The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-12-22
MRS. DEANS BANK.

| And still she smiles as she drops . tear;
| s''Tis sOlemner not to. Yes, my dear.
MRS. DEANS BANK.
(! Mr.. Dean sat alone in her little kitch-
en- Size never used her parlor. There
was the extrayagance of an extra fire
| to be consi,lered-the fact that the best
carpet must not be worn out too reck-
'lessly. the dread possibility of sunshine
fading out these chair covers. Mrs.
|. Dean was an economist. She believed
in making everything last as long as it
possibly could. And SO she made the
knitting. with her feet comfortably bal
anced on the hearth. the kettle bubbling
softly awayaat the back.
: She was little, wrinkled-faced wo-
man OF fifty, with stiff ribbon bows to
her cap. hair that seemed dried up in
stead Of -silvered. and keen blue eyes
that twinkled as il they had discovered
the secret of perpetual motion. To
save money was her chief end and aim
in life. The very mittens she was knit
ting were to be sold at the village store
in exchange for sugar, tea, spices. and
all such necessary groceries. "a PEN
ny saved is as good as penny earned"
was the golden rule by which she
shaped her life. 80
s.i'm glad 1 took that money out of
the savings bank yesterday" said Mrs.
Dean 70 herself. as the bright needles
clicked merrily away. People say it,
isn't quite safe, and one can't be too
careful But then. again. there's the
danger Of bnrglars-tisough to be sure
~ E,,r<v1or st,o oIxNosl sustC' rn,,Ic1o
cent, inward chuckle.. .'would ever
think of looking in the folds of the old
newspaper in the wail-pocket on the
wall. sh's the drawers. and tho trunks,
and the locked-up chests that they aim
for. A hundred dollar note! clean
crisp, new hundred dollar note! And
MI savings, too. out Of the house,
just then there sounded knock at
the door. and in came Dr.. Bridgman,
rubicnnd with the touch Of the March
wind. ,,s ,s,....,
Good day. good day." said he. mo.
thank you; Il cant sit down. I'm
deal too busy for that. But 1 heard yes
terday that on took your money out OF
the savings bank?" ,,..sy.
- Eyes. said Mrs. Dean. her face in
voluntarily hardening. II did"
1--WE are getting up. a subscription to
get little lame Dick Boslley a cart and
said ths, doctor. ..It's pretty
hard for anyone afflicted a. he is to get
along. and If you can help us a
little"
!. but can't. "interposed Mrs. Dean.
breathlessly. The money was an in
,vestment. I don't propose to cut it up
into little bits
:. Its deed Of charity, Mrs. Dean,"
said the good old man, to help lame
Dick Bodley."
r .. Il dare say" said Mrs. Dean. a little
.irritably. '.But I never pretended to
be charitable character.
The old doctor went away, and the
ncxtv visitor was Helen Hurst, o rosy
girl ufscighteen.
Excuse me for interrupting you,
Mrs. Dean" said she, '.but Larry
-Johnsona was at-she bank yesterday,
and he tolls me that you drew out your
moncyr' = q s5-'s7 = 81
WAS all creation therer' thought
Mrs. Dean. sssf -
But she said nothing. only knit away
until her needles seemed to glance and
glitter like points of fire.
It am trying to. get lodging at Mrs.
OLI1lLu hQuCu A1Cicus SOiOIluSs ~
as to be near the school where am 10
teach, but Mrs. Smith requires payment
in advance, and unfortunately we have
used up all our slender means in pro-
vidifig smy outfit. = 4 A teacher, you
know, must be dressed decently TO COM
mand the respect of her pupils. But
If you would kindly lend me twenty
dolla1s,-A" - l0s e-e a
II never leEd." said Mrs. Dean,
curtly.sslz>s-s q go NJ
Il %Iawfll sbs sure to pay it when. l re-
ceive my 6rst months salary" pleaded
Helen. And I don't know of anyone
else togo to;
pics, safd Mrs Dean. with her face
as hard al II it had been carved out of
wood. 49,
Helen Hurst crept out. feeling humil-
lated and disappointed beyond all ex-
preston:
Mrs. Dean chuckled ct her shrewd-
! ness; but 80 hardly bad time to take
her seat aflfq before Mrs. Graham en-.
! teresis With little leather-covered
momota1dnm book and pencil
: ..IsSm hooking for charitable people,
Mrs. Dean said MrA Graham with q
laugh.sss
.sThen you've come to the wrong
plaza said Mis-. Dean, frigidly.
'.N00f Patrick O'Hara was killed yes
terlay, ! in The mackinery of tie MILL"
said Mrs. Graham. iguofing her neigh
boris response. ,.:He has left o wife
and eight children. totally destitute"
And whose fault is thatP' said Mrs.
Dean. 40 b'6}8T nHV8
will you, not contribute something
toward relieving their destitute cOndi-
ton" urged Mrs. Graham. opening
the1bo0k aud holding the pencil ready
for use. 60.
s.Certainly not" said Mrs. Dean.
..Fve no money to spare.
=. sse...aa..ISut was told
4 s."Ob. yes-about the money that was
drawn ont OF the savings-bsnkr' said
Mrs. Dean. ..But intend to keep that
money for myself, Mrs. Graham"