Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1883-07-14

De poorer Jldll d CuufcHi HOUSE HlsSell.
"But you wouldn't miss little, 2
pleaded Nettie. "And I'd beso thank
full"
"Will, thin, take these cowld buck
whats and BECOME" and she tossed the
viands into the basket. With smoth-
cred, ''thank you ma'am," Nettie de-
parted.
what success ?" cried the girls as
Nettie reached them
"Not exactly an enthusiastic recep-
ton, but | got some buckwheat cakes.
Have some?" "Not yet, thanks"
Wait until you sec my spoils;;" said
Gertie. Judge jenkins lives in this
house. He is one of the wealthiest
men in the city, so I'll get something
handsome there And beggar num-
Der two started on her doleful errand.
The Judges back door opened the
"help' CONTEMPORARY eyed her visitor,
then slammed the door in her face
with, "We don't takes stock in beg
gars."
"Stingy things z was the angry ex-
clamation as Gertie joined the girls
and related her cold treatment.
In this way they visited nearly every
house on the avenue, sometimes getting
cold bits and often nothing but harsh
words.
"Tm disguised with beggar's life,p Z
said Gertie Lets go home
Gust think, if we really we're in dis
tress and needed the food for which
we've been begging, with what sorrow
full hearts we should return. Tothink
that these rich folks should refuse to
give the crumbs that fall from their
tables to the starving people Of our
city p
Il am going down on Lee street to
see if there is any more charity in a
tenement house than in a mansion"
said Bess. "I'll only try one house
then home it shall be-"
They wended their way toward Lee
street. At the corner stood miser-
able little shanty. The windows were
filled with rags, and everything indi-
Gated the extreme poverty Of the in
mates.
.There." said Bess, "I'm going in
here and she walked briskly to the
door. AT her timid knock the door
opened, and she was confronted by an
old negro, to whom she told her pitiful
tale.
"Cum right in, honey, cum right in,
De ole man amt got much, but he
never done sent away de needy. Cum
in minute, chile"
Bess entered the howell, and as she
saw its meagre furnishings, her heart
smote her.
II cannot take food from him." she
said to herself, yet dare not tell him
the truth"
Placing the candle ON the table, the
negro went to a. little cupboard in one
corner Of the room, drew forth half a
loaf of bread, and handed it to Bessie,
saying, @Here, chile, dis am all de
bread j hab indie world, but you take
it to y0ps poor sick mudder wild a
brack mani breesin.'
20. SRI. cried Bessie, the tears
streaming down her cheeks 81 can
! not--
"Nebber min bout dat: tomorrow
I'll get some mo. De ole man kin
work, but de sick mudder can't. Take
| it to her, and tell her it comes wild de
|sbressin OBJ de ole brak man"
GLOW can | ever thank you? tear
fully exclaimed Bessie. "a thousand,
thousand thanks !"
She opened the door, and ran
quickly to the girls, to whom with
many tears she related the touching
incident.
81 felt 50 guilty." she exclaimed,
"but / dared not tell him the truth. If
| you could have seen the tears roll
| down his face as / told my story, you
would have felt what real charity was.
To think Of meeting in this lonely
hovel one willing to give his last crust,
when we have been 50 rudely repulsed
by many who live in luxury |"
1T is the grandest example Of char
,ity | ever knew" responded Nettie,
"and, girls, we must reward him. !"
81 have it. cried Gertie, %Day
after to morrow is Thanksgiving Day.
Now, let's circulate subscription pa
per in the shop tomorrow, and get the
old man the best dinner he everhad ,
Agreed! Capitalp' cried Nettie
and Bessie in the same breath.
Gertie's suggestion proved wise
one. The next day they told their
story and solicited money for their
new friend. By night a cosy sum had
been realized, and with many happy
hearts they set out to make their pur-
chases; then, each with a heavily
laden basket, sought the. old shanty.
Again Bessie raped at the door
The old man came, and seeing the
three girls eagerly peered into their
faces and asked their errand.
"Sir," said Bess, I'VE are come to re-
trieve wrong.
aGuess you'se got de wrong place
den. None o'ye ever sinned against
me-"
Last night continued Bess, 81
came here begging for fun. My mother
isnot sick, and | had no need of the
food for which asked. Your kindness
touched my heart and
Now, interrupted the negro, in
surprise, "woa s'posed Tou could lie
like dat, wild such a powerful sorry
face lpss