Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-08

Nh IN a corner at a taDle
&H-. with Lettie Greer
Es and Portia Leavins
- while 1 was resting
after an afternoon of calling.
I'VE will have to give up the whole
thing" 1 heard Portia say. disconsolately.
And it was such a perfectly lovely
idea" chimed in Lettie to the musical
clinking of coins that Rose was arranging
In little piles on the table.
Ten scent pieces; ten dimes, one with a
hole in 1t. five silver quarters, two cart
wheels that Dick donated. and just an
even hundred pennies-five dollars and sew
enty-five cents in ALL" announced Rose,
with disappointed ring in her voice 1--WE
certainly can't do much with that, 1t won't
even buy the shawl for the old janitor
woman at school.
And there are all our little poor children
that we wanted to get toys for and a coat
for the blind shoe-string man, and a pres
ent for the postran-oh, why can't every
body be rich?" said Portia with a positive
wall. Il suppose we couldn't sell bonds
like they do when Uncle Sam needs money!
Il suppose not" was the non-committal
rejoinder made by Rose, as she ran over
the. piles of coin a second time to see that
she had made no mistake. 1T Is Just s. IS,
ana Indt Is all there Is to II, she said at
last. And to think how have gone with
out gum and not touched candy for a
month"
And the miles and miles have walked
to school to save car-fare for the
fund" INTERCEPTED Lefty.
TO say nothing of the matinees 1 have
gwen up and the penny from papa every
time l do not drink coffee or tea," was
Portals sadly reminiscent rejoinder.
Well, you see 1 couldn't save anything
that way" returned Rose apologetically.
Sara never would let me drink either one;
but l might have gone without milk;
think sara would have allowed me a pen
ny or two a day for that, because I do
drink a lot, and Jude says 1 am very ex-
traVagant about chocolate. My, how hard
1t is to save money! and then silence fell
on the little group for moment.
Problem of Present Giving.
About month ago the three girls con-
ceived the IDEA of getting Christmas pres
ents for whole horde of children, and
a few grown people, and when they came
to me about it 1 told them 1 thought 1t
a splendid thing to do. but that they must
earn the money or give UP some of their
little comforts and luXurieS, for which
they might have the equiv alent in money,
or the real spirit of Christmas giving
would be lost. OF course they were quite
positive that they could do that, and /
think they did do bravely, but naturally
they imagined that when the bank con-
tanning their joint savings was opened
there would he a big sum, the showing
was bitter disappointment to them.
Are you playing Quaker Meeting, girls?"
called Dorothy, as the silence grew OPP
preSsive. What is the significance of this
evening session anyhow Whose happiness
are you plotting against?' and she laid
down her crocheting and went to
their corner. 1T isn't a secret session.
she quercd.
Indeed It isn't!' was Portals quick re-
ply. Il am glad you came. Miss Dorothy;
maybe you can help us out
Am / to be left out in the cold?' asked
Dick. tossing aside his Star. Il might at
least play errand boy for this benevolent
concern, and who knows how many stray
coppers 1 could pick up as bootblack or
by crying Star pane ere, Evenin' Star?
At any rate my services are at your dis
posal." Dicks advent was greeted with
shrieks of delight, for Dick is liked by
girls little and big. and II was not long till
they dragged me into their councils also.
1t isn't worth while to relate all that
was said by the committee on ways and
means" How Dick chafIed Rose almost
to tears about getting shoes for her foot
less friend, the rag man, and eyeglasses
for the blind shoe-string seller, Christmas
cards for the babies, and a copy of Drum
monds addresses for the tanitor woman
who can't read a word. He didn't smooth
matters out bit by assuring her that the
average Christmas present. given because
II is duty or because one Is expected In
return, Is generally no more appropriate
than those he had suggested. One OF the
great problems of present giving Is TO
make them accord" To give wisely and
acceptably. To study individual needs and
tastes and to crafty them even IL 1t be
in a small way. The cost or present
should never enter into the thought OF
giver or recipient. II Is to be supposed
that the giver will be at some pains to
please and the recipient should accept 1t
in that spirit; the moment either departs
from that view Of 1t, present giving be-
comes a farce.
Baskets for Poor Families.
OF course Rose and the girls were not