The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-12-24
The Story Of a
New Years Gift.

ana misfortune, decided 20 come 20 Cnl
cago before winter set In to try to -
cure some sort of employment tina
would yield a living. The husband hat
been an accountant and Office man, ant
the wife had a good general knowledg'
Of and experience in Office work.
They rented q suit Of cheap rooms OF
the West Side. and then followed day
and days Of weary seeking, almost {
house to house canvass Of the dowr
town district leaving application
wherever the managers would permit.
I'VE can't give You any encourage
ment in these times. We are not taking
on any new men.
"Our business hardly warrants oul
keeping our old employees. but we can,
discharge or get rid Of them till they die
Of. Your references are all right, and il
times were different" etc.
And when Sunday came there wal
scurrying FOR stationery and for stamps
out Of the thin purse TO answer ada.
Any one who has answered advertise
ments in the Sunday papers knows what
1t means to reply to what seems somo-
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 10 looh
into each others eyes, by saying that
the Arms 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 a. 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 cut buttons, and next
morning wose pair Of his wife's. but
there were steak and coffee for supper.
In few days he left his watch down
town and wore IN old fashioned silvez
one that had been his fathers 9. and then
they decided they could get along with.
out that too. And there was nothing
moro to pawn. The man several year,
before had helped . lawyer out Of q
tight place, loaning him small sunni
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 70 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.
and IL she could sell them-in . great
city there were always peoI . who were
glad 70 get hold Of artistic curios. II
you could find the right people.
The pieces Of china were worth from
$50 to 600, but husband and wife
agreed to part with them for e25 II .
purchaser could be found. A curio deal
er down town offered her ~1.60. They
are French. There 10 no demand at
present for things Of the kind, but II
you want to leave them will give you
. dollar and half or So" said he. The
wife next started to visit houses on {
fashionable boulevard, and was either
denied admittance BY = naughty servant
or Q supercilious dame refused even Il
look 1t the pieces-the like Of which
could not Be found outside an art mu,
scum. She never bought from peddlers,
abe explained; then hong, weary
walk home, and only bread and teA 70,
supper.
For two or three Sunday nights they
had attended Rev. DR.. D. church.
Besides being . most learned and clio.
qucnt preacher, DR.. ID. appeared Il
them . man Of large heart kindly i'm.
pulse and intense sympsthies, who's
whole personality beamed with love
and kindhncsA The little woman hope.
fully decided TO 60 to this minister and
ask his assistance. Surely in 20 large
and wealthy church the pastor would
know Of some philanthropically inclined
parishioner who would be glad to HELP
. struggling fellow creature, as we'll a
10 aoQnire the beautiful objects Of art.
Reading In the papers Of philanthropists
givinE thousands for charity, she thought
IL only needed that they should know
any one TO be worthy Of assistance and
they stood with hands outAtretched. A
minister Of Christ's love and mercy
would surely help her. But she wa
from the country and did not know.
She called Ut the residence Of DR..
d. In . 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. II sm
sorry, but can do nothing"
"Won't you look at it?" she ventured
mo, I've no time; very busy with
important letters. can do nothing for
you"
He hastily opened the door, almost
pushed her out. and, without even .
Good morning" shut the door.
The little woman came to me. could