promised her and the carpet for
the sitting room, and various other
things would have to be given up for
the present, perhaps, for u time.
Shedding u few unconscious tears she
turned with u sigh to her accustomed
work.
Mr.. Watkins received by post bun
die of letters and took u seat in his
back parlor to open them. BY Il Tor
tunatc turn in 4 large speculation, he
had recently received an unexpected
and large sum of money. In bad
health, and feeling conscious that his
end was near, and having no children
his mind turned upon the question Of
the disposition he should make of his
suddenly acquired fortune.
One of his relatives sent him tract,
wRcturu ye Sinners" recommended a
course of prayer meetings and regret
ted he could give nothing bnt good
advice.
Another, the wife of a prosperous
merchant, feared that he had come to
want hy dissipation, or speculation,
and declined to give anything which
might be lost in the same way. All
other recommended him to take ref
uge in some charitable institution, but
prottercd no assistance. Ono asked
him if le thought he had no use for
his money but to give it away topaz
pers. The others, all but one showed
indifference and prottcrod no ald. 10
his surprise when he broke this seal
Of Mr.. llaywood's letter, out tellapost
office order for fifty pounds.
"My dear cousin Watkins" wrote
the school master, 81 grieve deeply tt
hear of your financial distress, and
hereby enclose all | have on hand. II
is not much-but beg Of you to ac.
cept of it in the same spirit in which
it was given"
Old Walter Watkins brushed lii
wrinkled hands across his shaggy
brows.
"The poorest, most obscure to them
ALL" said he. ''1'he one of whom
expected the least. Well, well, won
dcrs will never ccases'
And taking up his pen he wrote
back briefly:
"CoUsIN HAYWOOD thank you
w. WATKINS"