The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-22
THE LAST CHARITY.

fund for Mexican Indians. She had
since three years ago, when a handsome
enthusiastic young curate, who was stay
ing In tho same summer boarding hons
as herself, had interested her in it II
had been ON q ranch in northern Mcxic
the year after he graduated from college
ministry. Miss Carmen, who had a YER
vague idea OF what a ranch was, cOnfus
ing it in her mind with cowboys, plum
dered coaches and rescued makiens, consId
cred Mr.. Howard one Of those reclaimed
victims Of a life Of dissipation (hc was, b,
the way, when she met him. just % years
old), though he had in reality never dom
anything particularly wrong in his life
Miss Carmen belonged to that class o
women one never knows how to speak of
whether as "lady" or "yonng lady,
unless one is addressing the person her
self, when one is apt to venture OF
the latter term. And it must also DO &C
knowledged she could not resist the at
traction of man who was turning owe,
O new leaf" this species sometimes ever
took precedence of her charity in her favor
and that Is saying n good deal, for bel
charity, whatever it happened at the time
to be, was so dear TO her heart it made
her almost n dread to her friends Per
haps you met her in store; before you
could hurry BY with Good morning,
Miss Carmen she wouid stop you: "Oh,
Laura Lafarge, you're the very Girl want
to see. want you to take booth mt the
fair next week for the - charity. You
can have any booth You wish, but won't
you be in tho 'Mikado?' Iwant girls who
will pet up handsome costumes, and you
know, with your taste" etc. Or: MAR
garet Wyndof, Pm so glad I've met You;
Just step aside here moment, viii You?
I'm going to ask you to help me in o little
international tea Pm getting up for those
NoT-such poverty, such distress, 7 can't
tell You how they appeal 70 me. Now do
promise to furnish flowers and appear in
tho Greek grOup-tho costumes viii BE-
very simple, and I've asked for veil v etc.
a. On ne street; GOOD morning, Mr.
Carey, won't you turn around end walk
with Inc d few moments; Pm going to ask n
favor of you, which want you to promise
to grant me. It's really nothing at all for
you to do, and it is for very worthy
charity; young Mrs Carloy has said she
will bo Lady Washington, and l want You
to be George in an Old time tea party"
And often before you can refuse she is
gone, with "Good-by; knew you would Z;
so Kind of you; good by"
Now il YVES theatr;cais, and for the
Mexican Indians again. Her friends, 70
tell the truth, were getting little tired
Of doing for these creatures They had
been to teas for them, TO kirmess for
them, to tab!eaux, 10 lectures for them;
enough of things to have educated whole
tribes of them, Mrs Ned Brown said, il
they had only been there themselves.
And, she added, she really didn't zee Why
they should 10 made to suffer and pay
both; if they must give these things, give
them, but make the Indians 60 them
selves. However, Mrs. Brown was
Eighty little woman whom every one
laughed Mt in their sleeve, while people
all did admire Miss Carmen, though they
were getting little tired Of their CHAIR
tics.
All these things Miss Carmen felt in an
indefinite sort Of way as she came home
from the mission school one afternoon.
It was Mr.. Towards mission and he had
spoken SO beautifully to the poor children
that day. But then he always did. He
had spoken SO kindly to her, too; some
how or other some people seemed to take
it for granted that she could 20 ont in any
kind of weather, with no matter how bad
n cold, without any danger. And today
had been her birthday, she did not think
what birthday, the fact itself was bad
enough without being numbered. She
vas getting old, che thought with sigh;
dear me, much too old to be thinking so
much of this handsome young minister,
aud much too old to have that drop On
her cheek; she must walk faster and think
of something else, and yes, she would ask
her sister 10 take her mission class, ut
least for awhile She passed a wptched
beggar sitting on the curb grinding q
small organette that had stops nearly
minute long between each note. Miss
Carmen looked quickly around ana
then furtiyely dropped a quarter
into the tin cup, and passed on.
She had been told such charity was mis-
applied, but then she had felt just like il
and was willing TO run tho risk. So Mr..
Howard was really going back to Mexico,
not rs q ranch man this time, but as
missionary What should she do when
he was gonc-what, had it come to this'
She must think Of something else, and
she hurried on, without noticing two
young girls who passed her quickly. 81
was afraid she would see u.s." one of them
said. 81 know she'd ask Iue to be in
booth or take part in those theatricals."
Girls who never did any good in the
world, and probably never would, who
would not even appreciate the self sacri-
fcipg labor of Miss Carmen. Undoubt-
eddy the latter did lack judgment, or let
us say moderation, but in her proper
sphere, or under able guidance, what
might she not accomplish
She found q note at home for her from
Uliss Tower, saying she was sorry, but
her health was so wretched this winter
her physician had tabooed theatricals.
She also found Mr.. Garey's card, with a
hasty note on the back, which read how
much he regretted he would not be able
to take the part Miss Carmen had kindly
assigned to him.
Miss Carmen sat down and cried. She
knew it was silly, but she didn't care. She
was tired ont and over worried and she
Il