The Baltimore County union., 1883-06-16

II
pleaded Nettie. "And I'd be so thank
full"
"Will, thin, take these cowld buck
whates and begonc; and she tossed the
viands into the basket. With smooth
cred, "Thank you, ma'am," Nettic
departed.
"What success1" cried the girls a.
! Nettie reached them.
"Not exactly an enthusiastic recep'
4 tion, but got some buckwheat cakes.
Have some?''
"Not yet, thanks. Wait until you
see 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 number two strrted on hel
doleful errand. The judges back door
opened the "help" contemptuously
eyed her visitor, then slammed the
door in her face with, 1--WE don't take
tstock in beggars.
/ "Stingy things1" was the angry ex.
clamation, as Gertie joined the girls
and related her cold treatment.
I In this way they visited nearly every
house on the avenue, sometimes receiv.
ing cold bits and often nothing but
harsh words.
"I'm disgus,ed with beggar's life, -
said Gertie. "Let's 60 home"
"Just think, il we really were in dis.
tress and needed the food for which
we've begged with what sorrowful
hearts we should return. To think
that these rich folks should refuse to
give the crumbs that fall from their
tables to the starving people of our
city !"
al am going down on Lee street and
see if there is any more charity in Z
tenement house than mansion" said
Bess. "I'll only try one house /; then
home il 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 indica.
ted the extreme provcrty OF the inmate.
"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 m
old negro, TO whom she told her pitiful
story.
"Cum right in, honey, cum right in.
De ole man aint got much, but he
never done SEN away dc needy. Cum
in minute, chile"
Bess entered the hovcl, and as she
saw its meagre furnishings, her heart
smote her.
al 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 little cupboard in one
corner Of the room, drew forth half Z
loaf of bread, and handed it to Bessie
saying, "Here, chile, dis am all dc
bread | hab in de world, but you take
it to dc pore sick mudder wild bracl
mans bressin'."
go, SIR" cried Bessie, the tears
streaming down her checks, al cannot
take the last mouthful you have, indeed
cannot-"
y "Nebber min bout dat tomorrow
I'll get some mo-. De ole man kir
work, but de sick mudder can't. TAX,
il to her, and tell her it comes wild d,
bressin' oh de ole brack man."
GLOW can ever thank you |" tear
fully exclaimed Bessie. ga thousand
thousand thanks!"
She opened the door and quickly ran
to the girls, to whom with many tear:
she related the touching incident.
al felt so guilty." she exclaimed,
"But dared not tell him the truth
II you could have seen the tears roll
down his face as l told my story, you
would have felt what real charity was.
To think Of meeting in this lowly
hovel one willing to give his last crust
when we have been SO rudcly repulsed
by many who live in luxury 20
alt is the grandest example OF char.
ity ever knew" responded Ncttie
"and, girls, We must reward him."
al have it," cried Gertie. ada,
after to morrow is Thanksgiving Day
Now, lets circulate subscription paper
in the shop tomorrow, and get the old
man the best dinner he ever had"
"Agreed Capital !" cried Nettie ant
Bessie in breath.
Gertie's suggestion proved wise one
The next day they told their story ant
solicited money for their new friend
BY night a cosy sum had been realized
and with many happy hearts they SCI
out to make their purchases then,
each with heavily laden basket, sought
the old shanty. Again Bessie raped
at the door. The old man came, ant
seeing the three girls, eagerly peeret
into their faces and asked their er
rand.
"Sir," said Bess. eve are come to
confess wrong"
"Guess you'sc got de wrong plac,
den. None O. ye ever sinned gains
me-"
"Last night" continued Bcss, "l
came here begging for fun. My moth
er is not sick, and l had no need ofth,
food for which ] asked. Your kind
ness touched my heart, and
"Now," interrupted the negro, il
surprise, "who'd s'posed you could III
like dat, wild such a powerful sorr,
face !"
al am sorry," returned Bess, cant
now we have brought YOU these baskets
, which we hope you will accept with tn
, kindest wishes Of three giddy girls whit
will never think Of your generosit,
without tear"
$ "And please accept this envelope,
, said Nettie, as she handed il to him.
q l n - a