Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-03-05

hour ago; aud Mrs. Crofts, in soft,
dark, clinging cashmere dress, with a
dainty white apron, took up her sewing
beside the sitting-room window, with
the intention of accomplishing consid-
cradle before supper time. Her nimble
fingers were moving rapidly, when, to
her CONSERVATION, she saw Tacy Shep-
herd shuflling slowly up the walk.
lacy was the village tattler; at least,
that was the name she had striven with
all her energies to earn, and she hon
estly owned it. There was this excuse
for her, however: she lived with an
aunt who retailed gossip for a liveli-
hood. In palmer parlance, she rarely
lost by telling a good story, rejecting
credit upon her auditor, and in nine
cases out of dozen returned to her
whitewashed hut, just out of town, the
richer by loaf of bread, a pie, and
other substantials, chuckling inwardly
at the success of her story, of which a
quarter rarely that-ever possessed a
grain of truth.
This was poor Tacy's bringing up;
and, having been an apt scholar, at the
age of twelve she was dread and a
pest in every well-regulated house
hold.
Mrs. Crofts saw with dismay it was
Tacy, and wondered what it could be
that brought her, as she so rarely came.
"Well, TacyP"
Good-day, nam. Ben and Bessie
off to schoolP"
Yes" replied Mrs. Crofts, inward
ly thankful.
"Mis Barton's goin' to send off box
and money to them folks iu--in Ingy."
$50 Freddy told me, this morning"
1--we come for your donate, Mis-
Crofts."
"You Tacyr'
"Yes'm, I've been goin' around all
day after the things"
"Is that SOP Very well, then, l will
look up mine" Mrs. Crofts ran up
stairs, fearing to leave Tacy long alone,
and hurriedly gathered together the
garments she had intended to give,
and, rolling them into as small COM
pass as possible, fastened back to the
sitting room, finding Tacy seated just
where she left her, craning her long
neck for view of her new hat in the
mirror.
81 know you don't mean to give
money, as most of the ladies are doin'
And Mis- Barton says them as don't give
are mean and stingy. And Mis- Blair,
the wife of the man who owns the
Weekly Chronicle, she is goin' to give
ten dollars; and Mis- Barton is goin' to
give ten dollars; and heard Mis- Blair
say her husband was goin' to publish
all about it, and tell the names of all
that give; and she said, too, if it could
be made known it would almost oblge
folks to give, cause they would be
'shamed to be left out; and Mis-
Blair"
"Well, Tacy, that will do. Run
along with your bundle now. The Ia
dies may be waiting"
"All right, mann"
Tacy ran off, wondering if Mrs. Crofts
cared (she didn't look SOY, and then
concluded to report to that effect, which
she accordingly did; and, in conse-
quence, Mrs. Blair and Mrs. Barton
added two dollars each to their SUBJ
scription, thereby beneiiting the mis-
sionary cause, for which let us over
look the motive that prompted it.
Mrs. Crofts' work again lay idle in
her hands. A bright spot burned in
either cheek, and there was an ominous
sparkle in the soft brown eyes, that
rarely shone there, except under strong
emotion.
"Shall send over that money have
put by?" She spoke aloud, and the
canary above her head set up song
that almost drowned her voice. FoI
two months have been gathering that
together for the poor creatures, and in.
tended spending it for them to-mor.
row." She was quite unconscious she
was speaking her thoughts aloud.
81 do wonder what my duty is.
Whom does this money belong to? Two
weeks from tomorrow there is to be q
subscription for lifting portion of the
church-debt. John is ready for that,
and l could send this money to Mrs.
Barton, only it was saved from my
household expenses, at q sacrifice too,
for the Slower family, who are suffer
ing, really suffering, and are members
too of our church. Mr.. Slower is slow.
ly dying with consumption. Mrs. Sto.
yer ails constantly starvation, John
declares-and has the entire care of the
sick man and that poor crippled girl,
so she can do absolutely nothing OF
consequence toward the support of the
family; and that burden rests solely
upon ten-year-old Davy, poor boy! SC
hollow-eyed and starved-looking, work,
ing all day in the factory and trudging
around at night with papers, and al
ways ready smile. 1t makes my very
heart ache to watch him. 1t might b(
my Ben, now. Dear mel did so hope
to help tighten his burden; and coulc
almost see, in anticipation, the happy
hopeful smile upon the pinched, white
face, and the bright flush in the SAT
eyes. Poor Davy! This money was his
Ought / to take it from himP"
Mrs. Crofts continued to talk aloud
until the canary, with seeming deter
voice; but above the song could still b,
family heard only this;
can't do itl They may send, AM
they may proclaim it in a dozen papers
This money is not mine to give them.
And so the box was sent, togethe
with a large amount of money (Mrs
Blair's plan had worked famously), an,
the Weekly Chronicle did proclaim tn
fact in stunning capitals, and Mrs
Blair's and Mrs. BartOn's names led a.
the rest.
Two days later, unseen save by "tha
all-watchful eye," the Slower househol
rejoiced over good supply of substar
tials, that promised to keep the wol
from the door for several months, an
Davy, with tears in the sad eyes, kisse
the hand of his benefactor, so full hi
heart was of thanksgiving; and, as
tear dlmmed her own eyes, she silentl
thanked God that only for momer
she had harbored the wicked desire [