St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-21
AN ANGELS WHISPER.
BY ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.

BY ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.
1t was an angels whisper that caused
such thought to step into Maud Whit
ney's blonde head that day.
1t could have been nothing less. for Maud
was selfish. pleasure-loying girl. who sell
dom troubled herself about other peoples
soTTOws.
She was goodish sort Of a girl, how
ever. you must know; she was a church
member in excellent standing and she paid
literally out Of her pocket money 10 the
missionary cause. and she subscribed more
toward the fund for building a new church
than any other young lady in the con-
gregatiOn. Yet she was selfish, all the same.
Her heart was not open 10 the cry of
the needy. and she seldom thought about
the people who did not live on the avenues
or bouleyards. But you see she had been
reared IN a large city. and she had grown
hardened 10 tales of suffering. She had
been told not 10 squander her money on
street beggars, as quite frequently the most
pitiful appeals came from those who had a
snug bank account hidden away some
where. She had been taught that prOnis-
cuOus charity only increased pauperism,
and she had heard Of associated societies
who regulated these matters Systematically:
so she was quite content 10 enjoy herself
and not invite premature wrinkles TO her
fair face by worrying over other peoples
I affairs.
But one day an angel whispered in her
ear and caused her TO conceive a noble
thought. which resulted in saving a life
| from ruin and a soul from despair.
1t was early in December, and she was
counting her Christmas money. Her
father had given her So that morning. and
she had saved up $50 from her allowance.
But as she looked down on the 500 she
frOwned and tapped her foot impatiently.
Il wanted 10 give mamma that lovely
lace collar l priced Yesterday" she unused.
That would be SO; and | want TO give
papa new dressing gown; that will be
S25; and then If 1 give Jack that set 90
books, $40 more will 20. And Stella
Cluet made me such an elegant present last
year / ought TO give her something as nice
this Christmas. and-O dear! 1 haven't
half enough money 10 spend" She pouted
her pretty llf and the scOwl grew deeper
between her eyes.
II am tired of Christmas, anyway" she
continued. 1t is growing to be an awful
bore. You always expect nicer things and
more Of them than you get and you know
YOU are expected 10 give more than YOU can
afford. and it's a time OF general disappOint-
ment all around | think. Ii ceases To be
nice after one finds out that Santa Claus Is
myth" And just then the angel wills
pered.
Suddenly into Maud Whitney's diScon-
tented mind flashed thought of the great
seethng MASSES 81 people in the city who
would suffer for food and ire Christmas
day.
20. wish 1 could help some one who
was really needy, and worthy. she whis-
pered; how much more fun it would De
than giving useless presents to people who
have more than they need already" And
then she said aloud, Il will do tiff / can
only lind out how"
She arose and trailed her soft garments
across the velvet carpet. walking with a
lighter heart and brighter face than she
had carried for many a day. There is moth
ing like an object in view-deinite pur-
pOse-to drive away the blue devils of dis
content, and Maud had a very definite pur-
pose in yiew-viZ.: 10 ind a needy and suf-
fering person whose Christmas day she
could render happy.
You may think il was an easy thing for
her to do i'm this great world of misery But
it was not an easy thing for fair Maud Whit
ney, 10 years of age. and the only daughter
of wealthy parents. She positively did not
know of one really suffering person whom
she could approach with money Her
father and mother subscribed literally Ia
the charitable Institutions and they
would think her idea QuiXotic in the eX-
t enc. And Jack-Jack Weber. her prom
ised husband-her one lover. she could not
ask him to help her. Somehow she felt
sure he would think her Ostentatious in
her display of sympathy if she told him her
E-fn al a .la
appeal to Jack. And then. suddenly. she
thought of Christina, the laundress, who
came every week 10 wash and iron.
Il am sure she will know of some poor
girl whom l can help" she thought. ''and
l will tell her to keep il a secret from all
the world; for somehow 1 think a really
| heartfelt charity loses half its force when il
is known to host of people. If [ only
make some poor girl glad Christmas-dav.
the knowledge that have done so is all the
glory l desire" And Maud waited for the
| coming of Monday. and Christina. with
more Impotence than she had ever awaited
the coming of any one. save Jack: and
! those strange, silent forces we call fate, or
destiny, or Providence, were preparing for
her a great sorrow, but for another saliva
ton.
At that very hour in a shabby little room
"a room scarcely large enough TO contain
its cot bed, its one chair and a small table
sat young girl perhaps 90 years of age.
She was very handsome; her form was ex-
quisitly rounded. and while her delicate
mouth and small chin showed lack OF
forceful character. they were nevertheless
very lovely; and her large and melancholy
eyes and the creamy pallOr ef her complex
ion, cOntrasted with her abundant dark
hair, completed picture of rare beauty.
She was wrapped in an old shawl, and she
shivered as she read over and over a letter
that had Just been brought to her by mes
senger boy. Her room was heated only BY
a chimney, and the day was very cold. 4
vase of costly dollhouse flowers on the
window-sill looked strangely out of place
in the bleak apartment.
MY sweet friend" the letter began.
''may hope for your company this after
noon at a petit sOuper? i have some good
news for you. Meet me al O'NeTs ar ;
o'clock sharp. l would call for you gladly
IL YOU had not forbidden il. / send YOU a
few flowers TO cheer you this gloomy, gray
day. Believe me your honest admirer-
Walter"
As Aileen Lewis read the letter over a
series of expressions fitted over her fair