Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-07-24
WHAT A DOLLAR DID.
A RICH CYNlC RECEIVES AN OBJECT
LESSON IN CHARITY.

Half Lives" and Learned That All who
Ask For Help Are Not Humbugs-The
Experience Made New Man of Him.
One good woman, who has devoted
much of her time for several years to
the relief of distress among the very
poor people of this city, succeeded i'll
opening the eyes, and likewise the pock-
days ago. She solicited financial aid
from him, and doubtless would have
met with a brusque rebuff had it not
been that her position in society COM
manded polite consideration. AS it was
the rich man essayed to be patronizing
and said my dear madam, l know
that you try to do good among these
poor people, but can assure you that
your efforts are practically wasted.
They take your money and such cloth
ing and food as you can give them and
then chuckle over your gullibility."
eff l can induce starving creature
to chuckle, shall consider the time
and money we'll SPENT replied the
woman, with a mild tinge of reproof.
ooh, well, I suppose that you are
bound to keep on wasting your time"
retorted the rich cynic. After brief
pause he continued, eff you will DEM
onstrate to me that you can actually re-
lieve distress with a dollar, l will give
it to you just as often as you can dem
onstrate its usefulness in that direc-
tion.'
"Will you come with me?" said the
woman thus challenged. The rich man
assented and accompanied his philan-
thropic caller to her coupe. Both enter
ed the conveyance and were driven to
the neighborhood of Eleventh avenue
and Fiftieth street. The coupe stopped
in front of an unsightly tenement. In
silence the man followed his companion
up two or three flights of stairs, and he
soon was standing in cherries room
about 10 feet square. The floor and the
walls were absolutely barren, and there
were not more than four pieces of furni-
ture in sight. One was small stove,
in which scant fire was burning.
A middle aged man lay helpless on a
cot, and kneeling by him were boy
and girl go raggedly clad that their
white skin was visible through more
than one rent. A few empty dishes and
cooking utensils lying Oh the floor near
the stove told their mute story of desti-
tuition.
The pathetic eagerness with which
the three emaciated occupants of the
room turned their glances upon the Wis
itors touched a long dormant chord of
the rich mans heart. He involuntarily
thrust his fingers into his vest pocket,
but his companion, laying a restraining
hand upon his arm, advanced to the
cot, and in delicate and sympathetic
manner questioned the sick man regard.
ing himself and his children. She ex-
planned that their needs had been called
to her attention only few hours be-
fore. She soon ascertained that there
was urgent need of nourishment and,
bidding her cynical friend to accompa-
ny her, she fastened to the nearest gro.
Gerry. From long experience the good
woman knew just what to purchase for
temporary relief in case of this kind,
and within quarter of an hour bulky
basket was borne up to the desolate
room by the grocer's boy. Speedily the
fire in the little stove began to throw
out comforting heat, and by and by the
grateful odors of cooking were diffused.
Then, with the assurance of another
visit and more substantial aid, the dis.
pensers of good cheer left the poor fam.
lily to their unexpected enjoyment.
"Do you think that charity was we'll
bestowed?" asked the woman, as the
coupe bore them swiftly away from the
tenement district.
eyes, indeed, do, p" replied the man,
with suspicious tremor in his voice.
well, there is list of what I
bought, together with the prices" con.
tinued the woman, handing bit of
paper to her companion. He took it and
read: