The Cook County herald., 1897-08-21
Everybody knows that, said n1yr,a,

81 Everybody knows that said l1y,rsa,s
almost petulantly sssa
And there's one little lad pining;
with hip disease e
es.' "a
Myra Gates's large, dark eyes had
softened some in their light.
suppose, Z said Miss Chubb, her,
eyes fxed keenly on the customer,
that he don't get many little dainties,
such as ailing children like. I'll Just
tpns up q bunch Of raisins and a fig or
so for him and one Of these fresh cards
OF gingerbread. I.
IN the same moment Myra Gates.
flung back her shawl and threw the
5purloined cake on the counter once
again. f55#
Il took it on the sly, ,' e said she, with
a great sob in her voice. es, stole
it. And 4 won't deny it! But it was
for poor little Larry that never tastes
anything but bread from one weeks
end to another-poor dear.
Didn't you know 1t y was wrong? 81
said Miss Charity Chubb, mildly.
Yes--but it was for Larry
Are you so very poor??" 5
We are starving said Myra. my.
mother can't get wash but day now
and then, and the firm that employed
me failed a week ago Monday last, and
all we have to live on is Timmy's dol-.
lar a week that he gets in a store down
town for sweeping out and running err
rands. =
"Did you ever take anything with
ont leave before?' said Miss Charity.
mol, cried Myra Gates. And,
Heaven helping me, I never will
again.
Look here, Myra,' said the little,
shopkeeper, laying a. gentle hand on
the girls S tattered sleeve, II believe you
never have broken Gods laws before
and 1 have faith that you never will.
again.
Thank you, Miss Chubb,'' said poor.
Myra, almost inaudably.
81 need a gir1 to help me here in the
store" added Charity. IT am getting
old and not SO spry as / once was. #.
you've a mind to come and try the
place, I'll give you fifty cents day at
first and more if I find that you are
reliable and can earn it. -
Miss. Chubb- -after-a after what
I did today?"
Were none of us perfect, child"
said Miss Charity, shortly, "and the
Lord knows what would become of Us
if He wasn't always. giving US chance
to try again. 60 home and tell Your
stepmother, and then come back to-
morrow morning
Myra Gates obeyed, but as she
walked out she stopped hurriedly and
pressed her lips to the little shop wom-
ans brown hand.
Heaven bless you!" che whispered.
Il think you have saved me"
Miss Charity looked after the girls
retreating form. 5
suppose people would say I was
running risk" she thought, but 1t
was my opportunity, and / could not
let il go by.'''ss ~
Myra Gates came early the next dag
her thick, dark tresses neatly BRUSHED
ard braided, her dress mended, and
ironed, her fa,e alight with new hope.
kAlC yO0 Sldus LII COA1O'. clohSuE IuS
spinster, noting the expression Of her
eyes.
"Oh," cried Myra, *'you don't know
what life i lead at home with my
stepmnther! If it wasn't for little Lar.
rs, I almost think should have COM.
nitted suicide long ago. " . s
Perhaps the world would have been
quite justified in saying that Miss Char.
ity Chubb did an indiscreet thing in
taking Wilbur Gates's orphan daugh-
ter into her store. but the results were
most favorable. At the years end My
ra had become indispensable to her
quick, loving young assistant, who
watched her with eyes Of true affaction,.
and who made tire interests Of her en-
ployer her own. And, what was bet
ter still, she had saved Myra from the
Slough of Despond into which sne had
been slowly sinking, almost uncon-l
sc;cusly to herself. "
Elder Daley. was right, Miss Ghubb
thought. Opportunities come to all OF
us. if we can only wait patiently enough
and mine was sent to me at last! =. -
The New York Ledger.