The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-12-30
HOW DEssY SPENT NEW YEARS,

- - II
HOW BESSY SPENT NEW YEARS.
Little Bessy Barton and her mother
had Just left their beautiful home on the
main street of Clayton Village, one
morning few days before New Year $,
and were on their way to buy some
toys at Mr.. Dayton's large store, when
another little girl, poorly clad, with a
thin, pale face, stopped them, and
said:
PLEASE, ma am, mayn't do some
work for vou?''
"Work for mer' exclaimed Mrs,
Barton. "What can such a little tot
as you dog Why, you are smaller than
my Bessy, and don't believe Bessy is
old enough yet to be of much use in
housework.'
Pm older than I'm big, ma am.
I'm almost eight, an L can wash dishes,
run errands, an mind the baby"
Where do you live and why do you
want placer" asked the lady, gently,
won by the earnest blue eyes that looked
so pleadingly into hers.
ave live down at the Montana fac
tory. You see. father got hurt in the
machinery last fall. an mother can't
take care of us all, so thought L d hire
out Oh, ma am, we're so poor! /
haven't had any breakfast"
The voice heSitated, and tears came
into her blue eyes.
"Pll give you quarter 10 buy one,"
replied Mrs Barton, opening her purse.
But the little one drew back, saying:
Mother wouldn't want me to beg"
20 mamma! do let her come help
nurse run after Eddy, she says she is all
tired out every night" said Bessy,
eagerly.
Mrs. Barton looked from one to the
other, and thought. g Suppose it was
my chill wanting food" Then she
said: "Come, we'll go back. and you
shall have good warm breakfast, then
help amuse the baby. If you do we'll, 1
may hire you by the week. What is
your name?' t#tt' ~
"Susy Davis. o ma'am I'll do my
best, for we are to be turned out of our
room by the middle of next week if
mother don't have the rent" ~i'''"
"Well, we will see how you behave"
replied Mrs. Barton, as they returned
to the house. There she told the old
nurse Susy's story, and what she want
ed her to do, and said that she intended
going right down to Montana to see her
parents.
Bessy begged permission to accom-
pany her mother, and in a short time
they found the tenement house where,
in one room, the family lived. The
sick father lay upon a straw mattress
on the floor, and beside him sat his
wife, sewing on some coarse garment,
while little girl, smaller than Susy,
held pale, sickly baby in her arms,
rocking to and fro, trying to hush its
cries. Thore was no fire, although the
weather was freezing.
Mrs Barton told them that she had
met Susy, ana had heard of their trouble
from her, and had now come TO see how
she could help them.
She listened to the story of the acct
dent. and how gradually all their mon
ey was used up; then she gave them
enough to buy food and wood for their
present need, and said she had engaged
Susy to run after her two-year- old boy,
and she would see what more she could
do to help them. rr,rT ~H. .
When they left the house Mrs. Barton
said to Bessy: Now, dear, we will go
Od1 JOul iOJS.
But. mamma, / think I'd rather
give the money to those poor people.
When papa read that verse this morn
ing: tits more blessed to give than to
receive, | thought I'd never find it so,
yet now believe it would be a great
deal nicer to see how happy it would
make them"
"Wait till tomorrow, love, and think
it all over, and if you still want to give
it to these poor children you shall de-
eide what to get them"
Early the next morning Bessy ran
into her mothers room, saying: MAN
ma, Pve such a nice plan for Mrs, Da-
Wis and all. ii you will only consent.
You know that our old gardener isgone,
the cottage at the gate is empty, all but
John room. Why couldn't we bring
them there to livep Then Mrs. Davis
could take care of John meals, and
Susy could go home every night
% declare, that is not a had plan,
Bessy. I'll talk with your papa about
it but don't tell Susy till we decide. -
The next day Bessy's parents gave
their consent. and Mrs. Barton had the
rooms put in thorough order. 1t was
not very difficult thing to do, for the
old gardener had not been long gone;
and Bessy enjoyed herself much in set
ting things right
Early New Years morning Bessy
went with her mother to tell them OF
the happy change in their prospects.