Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-02-11
THE LAST CHARITY.

Miss Carmen's pet charity now was the
fund Tor Mexican Indians. She had II
since three years ago, when a handsome
enthusiastic young curate, who was stay.
ing In the same summer boarding house
as herself, had interested her In IT, lie
had been on ranch In northern Mexico
the year after he graduated from college,
and before lie had decided TO go Into the
ministry. Miss Carmen, who had very
Vague idea OF what ranch was, confus-
ing II In her mind with cowboys, plum
,lercd coaches and rescued maitcns, consid.
cred Mr.. Howard one Of those reclaimed
victims Of life Of dissipation (hc was, by
tho way, when she met him, Just 90 years
old, though he had In reality never done
anything particularly wrong In his Life.
Miss Carmen belonged 10 that class Of
women one never knows how TO speak OF,
whether rs n ''lady" or young lady"
unless one Is addressing the person her
self, when one Is apt TO venture on
the latter term. And 1t must also be nc.
knowlcdgcd she could not resist the nt-
traction Of man who was turning over
new leaf" this species sometimes even
took precedence Of her charity in her favor,
and that Is saying good deal, for her
charity. whatever IL happened at the time
to be, was so dear to her heart IL made
her almost q dread to her friends. Per-
haps You met her In n store; before you
could hurry by with Good morning,
Miss Carmen," she would stop you "Oh,
Laura Lafargc, you're the very girl want
10 see. want you TO take booth at the
fair next week for the - charity. You
can have any booth you wish, but won't
you be in the 'Mikaio?' want girls who
will get up handsome costumes, and you
know, with your TASTE" etc. Or: "AIar.
garct Wyndoif, I'm so glad I've met you;
just step aside here u moment. will you,
I'm going 10 ask you To help me in n little
international tea lin getting mp for those
poor--such poverty, such distress, can't
tell You how they appeal 10 me. Now do
promise to furnish flowers and appear In
the Greek group-the costumes will be
very simple, and I've asked for vcil," etc.
Or ON the street: Good morning, Mr.
Carey, won't you turn around and walk
with me n few moments; I'm going to ask u
favor Of you, which want you to promise
to grant me. It's really nothing at all for
you 10 do, and II Is for n very worthy
charity; young Mrs. Carlcy has said she
will he Lady Washington, and want you
To he George In nm old time tea party"
And often before you can refuse she Is
gone, with "Good.by; knew you would;
so kind Of you; good.by."
Now IL was thcatricals, and for the
Mexican Indians again. Her friends, 10
tell the truth, We're getting little tired
II doing for these creatures. They had
been to teas for them, to n kirmcss for
them, TO tableauX, to lectures for them;
enough OF things 10 have educated whole
tribes Of them, Mrs. Ned Brown said, IL
they Ind only been there themselves.
And, she added, she really didn't see why
they should he made to suffer and pay
both; II they must give these things, give
them, but make the Indians go thom-
selves. However, Mrs. Brown was n
Eighty little woman whom every one
laughed at in their sleeve, while people
all did admire Miss Carmen. though they
were getting little tired Of their chari-
ties.
All these things Miss Carmen felt In an
indefinite sort Of way rs she came home
from the mission school one afternoon.
IL was Mr.. Towards mission and he had
spoken 50 beautifully 10 the poor children
that day. But then he always did. lie
had spoken 50 kindly TO her. too; some
how or other some people seemed 10 take
II for granted that she could g0out In any
kind of weather, with no matter how bad
u 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
was getting old, she thought with sigh;
dear me. much too old to be thinking so
much Of this handsome young minister,
and much too old 10 have that drop on
her cheek; she must walk faster aud think
IL. u
her sister 10 take her mission class, at
least for awhile. She passed u wrrtchcd
bc::ar sitting ON the curb grinding n
snail organcttc that had stops nearly u
i;iinuie long between each note. Miss
then furtivcly dropped quarter
into the tin cup. and passed ON.
She had been told such charity was mis-
applied, but then she hnd felt Just like IL
and was willing 10 run the risk. So Mr..
Howard WAS really going back TO Mexico,
not as "a ranch man this time, but rs a
missionary. What should she do when
he was gone-what, had II come to this?
She must think IL something else, and
she hurried on, without noticing two
young girls who passed her quickly. Il
was afraid she would see us, one of them
said. II know she'd ask me TO he in n
booth or take part In those thcatricals."
Girls who never did any good In the
world, and probably never would, who
would not even appreciate the self sacri-
flcing labor 81 Miss Carmen. Cndouht-
e,lly 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 note at home for her from