Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-24
ONLY A CARPENTER.
homas 8. Collier. in Hartford Times.

There's divinity that shapes DUR ends >
and the divinity that shapes my end means that
shall marry rich man. and live well happy and
pleasurable life, and Minnie Wardell gave few
hourishing sweeps along the keys of the piano.
sending volume Of discordant notes echoing
through the large drawing room in which she
and her cousin, May Lawrence, were seated.
But suppose the divinity Of which you speak
says the rich lover who comes wooing you shall
be old, and sour, and disagreeable. what then3'
"Oh, 1 shall marry him. and do as please
"But will YOU love him. Minnie?"
Love him, no; why May, love is not marry
Ing commodity; you. with your century-old
notions, may consider it So but tell you it is
wealth; and the position that wealth commands,
that rules the market"
The market it may command but marriage
Is not commodity, neither can happiness be
bought or scld''
"Pshaw. May. do not give me a lecture
though. for you know what my ideas are Riches
and pleasure for me. and then life will be
angelic"
Il doubt it,
"Of course You do. Why, truly believe you
would marry that carpenter yonder," and Min
across the street.
IL would marry any honest respectable man.
providing he loved me and loved him.
well. would not. Love is all very nice as
Keep yo1 comfortable; but love without money
is not To be encouraged" and Minnie gave a
final flourish on the piano. and then rising left
the room
Minnie Wardell was the daughter of a
wealthy New York stock broker and had al
ways been taught that money was the one bless
ing OF life At home the OstentatiOus display Of
all that riches could command had ever been
before her. and at the boarding school to which
she was sent it had been the one great object of
u rnrt.. lnCl- Co.
as boarding school accomplishments went, well
educated; but of all the really useful things
that ennOble and glOrify beautiful face and fine
form. she was ignorant.
She could play on the piano. make fancy
worsted work, talk little French and dance
well: but she could not give directions concern
ing dinner. and she could not Carry on a con-
VersatiOn that went beyond the boundary of her
anbtiOn-fashion and dress, the last sensa-
tOnai novel and the last new waltz.
With May Lawrence it was different Equally
beautiful she was i'm all things else greatly the
superior of her cousin. Her father was a mer-
chant whose name was hOnored and respected in
all the financial circles of the great city, and his
generous soul and fine intelligence had made his
word power with those among whom he moved
He had endeavOred to give his daughter not
only accomplishments. but solid advantages
and thus, while May had learned to play on the
piano and talk French, she had also learned to
honOr merit, wherever met. and to understand
that worth was as likely to exist in the soul of
poor person as In that of rich one.
The difference is plainly told in the following
sentence 10 Minnie. wealth was all; to Nav
worth was all During the absence of Minnies
parents, who were away from the city on a short
visit, she was spending the time with Nav and
talk that had commenced with an account of
Mays visit to the home of poor widow, who
did sewing for her, had ended in the snort con-
versatiOn with which we commenced our story
When Minnie had left the ROOM Nav directed
Der attention to the carpenter to whom Minnie
had referred He was fine intelligent looking
fellow. who whistled merrily as his strong blows
drove in nail after nail. He was working on a
scaffOding raised some twenty-five or thirty feet
from the ground. and the space at his disposal
was narrow indeed. MAY was considerably
alarmed to notice that one of the boards of the
scaf1oid was loose, and had been worked nearly
OIL Its support She has FASTENED to the door
to inform the man of his danger, when loud
cry from fellow workman caused him to start
suddenly. the motion of his act gave the board
q jerk that released it from its hold and Just as
May opened the door she saw it tip up. and the
man, after an Intellectual struggle to grasp some
saving support, came tumbling to the pavement
In moment several people gathered about
him. as he lay still and apparently lifeless. and
May fastened across the street and anXiOusly
inquired if he was dead
A fellow-wOrkman Of the injured man an
swered her, I've cannot tell, Miss, but it was a
pretty bad fall
Garry him across the street to nv home"
eSsiu May, anu SOME one run Or. storms and
tell him to come to May Lawrence's immedi-
atey"
As some OF the mans comrades lifted him up
and followed her. May recrOssed the street and
led the way to a large and finely furnished cham
Der on the second floor.
Let him lie on the bed; the doctor will soon
De here, she said, as the men appeared to hest
tate about placing the sOiled form of their COM
paniOn on the white and dainty covefing
But. Miss had we not better carry him to the
n Hn hac
you much trouble"
''He is suffering. and that is enough to make
MN my friend, and it is no trouble to care for a
friend. Let him stay here"
The men needed no further command. but
laid the senseess form on the bed and stood
with uncovered heads while Nav bathed the
mans face with cologne. Soon the strong and
quick step OF new conner was heard on the
stair, and the door opened to admit jOvia-
faced. gray-hared old gentleman
He went directly to the bed and commenced
to examine the man.
''HOw did it happen:" he asked; and after
one of the men had told him, he continued
"Ah, fell from scaffOld; my dear turning to
May. Il shall have to ask You to leave the
apartment, for must examine his body" and
May bowling, left the room.
In the parlOr she was joined by Minnie whose
first exclamation was. why. May, how could
you do it. and he only carpenter?n
do what Minnie!'
why, 90 out among those people and speak
to them, and have the man brought here to YOUR
home"
Those people are human beings like our
selves, and have souls like ours, and the man
was badly hurt and needed help. He may die
as 1t Is. and may be dead, for all that know"
But why not send him to a hOspital!"
And cause him much more pain and suf-
fering. No, not while my fathers house has a
vacant ROOM
All, well, and so / suppose that must 60
out alone, for you will be anxious to hear how
ne gets on. said Minnie, with slight touch of
irony in her voice.
Yes, am anxious to hear and therefore, /
shall stay at home to-day" and May walked to
the window and looked out She knew Min
MES ideas of such things and did not seek to
combat them. Minnie left the room. and re-
turned in about half an hour, arranged for a
walk.
Il am going now" she said, '.can order any
thing for you?'
"NO. thank YOU"
As Minnie left the ROOM the doctor entered it.
"Ah, You are waiting, see. And how is NV
lady queen today
Well. very well; but how is the man. doc
tor: said May. extending both of her hands
Pretty badly hurt. but think that we will
bring him through. One leg is broken a rib or
W N fr.aef and b.,h