Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-11-12
Oaks ano Sketftes.
ruR pIrrY.DcLLlR BILL.

the extravaganza Of an extra hre to be
considered-the fact that the best rag car
net, woven BY her own skilful hands,
must not be worn out too recklessly. the
dread possibility Of sunshine fading out
these chair covers. Mrs. Dean was an
economist. She believed in making every
thing last as long as il possibly could.
And 20 she made the kitchen her head
quarters, and sat there knitting, with her
Eset comfortably balanced on the stone
hearth. the saucepan Of apples bubbling
softly away at the back, and the sound oil
her husbands axe ringing from the back
shed az be cut and split the kindiing wood.
piled up Their. In weii-seasoned logs.
She was little, wrinkled faced woman
of 80. with stiff ribbon bows TO her cap,
hair that seemed dried up instead of sil-
yered, and keen blue eyes that twink!ed
az 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 knitting were TO be sold
at the village store in exchange for tea,
sugar. spice-. and all such necessary gro
ceries. "a penny saved is rs good As a
penny earned,' was the golden rule by
which she shaped her life.
Elm glad took that money out OF the
savings bank yesterday" said Mrs. Dean
to herself. as the bright needles clicked
merrily away. People say II isn't quite
safe. And one can't be too careful. But
then, again. there's the daDgerof burglars
though. To be sure. no burglar. she
added with acomplacent, inward chuckie.
would ever think Of looking in the folds
Of that old Clinkerville Clarion newspa-
per In the wall pocket on the wall. II ;
the bureau drawers. and the trunks and
the lOcked-up chests that they aim Tor A
fifty-dollar bill, A clean, crisp, new
ff.y-dollar bill And all savings, too,
out of the house money"
Just then there sounded knock at the
door. and in came old DIR. Bridgman.
rubicund with the touch Of the March
wind, and mufiled up in the furs OF the
wild animals which from time to time he
himself had shot.
Good day, Mrs. Dean. good day )"
said he. No. thank you; cant sit
down. I'm a deal too busy for that. But
| heard yesterday that you took fifty dol
lars out of the savings bank"
YES" said Mrs. Dean. her face in
voluntarily hardening. IL did"
I'VE are taking up subscription to get
little lame Dick Bodley cart and dom
key, so that he can 60 around peddlrng
tinware," said the doctor. Its pretty
hard for any one afflicted as he is to get
along, and If you can help u.s. little
but can't" interposed Mrs. Dean,
breathlessly. THE money was an invest
ment. don't propose to cut it up into
little bits
Its deed of charity, Mrs. Dean"
said the good old man. Ito hel p lame Dick
Bodley."
IL dare say" said Mrs. Dean. little
irritably. But never pretended to be a
charitable character"
The old doctor went away. and the next
visitor was Helen Hurst. rosy girl of l6.
Excuse me for interrupting you, Mrs.
Dean" said she, but Larry Johnson was
ut the bank yesterday. and he tells me
that you drew "ut your money"
WAS all creation there P' thought Mrs.
Dean.
But she said nothing. only knit away
until her needles seemed to glance and
glitter like points of fire.
II am irving to get boarding place
at Mrs. Swipes's." added Helen, coloring.
$50 as to be near the district school, where
am to teach this spring. But Mrs.
Swipes requires payment in advance by
the month. and unfortunately We have
used up all our slender means in provid-
ing my outfit. A teacher. You know. must
be dressed deccntly To command the re-
spect of her pupils. lBut il YOU would
kindly lend me ten dollars
II never lend said Mrs. Dean. CURLY.
IL will he sure to pay it up when re-
eeive my first quarters salary pleaded
Helen. And | don't know of any one
else to GO to-"
Its altogether against my principles,
said Mrs. Dean. with her face rs hard as
IL it had been carved out of hickory.
Helen Hurst crept out. feeling humiliat-
ed and disappointed beyond all express
sion.
Mrs. Dean chuckled at her own shrewd-
ness; but she hardly had time to stir up
the apples in the saucepan before Mrs.
Graham entered with a litrle-leathcr-cov-
cred memorandum-booka and pencil
II am looking for charitable people.
Mrs. Dean" said the 'Squire's wife with
laugh.
Then you've come to the wrong
place." said Mrs. Dean. frigidly.
Poor Patrick O'Hara was killed yes
terday in the machinery of the rolling
MILL" said Mr.. Graham. ignoring her
neighbours response. "ile has left wife
and eight children totally destitute
And whose fault is that ?" said Mrs.
Dean.
..Will you not contribute something
toward relieving their destitute condi-
tion'p" urged Mrs. Graham. opening the
book and holding the pencil ready for use
Certainly not" said Mrs. Dean. I've
no money to spare"
But was told"
20. yes-about the money that was
drawn out Of the savings bank '"said Mrs.
Dean.
But intend to keep that money tor
myself. Mrs. Graham"
HE that giveth to the poor lendeth to
the Lord" softly spoke Mrs. Graham
"Yes. yes--I knowr' said Mrs. Dean.
''But nobody interprets the Bible literally
nowadays"
Mrs. Graham took her departure. ac-
knowledgiug within herself that her err
rand was n failure. and Mrs. Dean. left to
herself at last. INDUCED in nap, with
the knittingwork in her lap-a nap where
in she dreamed that the fifiy-dollar bill
had taken to itself legs ard was running
away from crowd of pursuers, herself