Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-10-31
THE CRISIS.
NY HARRIET Il. oRonrr.


Cages mansions one brilliant sunsbipv
Decemoer morning. There had been
q light fall Of snow the night before;
the Dreezes had played with it and dis
.riouted 1t most unequally. The mil
lionaire was watching his enterprisipp
young neighbor over the way. who in.
habited the poorest house ON the
street, and who was out shoyelinp
snow from his sidewalk Mr.. Strong
was In meditative mood Although
surrounded by every evidence of
wealth and luxury he did not lool, nor
act like a man who was perfectly sat
ished with life. He had been pacing
up ana down the room more like some
Gagged animal than like prosperous
member OF the board of trade.
1T is time that Hobbies was herel'' he
was saying as he walked up and down,
making an occasional pause at the
window. "Why does he not come? I
am anxious to know my fate. Wealth
or poverty-which is it to be for the
future? That fellow over there shovel
ing snow for exercise works on salary,
and has no business cares. wonder
who is happier, he or L? How we are
hampered by our environment
would really like to take shovel and
dispose of those drifts still reposing
undisturbed on our front steps. The
exercise would do me good, but what
a shocking thing it would be! The
servants, the family, the whole com
munity would be shocked, inexpress-
IDLY shocked! A hundred dollar bill
would hardly induce one butler to SO
far compromise his dignity as to
shovel snow. And if | should do it!
have half mind to try him with a
bill and see what the effect would be!
He is fond ofmoney. A hundred dollars
SO easily earned would be temp
tation. am curious to know what he
would do! The experiment would
probably result in his giving notice,
and Mary would be sorry to lose him.
wonder when saw her lastp She
seldom takes breakfast with me. Last
night came home late; she had gone
for the evening came home later
still Yesterday-did see her yester-
dayp Yes, we passed each other in the
hall and said good morning and good
by! We had an hour together Sunday.
blessed be Sunday Mary and l are
on the best of terms we have not
quarreled for ten years! l think we
love each other But we are both so
busy. She has the care of this great
house, and company, and society! l
have business interests, and the club,
and little politics. So our home life
gets lost somewhere wonder II we
are any happier than we were in the
old simple days when we lived for each
other, instead of for servants and soci-
etyl Was that the doorbell? l shall
not breathe freely again until | know
whether that sale goes through. If
the deal goes against us-my God! 1t
can't go against us! If it does ] shall
be ruinedl II Hobbies would only
comel A man needs nerves of steel in
these days to bear the strain of bust
ness. If the deal goes he will come
himself, that we may plan together.
If it fails--he will write. A messen-
ger will bring the news. That young
man over there works as if he enjoyed
it. How he makes the snow fyl Here
comes his wife. Happy creatures!
They have no dignity to be compro-
missed. He can shovel snow and she
can sweep it without shocking the
whole community. What beautiful
morningl The air is like wine, and
the sunshine turns the snow into ten
thousand glittering diamonds Surely
that was the doorbell! Can 1T be
Hobbies? must not look too delighted
lest he should guess how near ruin
am"
1t was not Hobbies, but his daughter
Lucy who entered the room.
''Do you like the snow, Lucy% he
asked, as she came and stood by his
side at the window.
'sNo, papa! don't like 1t at all.
can hardly walk to school, the side
walks are in such q condition! If il
was a little farther should order the
carriage"
THAT would hardly pay for three
blocks. Your mother walked two
miles every day that she was in high
school"
"How perfectly dreadful that must
have beenl Why didn't she take
carp"
at was country town, and there
were no cars"
10 papa! just look! Those people IL
the cottage are both out working II
the snow. He goes ahead and shovel'
and she follows with broom. Isn't i
too bad they are SO poor they have t.
work SO hard. / always feel sorry fol
such people"
DO you? How about those who are
plad to see the snow that they may
earn a few pennies shoveling it?'
"They are wretched, of counsel NO
bodv expects them to be happy
"0ur neighbors, the snow shovelers
look happy" he remarked.
"They always do, but l should b.
nerfectly miserable if ! were SO poor
There are three children and they onl.
keep one grill She trims her own hat
and hardly ever has new dress an'
when she does she has to make 1t her
self" :,
..Tbev can't be so very poor" contin
nod her father. 1.-THE lot that cottag
stands On must be worth ten thousan,
dollars at least"
ut is. Edith's father wants to bu,
., To enlarge his yard, and has offere'
that but it has always been her HON
her father gave it to her, and he
mother died there-and they won
sell She doesn't want the cottag
,o,r down. They are not poor tn
way folks a are that accept old ,l; elOth h,
and provisions. She has piano an
bool,s, but they are too poor to have
rood time. They can't keep carriag