Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-01-28
CHAPTER vi.
ten,

One morning, when several visitors were
at Westwood, the conversation turned
upon the Indian famine We were all
seated at luncheon. Some of the gentle.
men remarked what charitable country
ours was-what large sums OF money were
forthcoming when any great disaster oc-
Cured.
Lord Yorke agreed
But" he said. II do not think we real
ize what the word famine means. In our
happy land we have not seen women and
children dying by the roadside pluckn
the dry roots and grass i'll the pangs OF
II have seen something like it." said Mr..
Devine II was in Ireland during the
potato famine, and saw there scenes that
Will haunt Inc to my dying day-gaunt
hungry men in whose eyes was q woli>h
& cam, pale, patient women dying Without
complaint. children Ike >pectcrs, with
famine written in their faces | have seen
mother and children lying dead together
kill"
Did you really witness all this?" asked
Lady Yorke.
did indeed" replied Mr. Dcvine.
II did not know" said Lady Yorie, with
hunger. do not suppose that l quite UNI
derstand the meaning OF the word fam
inc"
Your life has been a happy one, Lou
Use, said Lord lorke. You have seen only
the rose-coored side Of existence"
That must be true" she allowed more
rravely than had expected.
The next morning | had TO drive with
Lady Iorke to Woodheaton; she wanted
10 make some purchases. The morning
was lovely, but her mind was evidently still
disturbed by the conversation of the pre-
viouS day.
Miss Chester" she said suddenly, 'have
Won ever seen upODla who wara really ill
from want of food?"
Yes, very often, when 1 was
at home with my mother. She
out of her limited means, made point of
relieving some poor person or other every
day"
SO far as remember, relieved a poor per.
son in my life. We send money to various
charities; but have never personally given
any away. l have seen SO lew poor peo-
pie"
| saw that her mind was awakened. We
talked on the same subject during the
whole OF our drive. told her what | had
seen amongst the poor at GracedIcu-their
patience, their industry the pathos and
beauty Of their lives
"Ihe true heroes and heroines of this
world" said, ARE the unoomplaning
poor.
Heroes and heroines!" she repeated
why, MISS Nnc>ter, What can there be
heroic i'll povcr;y?"
Poverty bravcly born is true heroisln, "
said 1T is easy to DE happy and content
ca when everything goes well, when one
has plenty Of money, plenty of food, and
everything one can desire, What can be
more heroic than the endurance OF hunger
and cold without complaint? l have
read of what the world calls hcroincs
Joan OF Arc, who won a throne for her
king; Charlotte Corday, who slew the en-
envy OF France, but to my way OF thinking,
the real heroine is the vile and mother
whose lie IS one continual struggle, who
works without ceaSing never com plains,
comforts her husband, brings up her chill
dren well. and practices heroic virtues I'M
seen by amy one, unknown even to herself
mat woman IS one Of Heavens own
heroines"
Lady Iorke was silent and thoughtful
during the rest Of the day, but in the eve
ming she relapsed into the old lackadaisical
mood.
A lew days a'terward asked her if she
would go to Woodhcaton again, and, hav-
ing no other engagement, She consented
Just what longed for happened. When
We reached the shop Of the statoner, the
vie of the rector was there. She knew
Lady Iorke i'll distant fashion,
Mrs. Durant was an active energetic
woman whose life was filled with good
loving Lady Iorke. To my great delight
she began TO talk to Lady Yorke
about the badness of the times, the
want Of work, the poverty Of the peo-
pie. | shall never forget Mrs. Durrants
lace when Lady Yorke languidy took out
her well-flled purse.
Would money be OF any use?" she said.
Heaven bless mel" cried the rectors
vie, startled out of all propriety. "Why,
Lady Iorke, it is only money that we
want! Money will purchase food, coal,
clothes, shoes and everythn else"
! heard the rustic Of bank-notes, and
Lady Iorke said gently
poor?"
The eyes Of the rector's wife filled with
tears. She saw in the gift relief for many
from utter misery.
III you would see poverty in all its desc
lation, Lady Yorke." she said earnestly.
you should go to place that is called
| Sandy Fields"
After the rector's vile had departed, l
turned to Lady Yorke.
will you go?" l asked her
II do not know, Miss Chester" she said,
drawing her rich silks and laces tightly
around her II have never seen anything OF
| the kind"
| when you die" remarked, "you Will
| like 10 have some good deed to remember.
You will like to think then that you
have lessened the burden of one human
heart"
You frighten me-" she said. Yes
will CO."
| Half an hour aiterward fashionable self
indul.ent Lady Yorke stood in the poorest
cottage in Sandy Fields, looking round er
in horror and dismay. Only star, !,
woman and starving child were th,le;
there was no fire, no food, no table, no chair,
no bed. 1t was most hopeless, helpless
| case.
"a contrast to Westwood" whispered
to her.
At first the woman was sullen and would
not speakher misery was too great
Then she cried OUT
NO, you can do nothing for me. My
husband died six weeks ago; and this is all
/ have in the world. Now she is dying.
Heaven itself cannot help me-" She look
ed at Lady Yorke. you mean well, she
said. "but the money that bought that silk
gown would have kept my husband alive.
He died hungry. Do you think | shall
ever forget that? He moaned all night
before he died from hunger
not pain. but hunger. l loved him
with all my heart and had to sit and
listen until could have rushed out Of the