The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-08-24

nrottu QUO vnttS diuS heo m9r teI niece
noticed. But know she Is dreadful
slow about her work. She Is alway
two or three hours behind the neigh
borhood in getting the clothes on tn
line. | wouldn't keep her only tina
she is 80 careful and particular
ITO be particular and do the wor
well is q good deal to be said for an
one these helter-skelter days. Sh
doesn't look strong do you know any
thing about her circumstances?" aske,
Aunt Mary.
Not thing" Mrs. Walford an
swered. ST pay her when the work i
done, and ask her no questions abou
her affairs. don't know that it is an,
of my business"
"And yet you belong to severa
charitable societies." Aunt Mary sug
gosted softly. lone Of them, | think
yeu said is called the Helping Hand.'
"Oh, the Helping Hand is very ex
elusive, Aunt Mary" said Mr.. Wal
ford, lightly. "You have to reach Q
certain genteel notch before the tips
of its aristocratic fingers are held out
to YOU"
Arthur is always ridiculing U.S.
Helen said, a little petulantly, but
we have done a great deal OF good,
Aunt Mary, | can assure you and even
society must draw q line somewhere,
you know"
Yes, suppose So" Aunt Mary as,
sented, though | know very little
about such things. | never belonged
to a society in my life"
Never belonged to society ~
Mrs. Walford exclaimed in astonish.
ment. " But you seem so familiar
with charitab Q work; how have you
carried it on -
The little have ever accomplish
ed has been by individual effort" said
Aunt Mary modestly.
You must visit our societies, and
see how superior organized work is"
Mrs. Walford said, rising. And oh,
yes, Aunt Mary, as you are going to
be here, will you give the woman this
half dollar for me when her work is
done ?'
Ae she took the money, Aunt Mary
said, impulsively, Does she do that
large washing for fifty cent? and
then added, hastily, as Mrs. Walford's
face flushed, Excuse me, Helen, |
spoke thoughtlessly, but l have SO
many things to be washed to-day that
L think | ought to add to this
My visitors never pay for their
washing, Aunt Mary 1t belongG with
the family wash, OF course but you
must please yourself.
A couple of hours later, Aunt Mary,
going to the kitchen, found the woman
waiting, her thin face pale and drawn,
and tired lines around her lips and
eyes. 1t was a delicate, refined face,
with gentle patience in 1t that touch.
ed Aunt Mary's kind heart. She arose
and took Off her sun bonnet as Aunt
Mary entered.
you look very tired" Aunt Mary
said, gently. Don't be In hurry to
go. Come out on the porch and rest
awhile In one OF the rockers"
No, thank you, l can not stop. l
Mary put a dollar in her hand, she
added, anxiously, 81 can not change
it; haven't you half dollar ?"
You had 50 many of my clothea, to-
day, | think you have earned the
dollar" Aunt Mary said, smiling.
An eager look fitted across her
face, and she answered "It is not
usual, believe, to pay for few extra
things, and | oughtn't to take it, but
need 1T So much, and q halt dollar
more would she stopped flushing
scarlet, and turned nervously to the
door.
Aunt Mary laid a OBTAINING hand on
on her arm, and said with gentle
sympathy, "Doh't think me intrusive
but will you not tell me your trouble?
| am sure you are carrying burden
let me share it,"
The sudden tears gushed forth, and
the poor creature sank sobbing into a
chair but she quickly controlled her.
don't often give way like this ; | hope
you will excuse it in me-"
Aunt Mary nodded, stroking the
toilwOrn hand she held.
Things are very hard with us just
now," she went on, My husband has
had no work, only an odd Job or 80,
since the shops closed last year We
have four children, and | am not very
strong and so slow at my work, that
we can hardly get enough g ? them to
"You are conscienS Us worker"
Aunt Mary irterposed, =" haven't tho
societies helped you ?"
"A little at first" the woman an
swered, but they seem to think we
are not deserving and that my husband
Is idle and shiftless. Heaven knows
he would thankfully take anything to
do, 30 that he could be earning some
thing. Oh why do they not have
work CROUCH, some how or other, SO
of their families. The poor must have
work or starve, If they are too proud
and honest to beg or steal" She spoke
with passionate earnestness; then
started up suddenly adding, 81 must
go. | ought to have gone at once. Oh
ma'am, you will understand what q
heartache / have, and how grateful
ara to you for this extra half dollar,
when | tell you that my little ones
have had nothing but scanty break
fast OF potatoes to-day, and will have
nothing until / get home. Robbie,
the oldest one, is a cripple, and takes
care OF the rest while am away"
Why didn't you tell US that your
children were going hungry?' Aunt
Mary said, as she rapidly packed a
basket with food. "It Is wicked to lei
them suffer and not speak of it,"
Nobody ever spoke to me about II
BEFORE" the woman answered, "and 1t
Is very hard to make people listen
when they do not want TO- ( have
tried to, sometimes, but couldn't force
my troubles on them when they didr't
care. I've wished 80 many times that
| could have the broken pieces OF foot
for my children that | see thrown
away at places where work"
Send your husband here In thu
morning." Aunt Mary said "The,
need man to do chores. eod take car,
OF the garden, and will%ee that h,
gets the place The pay Will not b.
4. ~