The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-06-08
Ghildrem's Column.
WHAT A DIME DID.
Or, The Arthur Stewart Mitchell Trust



dime; let it 60, for it is not worth look
ing for" So said Arthur, young man
of twenty, to his companion, who was
helping him to hunt for a coin he had
dropped.
but I don't like to be beaten" re-
piled his companion, "and I am going to
try once more. You know the old adage
Is, II you don't at first succeed, try, try,
try again"
ooh, yes, Fred hastily said Arthur;
you always were one of those noble,
stick-to-it and never-give-it-up sort of
fellows. My sister Maggie says she
believes you'll make hero some day.
If you must hunt up the dime, I suppose
you must; but l am sorry you saw me
drop it, as you will have no peace and /
suppose 1 shall have no fun until you
find it. Do leave it for some needy little
street Arab to find. Why, it will give
him whole weeks happiness. 1 will
not take it if you do find it.
Fred was quiet for few moments as
the mention of Arthur's sisters name and
the hint at her estimate of his heroic
qualities had sent the color into his re-
solute-looking face and set him thinking
AS he was inteptly looking into the gut
ter, into which the ten cents had rolled,
Arthur did not notice the sudden bloom
of roses on his friends cheeks.
Hurrah, MI deSperanduna !" he
suddenly exclaimed. Here it is :" and
he handed it to its owner
But Arthur would not touch it, and
when neither would pocket the coin,
Fred suggested as compromise that he
should invest. it on Arthur's account and
report results.
Agreed" said Arthur, land some
day, no doubt, shall wake up to find
myself millionaire. Investment of ten
cents in land-sudden rise in value-dis-
covery of gold bearing ore, ETC., etc.
Wonderful fortune of Mr. Arthur Stewart
Mitchell, ETC., etc. What a splendid
newspaper item-what a happy sugges-
ton for a novel;
His friend laughed and simply said
1--WE shall see, we shall see;' and the
subject dropped.
The two young men were walking
quickly along side thoroughfare not
much frequented, save by the people who
lived there and these were not burdened
with riches. The thoroughfare was a
" short cut" however, to an important
station, and, as they walked along, busy
man rushed'by them at rapid pace and
IN breathless haste to catch his train.
They had gone but few more steps
when they came upon woe-begone little
maiden who was in great trouble The
traveller, in his haste, had jolted her So
that she had slipped, and tin pail in
which she was carrying milk, was ierked
out of her hands and fell to the ground,
its contents being entirely spilled.
Fred's inquiry elected the fact that
she was on the way home with a pint OF
milk, price four cents, for the family
tea, and father would just scold awful,
she knew he would, if she went home
without the milk
Pay to Little Red Ridinghood, or
bearer, four cents, and charge the same
to the account of the Arthur Stewart
Mitchell trust account" he drolly said,
and, handing the girl four pennies to
get new supply of milk, he bid her
cheer up, tied the little wooden hood
around the plump but tear-stained face
of the child, and went off, remarking
to his comrade: well, upon my word
that is cheap. That child's smile was
as good sight as the sunset, and her
Thank you sir, well paid for the invest
ment
1t seemed as though the young men
were to have all the opportunity they
could desire for philanthropic enterprise
that day. A boy had lost his top. He
had been spinning it with great glee
until wagon came along. whose driver
was in hurry to get home, and, to pass
another wagon, drove one wheel of mis-
own on the sidewalk. The spinning-top
was caught beneath the wheel, and Of
course was crushed. The lads fun was
spoilt for week at least, for his father
would not be home till Saturday from
his work, and he could get no money till
then. The miniature trust fund was i'm
mediately drawn down upon, and two
cents procured top, even more beautiful
In the little fellows eyes than the one
he had lost. Perhaps he did not say
Thank you, but he evidently felt it.,
and the young men passed on.
Two hearts made happy, and four
cents worth Of sunshine still on hand 3"
said Fred, who only wished that another
chance for investment might occur. 1t
did, too, for at the ferry gate, which
they had now reached, a pale-faced
child stood waiting to sell her last
bouquet.
GO HI. - -