The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-04-03
AN ACT OF CHARITY.
BY JESSIE M. ANDERSON.

| N
| Mrs. Tom Walton was in very com
Portable frame Of mind and body
"Tom" had come home for luncheon
and had amiably started off with their
guest, Grace Maynard, for the public
reception at the white house. Grace
was to go by the afternoon train, and
this was her last chance to see the
| "First Lady of the Land" as the news
papers call our democratic queen. Tom
would be coming home for dinner alone
after seeing Grace off, and there would
be a chance again for their dear cozy
evenings together. 1t was selfish, she
knew; but she was glad that they were
not to have any more visitors. Nobody
would be coming to Washington, now
that the season was SO nearly over, and
she could have Tom all to herself. She
looked lazily out of the window and
saw her husband and Grace boarding a
car at the corner.
There is scarcely anything more en-
PERTAINING to student Of democratic
government than an afternoon recep-
ton at the white house. Mr.. Walton
and his charge had stood long and per-
severingly sin line" first out in the
street, then gradually pushed along
within the grounds, till at last they
found themselves standing in solemn
file, Grace in front, at the very thresh-
old of the blue room. just ahead were
two tiny but bold figures-a small,
dark-eyed Jewess and her smaller
brother-"Miss Zimmerman and Mr..
Zimmerman" they gave their names to
the inquiring usher; Miss Cinnamon
and Mr.. Cinnamon" he shouted, in
stentorian tones, as they passed along
the magic circle within which stood the
receiving party.
Back of these was q curious-looking
old woman with a huge green veil tied
over her head and ears and tiny, faded
old black shawl gathered around her
shoulders.
"Wall, now, it's good for sore eyes to
see ye," she said, as she shook hands
lingeringly with one of the cabinet Ia
dies. BE We Mrs. Cleveland? Wall,
now. 1 can't see ez we look much like
your picture that I've got at home. That
looks just like my Cynthy did before
she died" Her tones were croaking,
but there was an upward curve of hap
py pride in the wrinkles about the kind
ly old eyes.
Move on, there!" came the rough
voice of the policeman. And Grace and
Mr.. Walton found themselves taking
the woman's place; and then, all in a
breath, they were out in the great room
beyond, amusing themselves by listen
ing to the broken English of group of
Coreans who stood in one corner, gay
in native costume, with their odd caps
on their heads.
-Four o'clock already" said Mr.. Wal
ton, looking at his watch. "We shall
have to hurry, if you want to see the
conservatory"
Just as Mr.. Walton was putting Grace
on her train, Mrs. Walton drawled II
lazy Comet" to the maid who brought
her the afternoon post. There were
two letters. One, fat one, from Il
young cousin of Mr.. Walton's, she
opened first:
my DEAR HETTY: I gather from Toms
letters that you two are still incoming
along in your nuptial bliss, not settled
down enough to enjoy visitors. So I'm not
coming to see you. But you can't guess
where have beenl
cit seems a year or two. but it's reaily
only a month, I've spent with a dear funny,
old aunt of Toms and mine. thought |
knew what 1t would be like to live that
way, but GooseberrySille exceeded my most
fantastic visions. ,.aa.
AUNT Martha lives in little old place,
not picturs sque enough to be called a cot
tage. and hot sizablc enough to be a house.
I lust pulaped my brain 10 remember all
the news for years back OF anybody con-
nected with our enormous family. She
would roll piecrust while ] washed tea
Guns: or, TO be less poetic. but more fire.
ouently true. she filed the oil lamps while
secured the Rriddlepans-or polished up
the gilt frame OF Mr. cleveland's picture In
the parlor.
aPoor old souli heard that the VILLAGERS
about there call her 'Ruts-' ] found that
zhe had had for breakfast ever since she