The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-12-31
The Story Of a
New Years Gift.


who had lost everything through illness
and misfortune, decided to come to Chi
cago before winter set in to try to Sc
cure some sort of employment that
would yield living. The husband had
been an accountant and Office man, and
the wife had good general knowledge
of and experience in Office work.
They rented a suit of cheap rooms on
the West Side, and then followed days
and days of weary seeking, almost a
house to house canvass of the down
town district, leaving applications
wherever the managers would permit.
1--WE can't give you any encourage
ment 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 different, etc.
And when Sunday came there was
scurrying for stationery and for stamps
out of the thin purse to answer ads.
Any one who has answered advertise
ments in the Sunday papers knows what
it means to reply to what seems some
thing promising and then wait, first
with hoping, then with sinking,
heart, for the postman Monday after
noon and Tuesday morning. When there
were no letters by Wednesday, they con-
soled themselves, scarcely daring to look
into each others eyes, by saying that
the firms were Investigating their refer
ences, which would, of course, occasion
delay, but one day was like another,
with its trudging, 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 frigid. They shut 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 few days he left his watch down
town and wore an old fashioned silver
one that had been his fathers, and then
they decided they could get along with
out that too And there was nothing
more to pawn. The man several years
before had helped a lawyer out of a
tight place, loaning him small sums
several times He dropped i'll to see him
in the chamber of commerce building
and asked him for q dollar or two. The
lawyer stepped out to get 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,
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
$50 to 500, but husband and wife
agreed to part with them for $50 If a
purchaser could be found. A curio deal
er down town offered her $3.50. "They
are French There is no demand al
present for things of the kind, but il
you want to leave them l will give you
a dollar and half or So, said he. The
wife next started to visit houses ON a
fashionable boulevard, and was either
denied admittance by a naughty servant
or a supercilious dame refused even to
look at the pieces-the like of which
could not be found outside an art mu.
scum. She never bought from peddlers,
she explained; then a long, weary
walk home and only bread and tea foI
supper
For two or three Sunday nights they
had attended Rev DR. ID. s church.
| Besides being a most learned and elo.
quent preacher, DR.. d. appeared tc
them man of large heart, kindly i'm.
pulse and intense sympathies, whose
| whole personality beamed with love
and kindliness The little woman hope.
| fully decided to go to this minister and
| ask his assistance Surely in so large
and wealthy church the pastor would
know of some philanthropically inclined
parishioner who would be glad to helI
a struggling fellow creature, as well as
to acquire the beautiful objects of art
Reading in the papers of philanthropists
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 outstretched. 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 a few words. she told him
her story He stood, glasses in hand,
impatient for her to finish, not asking
her to sit. Then he replied, Il an
sorry, but can do nothing
won you look at it?' she ventured
mo, I've no time; very busy with
important letters. can do nothing fol-
you.
He hastily opened the door. almost
pushed her out, and, without even q
"Good morning" shut the door.