Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-07-01

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we find little one, and let me pes
away at it?'
1t seems as if we ought. If W.
do find a new way to work, l NOV,
we don't hide it selfishly under ;
bushel, but let some one else try it
too, and get whatever pleasure from
it we do. In this way, one gets /;
circle of good-doers and it is good
doing that is to help the world.
'Well,' 1 answered, 'the spirit OF
self-denial is a propelIing force il
drawing the world up to a higher
plane. To help toward the Poor
Children's Picnic, l must go without
new ribbon for my hat
"Sybil, suddenly exclaimed Ar
mold, 'how much money do we ex-
pend in charity during the year?'
"'Not much, I'm afraid. AS you
are aware, our supply of cash repre-
sented by your salary is small. l
don't believe, outside of family help,
we spend five dollars for charity !;
and l know plenty who don't do as
well as we When a demand comes,
if we can spare the money, we give
willingly; but, generally, we are
short, and have to deny ourselves
something to answer the call for help.
You know we try to remember some
one at Thanksgiving time, and I'm
afraid that's the extent of our chart
ty.'
Then, here's your reform, Sybil,
right at your own door. Come, start
the movement at home, then you can
spread it out, till-ah, what a vista
of shining deeds, done Gin SYPHILIS
name y
"'What do you mean, you enthus-
iastic boy?'
"Simply this. We,and not we only,
but the world at large, must have a
Charity fund. We must contribute
weekly. Now, how much can we
spare? We won't start on too large
scale. Well undertake only what we
can carry out. Say, [ give five cents
and you the same (Arnold and I al
ways divide evenly on the money
that comes into the family. That's
over five dollars at the close of
year
81 was eager to begin. SO we put
away our fve-cent pieces, and the
fund began to grow in the wooden
box. 1t went to the years end with
no heavy call. Eimwood is general
ly healthful place in which to live,
and people are thrifty.
s'During the last months Arnold's
health began to fail. He had over
worked sadly. Occasionally, he had
to stay at home a week; and then
his pay stopped, and we had to deny
ourselves a great deal to keep abreast
with the world and not run in debt.
you know, is printer, and,
finally, there was a strike in the large
where he worked, and
he was thrown out of employment.
This cramped US; but we still added
our weekly ten cents to the box.
q" Perhaps the charity will have to
begin at home,' Arnold used to say
cat last he went back to work but
had to stop, by his physicians orders.
He must rest month, he was told.
We had enough ready money to pay
our bills for month, and but few
dollars besides. OF course, we had
a rainy-day fund banked; but that
was to be our last resort.
The weeks went by. Affairs look
ed rather discouraging for Arnold.
He gained little outwardly; and I
began to think | had better try to
get work and help out, for did not
intend to let the money in the bank
dwindle.
One afternoon, / started to call on
Il I f,,4
tunately married. Her husband had
proved unfaithful to a money trust,
and, while not prosecuted, had lost
his position, was taken i'll, and she
was having very sad time. She
was very proud. and one hardly dar
ed to ask if she needed aid and it
was hard to determine from her SEEM
ingly cheerful air before visitors how
great her distress was. She unbur-
dened her soul to me one day and /
knew her mental distress was great
because of the family disgrace. She
had two children, one babe. This
and her husbands illness deprived
her of power to get work.
ssThat afternoon she seemed bright
before her family, as usual. At the
door, howeyefsas I left, l said, How
is the world with you, Nary and
she burst into tears. | knew then
she needed help from some one.
said all the comforting things could,
spoke of brighter days, and finally
came away. From what | know of
their finances, [ felt certain they
must have little ready money. be in
debt, perhaps had been refused cred
it. People were so incensed at her
husbands dishonesty they would re-
fuse to contribute one cent to help
them. I knew our own affairs look
ed dark but 'It'g a mighty mean
man that won't divide with a poorer
BROTHER l thought.
"We took the money from the
box, and seon Mary received five