The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-01-16
Kindness and its Reward.


haired girl, with large, wistful blue
eyes, whom you would never suspect
to be cripple until you saw her seated
on a 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 a born house.
keeper, aid took as much delight in the
details of her homely, domestic life as
if she had been child playing with
dolls house instead of Moses IIaywood's
crippled daughter.
''It is pnzzling sometimes" said Alice
wrinkling her pretty brown brows over
tie housekeeper's book "because
there's only just SO much money and
the expenses have got to be met; and
II you get the least little bit in debt.
there 1t is, hanging around your neck
| like milestone to the end of the year.
But then, again, if there weren't any
difficulties in this style Of housekeeping
what would be the credit"
And then Alice would shake her
bright brown bra'ls, bite the end of her
percil, ard begin again with the trouble
some array of figures. Bnt upon this
particular day the color burned more
teverish!y than ever in ler check the
teaeups clinked pervonsly together as
she rinsed them out.
Bnt NoSes Haywood, wlite l.aired,
prematurely old man, sat over the
"CIassical Dictionary" at the other erd
of the room and only smiled quietly.
''I'iity pouisls," said Alice. "It's a
deal Of money, tatI3er, dear, and you've
been years saving it up .
"Iou are right, my dear" said The
schoolmaS:er calmly, "it is a deal OF
money But what is mouey worth il
we can't use it to help our fellow crea-
lures with 20
".And | dare say he's ever so much
richer tlan you, father pursued Alice
"I!e is my wite's cousin, .A;ce,'' said
the old man, "aud lie is in sore need.
BE comtortei, my child, it is only a
loan"
'sOnly a lcan'' repeated indignant
Alice. s.Fat3er, you'll never see it
again. People are always borrowing
and nobody ever thinks Of repaying
money"
"Gently, daughter Alice, gently, ;"
cbidcd the old man. SIT is best to be
charitable to all men in thought as wei
as in deed. 1t is true tfat Lad antici-
pated laying this fifty pounds ont in a
few books for myself, q new dress tor
you, and i'll a carpet tor onr sitting
room but never mind. We shall do
very we'll as we are, and If Mr.. Wat
kins really needs this money!
81 don't believe he needs it halt as
much as we do" burst III Alice.
And size wheeled the chair across the
roo,n to give the limnet 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 away.
cit is too bad of father y thought
Alice, left alone by herself. 81 do be-
lieve he would give the coat off his
back it any one asked for it, But he
ought to think of himself and he ought
to think of me.' And lew uncon-
scious tears splashed down on the lin
nets glass water cup as Alice thought
of the long treasured fifty pounds.
Just week subsequently Mr. Wal
ter Watkins sat in his back parlor, a
wrinkled old gentleman with light blue
eyes like staring marbles and a curious
upward sneer to the curves of his
mouth, willie on the table in front of
him lay pile of letters.
"Now we'll sce," said Mr.. Watkins
TO himself, what all the ties of relation
ship are worth. l've written pitiful
letters to my six cousins, and I'll be
willing to wager She biggest diamond
in my ring that there ism. penny II
all these answers. Well see.''
The first letter, as it transpired, wa,
from the Rev. Theodore Talkington
who inclosed tract entitled ssReturn
ye Sinners recommended course o
prayer meetings, and stated that tht
Rev. Theodore was quite unable Il
help his Cousin Walter except By good
advice.
81 thought So" said Mr.. Watkins.
The second was from Mrs. Calists