The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-20

Sutli, anu uldhe Knee paHlS at 10 10 10
cents a dozen pairs"
Eighteen cents dozen pairs! You
don't mean that?"
Eyes, madam, do. When Phelps &
Co. pay ten cents for making pair of
trousers which sells for five dollars, is
it any wonder that the firm prospers
exceedingly, and thatyour husband was
able to give away his thousands ?"
This is revelation to me-" said Mrs.
Phelps. Il cannot sec how you man.
aged to exist at ALL"
"It's been hard, hard struggle" re-
piled Thompson. with the aid of our
little girl-for she has been sewing ever
since she was four yeass old-we were
occasionally able to earl. dollar in a
day; but that was seldom. We had to
pay dollar and quarter per week for
this room, and hardly ever had more
than four dollars week to feed, clothe
and warm the three of us. But for the
last six months the child has been ill.
Ten days ago my wife took sick, and be-
cause of having to wait on her and the
child | was able to do so little sewing
that the foreman got angry the other
day and refused to give me any more
work. Besides, we have been falling
behind with the rent, and only yester-
day / received notice that if | don't pay
up by the end of the week and my sick
family must leave"
Outrageous! Who is your land
lord2"
Thompson took paper from his
pocket, and, remarking that it was his
last receipt, handed it to Mrs. Phelps,
who, after a single glance, started, and
then stood staring at in open-mouthed
establishment. For her own name was
affixed to the receipt!
"What!" she calculated, as soon as
she could find her voice. "This house
mine?"
so 1t seems"
"This is my agents work." said Mrs.
Phelps, half TO herself. "And he would
have turned you into the street! Hor-
rible."
She opened her pocket and took out
some bills.
MIR Thompson" she said, 81 thank
you for insisting that l should come
here. You have opened my eyes to some
things I was blind to before. Take this
it is only very small part of the
heavy debt I owe you. Buy fuel, food,
clothing, furniture, medicines-what-
ever you and your sick family most re-
quire. Spend it freely, but pay no rent;
this room shall never cost you another
cent"
God bless you, madame!" Thompson
exclaimed, his eyes filing with tears.
81 take your gifts now with glad and
thankful heart. felt sure that all you
needed was to see and understand. But,
oh, remember that there are others in
this house almost as badly off as you
found me-"
Upon reaching home Mrs. Phelps
went to her room and shut herself in.
Her visit to James Thompson had in
deed been a revelation to her. How had
she discharged the responsibility which
the possession of great wealth carries
with it? By lavishing money on
flowers, music, rich viands and the like,
when so many were lacking the neces-
saries of life. And, most humiliating
thought of all, much of the very wealth
which she enjoyed had been earned
for her by those same starving poor.
Theirs it was-not hers-if justice were
done. In her humiliation she knelt and
offered what was, perhaps, the first real
prayer that had risen from her lips
for long time; u prayer in which she
craved pardon for the thoughtlessness,
seltishness and frivolity of the past,
and consecrated her wealth to the serv-
ice of Christ and of those concerning
whom He said: "Inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these
we have done it untoNle."
A year has passed. James Thompson