The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-12-29

not buy, but gave her some names Of
women of my acquaintance who
Thought would help her--at least who
could do 80 if they chose. Among them
was Mrs R., frivolous, newly
married woman who had never been
suspected of ever having had sober.
serious impulse, but who was warm
bearted and lovable and happened to be
first ON my list. With this dismissed
the matter for time from my mind,
as we are all won't to do with things
that are narrowing contenting our
selves with "a word or promise of posi-
BILE aid, like the man who always look
ed upon debt as paid and cancelled
after having given his note for the OBJ
legation. l CHANGED to call on Mrs.
r. some time after, and what attracted
my attention first in the drawing room,
after the lovely countenance of the host
ess, was an antique empire cabinet sur
mounted by a bust of Napoleon and in
side the identical Sevres.
Surely the stone that the builders re-
jected had become the head Of the COR
ner. l curbed my curiosity until the
other visitors were gone, and then, over
cup of tea, asked and heard the story.
1T was one day last week." said
Mrs. II. George was home TO lunch
con. You know made him promise be-
forehand that he'd always come home
to luncheon unless l was going out
Well, George was home and brought
papa with him, and then they were 60
ing to directors meeting-do have a
rose leaf; Fred sent them from New
York-of some new company they have
Just organized. Papa is president and
there's ever so much capital behind it.
Their offices are lovely, in the Altruria
building-you know those new corpora
tions always have such fine Offices
Don't you like flowers? Try nougat
OF course they were talking business,
and when some one came l was glad to
get out and let them finish alone.
"Here was this pitiful little woman,
quite handsome at one time, / should
say, but faded and out of style. Why, l
knew she was in trouble before she
spoke, for no pretty woman would wear
such clothes unless she had to, and
guess, after all, was sorrier for her on
that account than anything else. Yes,
and when she showed me that china
now, don't know anything about such
things and just have more glass and
china than there are places to put it;
people send so many of those things for
presents now-well, l told her l didn t
need any dishes, but if there was any
IL I 4 4 4
came in, and in minute he was wild.
He didn' see the lady or anything else,
but just those dishes. Why, it's royal
Sevresl Where did it come from? It's
100 years oldr he cried, and he exam
ined the painting and the mark-water-
mark, / believe isn't it? When he had
finished his ecstasies, explained the
lady wished to sell it. He was aghast.
To sell such treasure for $50 was rank
robbery. Why, don't you know they are
priceless?' he exclaimed.
Il never saw anything get the better
of papa's business judgment before. He
asked how she came to want TO part
with them, and she told us. oh, the most
pitiful story Her husband was out of
tuplOy HlSuJ anu tHty ud'i suuclcu
everything for months; didn't have
enough to eat, suppose. l never knew
that kind of refined people could get SO
poor. Papa bought the china for part OF
my New Years gift. l don t know how
much he gave. You can't ask about a
present. And George gave her an adj
dress and told her to have her husband
call at the Office in the morning.
never was so happy in my life. After
the men and the little woman were gone
l had good cry. was in the midst OF
it when DIR. ID. called, and Of course
l had to tell him why was crying and
everything. He was so interested, and
he had curious look on his face and
said: Thy ways are not our ways. Mrs.
r., your father is the best man
ever knew. And you know papa ISM q
church member at all; hardly ever goes
to church.
Hes a very able man, the little wo
mans husband, George says. They put
him into the office of the company an6
think of making him manager after the
first of the year. He told George that
his wife is all that saved him in his