The Baltimore County union., 1883-05-19

Other ladies will give you more, and
you'll have il full, no doubt"
After leaving Mrs. Burns Alice's
work was much easier, for that lady
gave her a little subscription book in
which the entered Mr.. Smiths gift Of
the room rent, Mr.. Williams gift OF
the wood, and her own, Of the hire Of
woman TO tend il, book case with a
dozen books, and two comfortable chairs.
She called at nearly every house in
the village and almost every one gave
something. Several gave books, two
or three others agreed TO send their
weekly papers when they had read them,
many gave one chair each, three or
four gave plain tables games-back-
Cannon and chcckcrs-and two or
three bright chromos for the walls, were
promised.
Red print curtains for the windows,
and cups and saucers for the coffee,
came from the village storc-kecpcr a
tea kettle to hang over the fire, and a
tin coffee pot, came from the tin-shop I;
cheap plated tea a.spoons from the jewel.
er; two copies OF the daily paper, and
promise Of lots Of exchanges from the
editor Of the only paper.
In fact, a sort Of enthusiasm seemed
to be reused on the subject, and when
Alice went home that nigh, her little
book had list Of furniture, enough 10
make the room as pleasant, as could he
desired.
Tho next day was quite n busy. The
woman Mr.. Burns had engaged came
to pu, the room IN order, and after il
had thorough scrubbing. Alice wen,
on, To collec, the furniture. The vii.
lage cxpressman, who owned hand
cart, had subscribed his services 10 the
plan, and Alice went with him, book in
hand, and gathered up the gifis.
! The floor was covered with fresh
sawdus,--the butcher sen, that the gay
curtains were up, the bookcase full OF
books wa arranged, some tables were
covered with papers and others with
games, rousing fire was built in the
fire place the iea-kctile was singing
away merrily, and NJ a side-table with
cups and coffee things sat Mrs. Hart.
When Alice asked Jack 10 90 somewhere
with her, he consented, though good
deal surprised, and She brought him 70
this room.
"Wha,'s this" asked Jack, as they
turned down the street. 4 sign was
over the door Mr. Dover. the sign
painter, gave that Of "Cofee.room. 3"
"This is something new"
"Yes," said Alice ''le,'s 60 in.
Jack was too surprised TO reply, and
followed his sister as she opened the
door
There sat smiling Mrs. Hart. with
her knitting in hand, delightful order
OF coffee in the air, and sign over her
table, which said Coffee, two cents. "
Lets have some, said Jack. GLOW
good i, smells :"
.'Since YOU went out, Miss Alice, "
said Mrs. Hart, as she poured on; the
cups, "a big package Of ooiiee-ien
| pounds at the lcast-and another OF
sugar has mos; mysteriously appeared, q"
and she nodded toward the grocer ;
part of the house 10 indicate the donor.
"Why. what have YOU TO do with il
asked Jack, looking sharply a; Alice.
"She :" exclaimed Mrs. Hart. Don'i
you know She 60; il up; lis all he'
doing-everyihing in this room"
"No. no. Mrs. Hart" protested
Alice. 81 didn'; give single thing"
Except your time. and the plan.
and everything. said Mrs. Hart. warm
~.
"what does it mean' Tell me, Alice. -
asked Jack, and Alice told him.
And the room is for YOU. Jack. and
the other boys, and every evening
ihcrc'll be a brigh, fire. and hot coffee.
and Mrs Hart TO make it. and hope
you'll come here and have 4 good tim,
every night" she added.
Jack was touched.
ALLY. you're trump! And Ill dc
il. Satf."
And he did. Al llr>;. when the story
got out. all the boys and Young men
came from curiosity 10 see wha; onC
girl had done; and after that they con
tinucd to come, because il was ihC
pleasan,cs, place in town, and all theil
own.
No irksomc restraints were put upor
the boys, and there were no visitor.
who came to give them Temperance
lectures or unwclcomc advice; no DO,
WAS asked to read book or paper. anC
no one was told how much better VA
coffee for him than beer. This cacl
found ou, for himself. In the bcsI
way. viz. by experience.
Every evening. before II was time io
the BOYS to begin to come, Alice woulc
run down To see that everything va
right. that the fire was bright, the coffee
ready, and Mrs. Hart in her place. -
Then she would open the bookcase
select three or four oi the most attract
i've looking books. and lay them aroun,
on the tables in careless way, as !
they were accidentally left there.
Nor did she let people torect abou
it. As often rs once a week she wen
to the houses of those most interested
and received from one the weekly pa
pcrs that had been read, from anothc
a fresh book or magazine, and from
| third some new game, or a pretty prin
to put upon the wall.
Coffee, and the things 10 put in il
Alice had no need tn ask for. The tw'
cents a cup proved to be more thar
enough to pay for it.
Promptly at half-past nine Mrs. liar
gathered up the things. and washed tn
cups and spoons, and as the cloc
. struck ten she put out the lights AM
. locked the door.
Books and papers did their silen
5 work, and before spring the young me-
| grew ashamed OF owing their cOmlor