Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-05-05
HELP ONE ANOTHER.
BY KATE u. CLARK

L call it extravaganza" said Mrs. Mop
lev, with some heat "Mrs. barrow is well
able to bake her own cake and do her own
mending, yet she hires Mrs. Tate by the
dav to mend stockings and do such light
work for her, and pays her seventy five
cents apiece. or fifty cents, or even dol
laa, as the case may be, for cakes. | call
it sheer extravaganza, for Mrs barrow s
none too we'll off,"
Mrs. barrow works hard, though" put
in little Miss Vest, mildly.
"Ie-es, | know, she always seems TO be
busy" admitted Mrs. Mopley. But she
seems to be embroidering a great deal.
II have heard that she sells her work in
the city, and gets large price for it.
"H-m," said Mrs. Mopley, doubtfully.
"the market for fancy work is dreadfully
overcrowded, understand. | should hard
ly think anybody so far away as Red Wing
would stand much of q chance of selling
things"
But understand that Mrs. Darlow is
what they call an expert.
AT any rate, | would manage in some
way TO do my own baking and mending.
call il shiftless not to-"
Mrs. Mopley spoke severely, and as the
richest woman in Rcd Wing, n small town
situated not SO far West as it's name might
indicate, she felt that her influence should
be given strongly against shiftlessness.
But" went on Miss Vest, who was max
ing morning call, for business purposes,
on Mrs. Mopley, 81 must not forget that
want you to head the subscription for the
home missionaries"
81 will do SO gladly" said Mrs. Mopley
who was proud of her charitable" DISPOSE
ton. Let me see. How much did give
last year? think it was ten dollars"
Go lo'1
and little Miss Vest moved on.
1t was perhaps an hour later that n
shabby, but respectable looking, woman
rang Mrs. Mopley's bell, and was shown
into her parlor by the one house servant
that Mrs. Mopley kept. 1t was the height
of luxury il Red Wing to keep one house.
servant and coachman Mrs. Mopley' 8
establishment"
Good morning, Mrs. Tate" said Mrs.
Mopley. rather reservedly, as she entered
the parlor. II hope your husband is bet
! t,r."
Mrs. Tate and Mrs. Mcpley had been TO
school together, but that was long time
ago, too long for the friendly old re-
lations to last really and they had not seen
each other often of late years.
"No, he is rot" began Yrs. Tate, her
voice trembling n little. "We had saved
up little something, besides paying for
our house. but his long illness has used
up everything we had. l have sewed a
good deal Mrs. barrow very kindly en-
| ploys me for one day each week, and
could do even more than that if there was
anybody else TO employ me. Then, you
know, have paid good deal of attention
to cooking, and if you want anything done
in that line, wish you would let me try 10
do it
Mrs. Tate's voice had grown firm be-
fore she finished. She ad thought the
matter over so much that she had hoped
to get through without an instant's waver-
/ ing.
I'm not one of the extravagant kind.
you know, Mrs. Tate" said Mrs. Moplev.
somewhat coldly. "But | cannot see an old
friend suffer"
She drew her purse from her pocket.
Mrs. Tate rose with dignity.
/ 81 do not ask for charity she sad. 81
merely wish for work.
But ! cannot afford to put out my work,
insisted Mrs. Mopley.
Very we'll. then" said Mrs. Tate. al
do not wish for anything but work.
II wish you would take this five
dollar bill, really" stammered Mrs. Mop
ley.
! Il need it badly enough, Heaven knows,
exclaimed Mrs. Tate, with burst of tears
which she could not help. But l cannot
lake it without returning something for it.
| Why won d it cost you any more, if | should
give you five dollars worth of work for il
than if | gave nothing at all? Is it not n
true charity to give the poor work than tc
/ give them money, and 50 take away theil
self respect"
Mrs. Mopley stood irresolute, holding the
FIVE dollar bill in her hand.
/ CT don't know Int Won ore riuht ES.
ther,' she said. Eer friends heart broker
eloquence levelng for the time the bar,
rierS between them. 81 have been irving
to do something for you for good while
l thought | would send You a basket OF
things -"
But am well and stro g." interrupted
Mrs. Ta.c. My children are old enough
to take care of themselves, and to go &c
school alone. All that | want is work.
am Il fair seamstress and a good cook
There are my baked beans, my fishballs
my crullers, and different sorts of cake
and pies. | think / could suit you with
any of them"
"1ou may send me up some tshball s
and baked beans every Saturday afternoon
Esther, replied Mrs. Mopley, | aStily, and
as though she was afraid her resolution
would give ont before she tni she'd speak
ing; and | have promised to contribute
two cakes to the sociable to- morrow even
ing. Make me two of your incest, Please
and have silk dress | am Just ripping
and sponging for a comfortable. You
might do that if you like; I'll send it down
10 your house. But | cant help feeling as
i though this were rather foolish for me,
that am so well able to do it all myself"
Il don't want TO urge You to extrava-
gancc, sail Mrs. Tate, rising, and looking
| haraSSel and nervous
NO, no." exclaimed Mrs. Mopley, seiz-
ing her hands impulsively. Il am sure
you are right believe have had some
vain and silly notions about charity and
helping Others. | am always complaining
that have no time to read, nor TO practic
my music, nor to entertain my friends.
have done too much of this work which
oilers might do, and which would help
m-and then l had given money and
thought was doing all ought. But you
have said Just the right thing to me. shall
know better how to help people after this. u
you see, what we poor people want is
work, and that is better for everybody than
just the money, don't you see that it is?"
said Ms. Tate, with her worn. anxious
face lighting up with her carnestness.
Il am sure of it, answered Mrs. Mop
ley COROregatjOndlisi.
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