The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-09
BETTER THAN A L M S.
BY THE LATE T. s. ARTHUR.


81 have a poor sick child at home,"
said the woman, in a weak, plaintive
voice, that touched the feelings of Mr..
Oldfield and caused his hand to move
involuntarily toward his pocket. A
glance from his wife, asked as plainly as
if words had been spoken, that he would
not interfere in the case. So he lifted
his book and held the page before his
eyes. Not to read, however.
"What is the age of your child?" ask
ed Mrs. Oldfield.
"Four years, ma'am."
Have you a husband?"
No-ye-yes, ma'am. That is, L had
husband; but he went off two years ago,
and I've never seen him since"
"Why did he leave you?"
The woman put her hand to her face as
if overcome by feeling; in few moments
tears came over her cheeks. Mr.. OldGeld
was moved to deep pity, and showed his
state of mind by crossing and recrossing
his legs two or three times in quick sue
cession.
He wasn't steady man." sobbed the
poor woman.
"Too bad! too bad to probe poor
wretch in this wayl" said Mr.. Oldfeld to
himself. "Why don't Fanny give her
the help she asks for, and let her go? 1t
seems to me downright cruel"
sand since he went away" said Mrs.
Oldield, "you have had to support your
self and child?"
Yes, ma'am," answered the woman, in
tone that went right to the heart Of Mr..
Oldield, but did not make any impress
sion on the feelings of his wife.
Chow have you done this?" There
was nothing unkind, or even unsympa-
thizing in the voice of Mrs. Oldfeld. But
she was in earnest in her inquiries.
"By sewing, ma'am, when I could get
plain work; and sometimes by taking in
washing and ironing"
You can earn enough in this way to
support yourself and child, I presumed"
ST my health was good, and I could
always get enough to do"
"Then your health is not good? We
have all our trials in this way" re-
Piled Mrs. Oldfeld. "There are very
few days in which I do not suffer from
pain, or an oppressive sense of weakness;
and yet there are few days in which ]
am not employed in some way from morn
ing till night. We cannot give up and
depend upon others merely from lack
health. Indeed, we feel better in most
cases, when usefully employed than when
idle. This is my experience, and yours
also, doubt not. How is it? Think
moment?"
"Your own experience, am sure, is
in agreement with mine," said Mrs. Old
field, seeing the woman did not an
swer. :" And 1 am also sure that you
will agree with me when [ say that the
bread earned by independent work is as
sweet again as that which comes from
aims seeking"
" If we are able to work, ma'am." The
woman's voice was faint and pitiful.
You are able to work." There was
kind encouragement, not cold reproof, in
the voice of Mrs. Oldfield. Not as cap
able, perhaps, as some, but quite as able
as several poor women 1 know, who have
two or three or four children to support;
and who never ask for help. You have
entered the wrong way, depend upon it;
and 1 beg of you to get out of it as quick
ly as possible. Better take the barest
necessaries OF life, honestly gained in
useful work, than full basket at the
price Of womanly independence. Set
your child better example if you desire
him to become an industrious, honest,
honorable man."
The last remark touched the right
chord, and Mrs. Oldfeld saw it.
eff" she added, "you do not in your
own actions illustrate for your child the
value of industry and independence, he
may grow up an idler and vagsbond; a
curse to you, himself and society. Think
of this. AS a mother l appeal to you.
Take heart again, and for the sake of your
child. Let no bread except that pro-
cured by honest labor, pass his lips, if
it be the coarsest bread and scant at that.
Let it never be cast into his teeth by
wicked boyst to shame him, and, it may be,
to drive him to vice, that his mother was
beggsr."
The woman's face was flushed, Mr.
Oldfield saw it, and felt still more pro-
voked at his wife for what seemed TO him
little better than taking advantage Of
poor wretch TO lecture her, instead of ex-