Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-03-19
KINDNESS AND ITS REWARD.

Alice sat III front Ct the little table
washing the breakfast dishes, bright
haired girl, with large, wistiul blue
ewes, whom you would never suspect of
being cripple until you saw that she
was 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 clean, the windows
shone like sheeted diamonds, and the
curtains were white and neatly darned.
For little Alice, at eighteen, was
horn housekeeper, and took as much
delight in the details of her homely
domestic life rs if she had been child
playing with 4 dolls house, instead of
Moses Haywood's crippled daughter.
at is puzzling, sometimes" said
Alice, wrinkling her pretty brows over
the housekeeper's book; "because
there's only SO much money, and tho
expenses have got to be met; and ii you
get only just the least little bit in debt,
there it is, hanging like il mill stone
around your neck until the end of the
year. But if there weren't any diff
culties in this style of housekeeping,
where would be the credit
And then Alice would shake her
bright brown braids, bite the end of her
pencil, and begin again with the trouble
some array Of figures.
But this particular day the color
burned more feverishly than ever in
her cheek; the teacups clinked nerv-
ously together rs she rinsed them.
But Moses Haywood, II white haired
prematurelv old man, sat over his
classical Dictionary" at the other end
Of the room and only smiled quietly.
Fifty pounds" said Alice; cts a
deal of money, father, dear, and you've
been years saving ii up"
"You are right, my dear" said the
schoolmaster, calmly. at is a deal of
money. But what is money worth if
we can't use it TO help our fellow crea-
lures within"
And l dare say he's ever so much
richer than you, father" pursued Alice.
"He is my wfe's cousin, Alice" said
the old man, "and he is in sore need.
Be comforted, child, it is only loan"
"Only oan!" repeated indignant
Alice. Father, you'll never see il
again. People are always borrowing.
and nobody ever thinks Of returning
money"
Gently, daughter Alice, gently"
chided the old man. at is best to be
charitable to all men in thought as well
AS in deed. 1t is true had anticipated
laying this ESQ pounds out in few
books for myself, new dress for you
and carpet for our tsitting room;
but never mind. We shall do very
well as we are, and if Mr.. Watkins
really needs this money"
IL don't believe he needs it half as
much as we do" burst in Alice.
And she wheeled her chair across the
room to give the linnet his fresh seed
and water, while Haywood, folding up
the fifty pound note which had been
the bone Of contention, placed it in an
envelope and walked quietly away.
cts too bad of father" thought Alice,
left alone by herself, 81 do believe he
would give the coat off his back if any
one asked him Tor it. But he ought to
think Of me-"
And few unconscious tears splashed
down on the linnet's water.cup as Alice
thought of the long treasured fifty
pounds.
Just week afterwards Mr.. Walter
Watkins sat in his back parlor,
wrinkled old man with his light blue
eyes like staring marbles and curious
upward sneer to the curves of his
mouth, while on the table in front of
him lay pile of letters.
"Now we wi Il see, said Mr.. Watkins
10 himself, "what all the ties of rela-
.ionship are worth. I've written pitt
iulletters to my six cousins, and I'll be
willing to wager the biggest diamond
in my ring that there isn't penny in
All these letters. Well, Wen see, we'll
see"
The FIRST as it TRANSFERRED, was from
the Rev. Theodore darlington, who
stated that he was quite unable to help
his cousin Walter, except by good ad-
vice.
Il thought SO" said Mr.. Watkins.
The second was from Mrs. Calista
Jones, the wife Of prosperous mer-
chant.
"My dear COUSIN" it said, in little
spider.webby characters, your letter
ills me with surprise. Such necessity
can only have its source in dissipation
ar speculation. With neither OF these
can YOU psct me, a Christian woman,
10 sympathze. Under the cireum-
stances must decline further commu.
nication with you. Yours respectfully,
etc"
The upward curves around Mr.. Wat
kin's mouth heightened themselves out
INTO the nearest approach to smile in
which the caustic old gentleman ever
INDUCED as lie neatly labelled and
locketed this letter also and opened
still the third, in which Mr.. Benjamin
Courtenay regretted the Strengthened
state Of his financial affairs, and biuntly
recommended some public charitable
institution as the best refuge for his
cousins declining years.
"humphl humph,' muttered Mr..
Watkins. 80 he would pack me off to
the poor house, would he? Very kind
and considerate Of him, very
Mr.. Peter Dilks was stage less Cere-
monious still.
ana 49, r.x,,,.... ". 49,. III - II -.