Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-04-20
TIE FIFTY. BILL.

MIS-. Dcdu ottU dlOilC III lllVlS hiISNCii'
She never used her parlor. There was the eX-
travagance of an extra fire to be considered
the fact that the best rag carpet, woven by her
own skillful hands, must not be worn out too
recklessly, the dread possibility of sunshine
fading out those chair covers. Mrs. Dean was
an economist She believed in making every
thing last as long as it possibly could. And
so she made the kitchen her headquarters, and
sat there knitting, with her feet comfortably
balanced on the stone hearth, the saucepan
of apples bubbling softly away at the back, and
the sound of her husbands axe ringing from
the back shed as he cut and split the kindling
wood piled up there in well-seasoned logs
She was a little, wrinkled-faced woman OF
fifty, with stiff ribbon bows to her cap, hair
that seemed dried up instead 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 knitting were to be
sold at the village store in exchange for tea,
sugar Spices and all necessary groceries, ga
penny saved is as good as a penny earned"
was the golden rule by which she shaped her
life
"I'm glad took the money out of the saw
ings bank yesterday" said Mrs. Dean to her
self, as the bright needles clicked merrily
away. ''People say it amt quite safe And
one can't be too careful. But then, again,
there's the danger of burglars though, to be
sure, no burglar,' she added, with compla-
cent inward chuckle, "would ever think of
looking between the fold of the old 'Clinker-
vile clarion in the wall pocket. It's the
bureau drawers, and the trunks and locked-up
chests that they aim for. A fifty-dollar bill
A clean, crisp, new fifty-dollar bill And all
savings, too, out of the house aoneyH'
Just then there sounded knock at the door,
and in came old DIR. Bridgman, rubicund
with the touch of the March wind, and muffled
up in the furs of the wild animals which, from
time to time, he himself had shot.
"Good-day Mrs. Dean, good day 10 said he.
''No, thank you can't sit down. Pm a
deal too busy for that. But heard yesterday
that you took fifty dollars out of the savings
bank
eyes, ;" said Mrs. Dean, her face inyolunta-
rily hardening, 81 did,"
''We are taking up subscription to get
little lame Dick Bodley cart and donkey
to 60 around peddling tin-ware," said the
doctor. ''It's pretty hard for anyone afflicted
as he is to get along, and if you can help us a
little
''But 1 can't,' interposed Mrs. Dean,
breathlessly. 1.-The money was an investment.
I don't propose to cut it up into little bits"
the good old man, ''to help lame Dick Bod
ley.o
''I dare say,'' said Mrs. Dean, a little irri-
tably. "But I never pretended to be chari-
table character
The old doctor went away, and the next
visitor was Helen Hurst, Il rosy girl of eigh-
teen.
''Excuse me for interrupting you, Mrs.
Dean,'' said she, ''but Larry Johnson was at
the bank yesterday, and he tells me that you
drew out your money"
''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.
81 am trying to get boarding place at Mrs.
Swipes'," said Helen, coloring, $50 as to be
near the district school, where am to teach
this spring. But Mrs. Swpes requires pay
ment in advance by the month, and unfortu-
nately we have used all our small means in
providing my outfit. A teacher, you know,
must be dressed decently to command the re.
spect of her pupils. But if you would kindly
lend me ten dollars
II never lend,'' said Mrs. Dean, curtly.
II will he sure to pay it up when | receive
my first quarters salary" pleaded Helen.
'And don't know of any one else to 60 to-. .
Its altogether against my principles, !" said
Mrs. Dean, WITH her lace us nara rs ii IL Ildu
been carved out of hickory.
Helen Hurst crept out, feeling Inundated
and disappointed beyond all expression.
Mrs. Dean chuckled at her own shrewd
ness but she had hardly time to stir up the
apples in the saucepan, before Mrs. Graham
entered with little leathercOVered memoran
dunn book and pencil.
Il 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'ILra was killed yesterday
in the machinery of the rolling-mills sale
Mrs. Graham, ignoring her neighbours re
sponse ''IIe has left wife and eight chill
dren, totally destitute"
''And whose fault is that ~ said Mrs
Dean.
Twill you not contribute something towart
relieving their destitute condition - urget
Mrs. Graham, opening the book and holding
! the pencil ready for use.
''Certainly not" said Mrs. Dean. 'I've NJ
money to spare"
'But was told
ooh, yes-about the money that was drawn
out of the savings bank !" said Mrs. Dean
s'But I intend to keep that money for myself
Mrs. Graham
'''He that giveth to the poor lendeth to tin
Lord,'n softly spoke Mrs. Graham.
eyes, yes--I knOw,' said Mrs. Dean. ''Bu
nobody interprets the Bible literally nova
days.
Mrs. Graham took her departure, "cknowl
edging within herself that her errand was
failure: and Mrs. Dean, left to herself, in
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