The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-12-05
MRS. DEANS BANK.

TO be cOnSId6reQ-the TACT 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
kitchen her headquarters. and sat there
knitting, with her feet comfortably bal
aneed on the hearth, the kettle bubbling
softly away at the back.
She was little, wrinkled-faeed wo-
man of fifty, with stiff ribbon bows to
her cap, hair that seemed dried ND in
stead of silvered, and keen blue eyes
that twinkled as if 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 ruic by which she
shaped her life.
ssrm glad I took that money out of
the savings bank yesterday" said Mrs.
Dean to herself, as the bright needles
clicked morrily away. people say it
isn't quito safe, and one can't be too
careful But then, again, there's the
dangerof burglars-though to be sure
no burglar" she added, with compla-
cent, inward chuckle, would ever
think of looking in the folds of the old
newspaper in the wall-pocket on the
wall. It's the drawers, and the trunks,
and the locked-up chests that they aim
for. A hundred dollar note! a clean
crisp, new hundred dollar note! And
all savings, too, out of the house.
money"
just then there sounded a knock at
the door, and in came DIR. Bridgman,
rubicund with the touch of the March
wind. ss
"Good day, good day." said he. mo.
thank you; / can't sit down. I'm a
deal too busy for that. But heard yes
terday that you took your money out Of
the savings bankp''
'Yes,'' said Mrs. Dean, her face i'm
voluntarily hardening. 81 did"
1--WE are getting up subscription to
get little lame Dick Bodley cart and
Donkey said the doctor. '.It's pretty
hard for anyone afflicted as he is to get
along, and if you can help US
But can't, ''interposed Mrs. Dean.
breatlIlessly. The money was an in
vestment. I don't propose to cut it up
lTtO nIu0 DIS
g '.It's deed of charity, Mrs. Dean,"
said the good old man, to help lame
Dick Bodley.'' rea
II dare say" said Mrs. Dean. little
irritably. but I never pretended to
be charitable character.
The old doctor went away, and the
next visitor was Helen Hurst, q rosy
girl of eighteen.
Excuse me for interrupting you,
Mrs. Dean" said she, '.but Larry
johnson was at the bank yesterday,
and hetells me that you drew out your
money! 81 f
WAS all creation there?'' thought
Mrs. Dean.
But she said nothing, only knit away
until her needles seemed to glance and
glitter like points of fire. ua o
II am trying TO get lodging at Mrs.
Smiths added Helen, coloring, $50
as to be near the school where / am 10
teach. but Mrs. Smiihreqnires payment
in advance, and unfortunately we have
used up all our slender means in pro-
viding my outfit. A teacher, you
know, must be dressed decently to COM
mand the respect of her pupils. But
if you would kindly lend me twenty
dollars" . ...se,i .tz25sY ..-es.I
4 never lend,'' said Mrs. Dean,
CURLY.
Il win be sure to pay it when re-
ceive my first months salary" pleaded
Helen. ...And don't know of anyone
else to go to-"
s1ts altogether against my princi-
ples,n said Mrs. Dean, with her face
as hard as if it had been carved out OF
wood. o5 ~.f43s
Helen Hurst crept out, feeling humil-
iatetf and disappointed beyond all ex-
preston. z-ot8s4s
Mrs. Dean chuckled at her shrewd-
ness; but she hardly had time to take.
her seat again before Mrs. Graham en-
tered. with a little leather-covered
memorandum book and pencil.
Il am looking for charitable people,
Mrs. DEAN said Mrs. Graham with
laugh. -. -, ,,,,,.
place. said Mrs Dean, frigidly. ~
s.Poor Patrick O'Hara was killed yes
terday, in the machinery of the mill, -
said Mrs. Graham. ignoring her neigh-
boris response. ..He has left wife
and eight children, totally destitute. "
land whose fault is that?" said HRS.
Dean. 49, .z..-s
-9..WfH you not contribute something
toward relieving their destitute condi-
tionP" urged Mrs. Graham, opening
the book and holding the pencil ready
for use. IT.
Certainly not, said Mrs. Dean.
'Tve no money to spare"
But | was told"
''Oh, yes---about the money that was
drawn out of the savings-bankn' said
Mrs. Dean. t.But intend to keep that
money for myself, Mrs. Graham
t'He that giveth to the poor, lendeth
to the Lord" softly spoke Mrs. Ora
ham. ssfs
ssYes, yes-I known said Mrs. Dean
sBut nobody interprets the Bible liter
ally. nowadays -
Mrs. Graham took her departure,
acknowledging within herself that her
errand was failure; and Mrs. Dean.
left to herself at last, INDUCED in a nap.
with the knitting-work in her lap-a
nap wherein she dreamed that the hum
dred dollar note had taken to itself legs
and was running away from crowd OF
pursuers, herself among the number.
When she woke up. q acandle was
burning. and Dir. Dean was laughing
OF her.
.sWhy, Betsy said he, Il thought
You never were going to wake again.
Here you sat, with the fire dead out.
and I've had to kindIe tup again.
s.Bicss mef' said Mrs. Dean, must
have been asleep quite awhile. But,
las she started up she saw that the old
wall -pocket opposite was empty