Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-30
The story Of Il New Years Gift.

a couple married hut n few wears
who had lost everything through i'll
ness and misfortune, decided to come
to Chicago before winter set in to try
to secure some sort of employment
that would yield Il living. The hus
band had been an accountant and Of
flee man, and the wife had good
general knowledge of an experience
IN Office work.
They rented suite of cheap rooms
on the West Side, and then followed
days and days Of weary seeking, al.
most house to house canvass of tho
down town district, leaving applica
tlons wherever the managers would
permit.
"We can't give you any encour.
agement in these times. We are not
taking on any new men.
Our business hardly warrants our
keeping our old employees, but we
can't discharge or get rid of them
till they die off. Your references
are all right, and if times were diff.
ferent," etc.
And when Sunday came there was
scurryinS for stationery and for
stamps out of the thin purse to an
Swer ads Any one who has an
swered advertisements i'm the Sunday
papers knows what it means to reply
to what seems something promising
and then wait, first with hoping,
then with sinking heart, for the
postman Monday afternoon and
Tuesday morning. When there
were no letters by Wednesday thew
colsoled themselves, scarcely daring
To look into each others eyes, bV
saying that the firms were investi-
eating their references, which would
of course, occasion delay, but one
day was like another, with its trudg-
ing, trying and waiting.
The purse became empty and the
meals scanty, and the rent due, and
after the first month the furnace sent
up little heat and the landlady's
"good morning" was f'rigid. They
shat the doors more quietly as they
went in and out and wore shabbier
clothes, and their steps grew heavier
as their faces grew less hopeful.
One night the husband came home
without his cuff buttons, and next
morning wore pair of his wife's,
but there were steak and coffee for
supper. In a few days he lert his
watch down town and wore an old
fashioned silver one that had been
his fathers, and then they decided
they could get along without that
too. And there was nothing more
to pawn. The man several wears
before had helped lawyer out Of Il
tight place, loaning him small sums
several times. He dropped in to see
him In the chamber of Commerce
building and asked him for dollar
or two. The lawyer stepped out to
get 1.-THE money, and, strangely enough
forgot TO come back at all.
The wife had packed two pieces of
rare French bric-a-brac in her trunk
and if she could sell them-in "a
great city there were always people
who were glad to get hold of artistic
curiOs, if you could find the right
people.
The pieces Of china were worth
from 500 to 500, but husband and
wife agreed to part with them for
S25 il purchaser could be found
a curio dealer down town offered
her Sl.50. "They are French
There is no demand at present for
things Of the kind, but if you want
to leave them l will give you dol
lar and half er So" said he. The
wife next started to visit houses on a
fashionable boulevard, and was
either denied admittance by q
naughty servant or supercilious
dame refused even to look at the
pieces-the like of which could not
be found outside an art museum.
She never bought from peddlers, she
explained then long, weary walk
home, and only bread and tea for
supper.
For two or three Sunday nights
they had attended Rev. DIR. ID. 's
church. Besides being most
learned and elOquet preacher DR.. ID.
appeared to them man of large
heart, kindly impulse and intense
sympathies, whose whole personality
beamed with love and kindliness.
The little woman hopefully decided
to go to this minister and ask his as
sistance. Surely in so large and
wealthy church the pastor would
know Of some philanthropically in
clined parishiOner who would be
glad to help struggling fellow,
creature, as well as to acquire the
beautiful objects of art. Reading in
the papers of philanthroplits giving
thousands for. charity, she thought it
only needed that they should know
any one to be worthy Of assistance
and they stood with hands out
stretched. A minister of Christ's
love and mercy would surely help
her. But she was from the country
and did not know.
She called at the residence Of Dr..
ID. In few words she told him her
story. He stood, glasses i'm hand,