River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-10-03
THE CRISIS.
BY HARRIET z. CIRCUIT.

December morning. There had been
a light fall Of snow the night before;
the breezes had played with it and dis
tributed II most uUequally- The mil
Iionaire was watching his euterprisiug
Young neighb Dor over the way, who in
habited the poorest house on the
street. and who was ont shoveling
snow from his sidewalk. Mr.. Strong
was in a meditative mood. Although
surrounded by every evidence of
wealth and luxury hs did not look nor
act like a man who was perfectly sat
isfed with life lie had been pacing
up and down the room more like some
Gagged animal than like prosperous
member Of the board Of trade
1T Is time that Hobbies was here" he
was saving as he walked mp and down,
making an occasional pause at the
window why does he not come?
am anxious To know my fate Wealth
or poverty-w which Is il to- be for the
future2 That fellow over there shovel
ing snow for exercise works on salary,
and has no business cares ! wonder
who Is happier. he or I? How we are
hampered by our environment!
would really like 70 take a shovel and
dispose Of those drifss 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
Inunitv would be shocked, inexpress-
ibIv shocked. A hundred dollar bill
would hardly induce one butler to So
far compromise his dignity as To
shovel snow And il I should DO it!
have half a mind To try him with a
bill and see what the effect would be,
lie Is fond Of money. 4 hundred dollars
50 easily earned would be a temp
ta.ion. am curious to know what he
would do. the experiment would
probably result i'm his giving notice.
and Mary would be sorry to lose him.
/ wonder " hen / saw her last? She
seldom takes breakfast with me Last
night I came home late; she had gone
for the evening aud came home later
still! Yesterdav-did I see her yeSter-
day? 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 | are
on the best of terms we have not
love each other But we are both 81
busy. She has the care of this great
house. and company, and society.
have business interests, and the club.
and a little politics. ~ our home life
gets lost somey where. / wonder il we
are any happier than we We're in the
old simple days when we Lived for each
other, instead of for servants and soci-
etv, Was that the doOrbell? | shall
not breathe freely again until | know
whether that sale goes through. If
the deal goes against us-my God. II
can't 10 against us. IL it does | shall
be ruined, II Hobbies would only
come. man neei nerves of steel in
these DAYS To- bear the strain of bust
ness. III the deal goes he will come
himself. that we may plan together
If il fails-he will write. \ meSseu-
ger will bring the news That young
man over there works as if he enjoyed
st. How ne makes the snow fly. Here
comes his wife Happy creatures,
They have no dignity To I've compro-
missed lie can shovel snow and she
can sweep il without shocking the
whole community What a beautiful
morning. Tine air i like wine, and
the sunshine turns the snow into ten
Thousand glitterlng diamonds. Surely
that was the doorbelI, Tan IL he
Hobbies? must not look ton delighted
lest he should guess how near ruin
am"
Il was not Hobbies. hut his daughter
Iucv who entered the room.
DO you like the snow. Lucy?" he
asked. a. she came and stood by his
side at the window
NO. papa. I don't like IL at all. ]
can hardly walk 10 school, the side
walks are i'm such condition. If il
was little farther should order the
carriage"
THAT would hardly paw for three
blocks Your mother walked two
miles every day that she was in high
school"
How perfectly dreadful that must
have been. Way didn't she take a
care"
were no cars
80 papa. Just look, Those people in
the cottage are both out working in
the snow. tie goes ahead and shovels
and She follows with broom Is-'t it
too had they are - poor they have 10
work 81 hard. 1 always feel sorry for
such people.
''Do YOU How about those who are
glad 10 see the snow that they may
earn few pennies shovellng it?''
They are wretch,d. OF course! No
body expects them 10 be happy
Mr.. Strong sighed The young man
whom they were watching put up his
shovel. disappeared in the house a mo-
meut 70 change his cap and mitteus,
kissed his wife on the doorstep and
hurried down the street. looking as he
felt, happier than a liug-which might
not he very happy after all. for the
most Of kings have great deal OF
trouble 70 make up for small amount
~ glory Many thoughts which would
have puzzled his daughter passed
through the millionaire's mind. II that
deal failed he would b. put back
among the people too poor TO hire
snow shoveled. How would it be with
Lucy then2
Our ueighbors. the snow shove,ers.
look happy" he remarked
They always do. but | should be
perfectly miserable il I were SO poor.
There are three children and they only
Keep one girl, She trims her own hats
and hardly ever has new dress. and
when she does she has to make II her
self
They can't be 50 very poor. contin-
ned her father. The lot that cottage
sta dis on must lie worth ten thousand
dollars At least"
1T Is. Edith'> father wants 70 Luy
IL to enlarge his yard. and has offered
that, but it has always been her home
her father gave 4 to her, and her
mother died there-and they won't
sell Size doeSn': want the cottage
torn down. They are not poor the
way folks are that accept old clothes
and provisions she has a piano and
books. but they are too poor TO have a
good time. They cant keep a carriage
or 60 into society or travel in Europe. ."
There was moments silence His
daughters views were something of a
surprise to Mr.. Strong.
when are YOU going to get mamma
those diamonds You promised here"
asked Lucy, turning away from the