The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-02-05
Jimmy's Club.

A gentleman sat in plain office puz-
zling his head over a perplexing ques-
ton. He was the agent ofa benevolent
society organized to help the poor Of
great city. The trouble was this
Thanksgiving was at hand, and he had
not money eboush to do all that he
wished to do on the coming dry. lie
knew, too, riany fainiiie- Who lived at
starving point, to whom Thanksgiving
gave little apparent reason for thanks.
He knew young men who did not hes
itate to spend three dollars on a single
rose. lie knew young ladies who
thought nothing of wasting more or
less dollars a week on candy. Twenty
five cents would buy sumptuoas din
ner for a starving child.
Many hundreds Of the extremely
poor looked to this man for one good
dinner at Thanksgiving time. For
one day in the year they hoped to have
enough 10 eat. How was he 10 give it'
Suddenly three or four dirty faces
peered through the window; a timid
knock followed. Five street boys aud
two somewhat tattered little girls troop
ed in. The agent recognized them ss
members of the city mission school. He
said, pleasantly;
''Well, children, what can I do for
you today"
Nothing answered the children,
vaguely.
"You, Jimmy, you tell, +" said one Of
the girls, giving the tallest boy a shove.
Jimmy fambled in his ragged pocket,
and slowly produced a handful Of PEN
nies and small change. ave fellers
are a club, said he, with a grand air.
There's twenty Of Us, mister"
I'VE gals are in il, too,' Interrupted
the girl who gave the shove.
I'VE, all Of Us, and the gals, too"
responded Jimmy. eve come from
CJnmin's Alley and we're a club to
help Thanksgivin'. Here's-nine dol
lars and ninety cents
The agent stared at the large sum col
lected, at what cost Of fselfsacrifice only
the givers could say.
''It's for them that can't git no din
ner," exclaimed the little spokesman.
rs t?' exclaimed the good man.
He hardly knew what to say as he
glanced at the poor clothes and shrunk-
on cheeks of the .iclub -
ayes, ," said Jimmy, stoutiy, there's
plenty poorer thau Us, mister; we're a
club TO help 'em. We dida't care if We
didn't have a dinner for two or three
days SOS that We might give real poor
folks one
'How many dinners viii nine dollars
and ninety cents gct?' asked a little
girl, rather hungrily.
What kind ola dinner?'' inquir, d
the agent, with a perceptible weakening
in his voice
turkey ard stuffin' and and
puddin', p" cried the children, eagerly.
"That viii cost perhaps twenty-five
cents apiece" said the agent, "and
your money will give a fine Thanks
giving dinner TO a. many - thirty-fve
hungry people. You have done nobly,
children, and I'm delighted that you
have been 80 kind and thoughtful for
/ Others
The dinners were bought 'The
club" distributed them. Tie children's
first plan was 70 put q cabbage in with
each dinner, the agent says. But there
were nOs cabbages enough TO 90 around.
So they cut each cabbage into quarters,
and put one piece into each bag.
That club Of twenty poverty-stTiciS,
children worked until nine o'ciOch Is;
night on the day before Thank-giyir
distributing thiT;y-iivc dinners to peo-
pie poorer than themselves"
This is q trIc story, and one that
should make our easy blood tingle viii
something akin to shame Youth