The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-09


hand.
"Ido not say this" continued Mrs. Old
field, "to hurt you; but to help you to see
what is best to be done, looking at the
future as we'll as the present. We gain
present ease at too dear a price, il it be
at the cost of misery in the future. Have
I suggested more in regard to your son
than is likely to happen? Will it not be
known that you lived on aims instead of
procuring your bread by patient toll; and
will there not be some to throw this sting
ing, humbling reproach into the teeth of
your boy, causing him to blush with
shame for whst his mother has done?"
at shall never bel" exclaimed the
woman, rising from the chair in which
che had been seated, and showing much
disturbance of mind. al never thought
Of that. Throw it into the teeth of my
boy that his mother was a beggarl No
not while l have strength to move foot
or lift finger"
Spoken like true mother" said Mrs.
Oldfeld encouragingly. ct was certain
that you had not looked at this question
on all sides. And now, il you are really
in earnest, consider me your friend. Let
me know your name and residence, and
what kind Of work you can do. can
and will aid you"
The woman looked grateful at these
kind, assuring words, and gave her name
as Clark. She lived not far from the
neighborhood of Mrs. Oldfeld.
"I have some plain sewing that I wish
to put out" said Mrs. Oldfeld. "When
you are ready for it would like to see
you again."
81 will call, ma'am, in day or two.
I've got some work in the house that is
not quite finished"
$50 you have work! All, my good
woman, your feet have stepped from the
right way; get back again as quickly as
possible. Think of your boy, and let the
thought keep you moving right onward
in the path OF industry and independ-
ence."
"When I feel weak and sick, as 1 do
sometimes" said the woman in half
apologetic way, "I grow discouraged; it
seem as if had no strength in me-"
"In those seasons of weakness, if they
return TO you again." answered Mrs. Old
field kindly, "come around and see me.
I think, maybe, that can always say
something to help you. I will try, at
least. Only be resolute to do, while, as
you said just now, you have the power to
lift foot or move finger, and my word
for it, all will be right"
"Why didn't you give her something to
make start op?" said Mr.. Oldfeld, in an
earnest way, as the woman left the room.
Mrs. Oldfeld smiled at her husbands
kind-hearted, impulsive enthusiasm, and
said: "It should be in us always TO do
as sound reason teaches. Unless we are
thus guided our good acts will in most
cases be turned into evil consequences so
far as the subjects are concerned"
But you talk SO to these people, Fan
ny, you don't seem to have any regard
for their feelings. You probe every spot
you think diseased as sharply as il you
we're surgeon, with the life or death OF
patient on your conscience"
"True words are in most cases better
than aims" said Mrs. Oldfeld, in no way
disturbed by her husbands remark
"And, moreover, human soul on the
conscience weighs heavier than human
body in peril"
Mrs. Oldfeld for aid in her poverty, and
received only words in place to aims, left
the house, she went, with hurrying steps,
homeward. What was her pain to hear,
on approaching, one of the elder boys,
who had been encouraging the fight, cry
out.
"Run, Jack, here comes your mother!"
"John," cried Mrs. Clark, as she laid
her hands upon her boy, and tore the
little furies apart, show dare you do SOP"
"I'll kill himl" said John, as he strug-
gled to get away from his mother.
"What is the meaning of thisl How
dare you fight that little boy?"
The child did not look shame-faced,
nor in the least way frightened. Young
as he was, fierce indignation cleaned
from his every feature.
atom Skies says You are beggar!
And hit him. You amt beggar; and
I'll hit any boy that says you are. Are
you beggar, mammal"
And the child looked confidently into
his mothers face. He did not know why
she became so pale, nor why she turned
her face away, SO that the earnest eyes
that were fixed upon it could not see all
the sudden tumult of feeling that was re-
vealed therein.
You amt beggar, mammal" per-
sisted the child. You work, don't your"
Yes, Johnny. l work, and will work for
you as long as can move hand" And
Mrs. Clark drew her boy close to her, and
held his head against her bosom. cit
was naughty in Tom Skies to say that.
But you must not fight. That is bad and
wicked. His saying so didn't make it So"
1t took some time for the disturbed
feelings of both mother and child to get
hack again into calmnass. Then Mrs.