Griggs courier., 1898-10-06
II Bunch of Orchids
sy NATE PALMER.
SsNARRY1NG Goals to Newcastle" is


" not the only mistaken generos-
fly Of the charitably inclined. Benev-
~olence and philanthropy need slight
governing power of good judgment
and common sense to accomplish en-
tirely satisfactory results.
A good story is told of wealthy and
Iind-hearted woman whose name was
better known in connection with lib
-eral contributions for special purposes
than for any individual efforts along
charitable lines. Not that she was in
any way lacking in kindly sympathy,
but the sheltered life of affluence pro-
-tected her from actual contact with
that kind of suffering that comes from
,destitution.
She thought of poverty as an un-
comfortable malady prevalent among
-quiring certain amount of the red
tape ofacommittees and regular or
carnations to accomplish any re-
suits. But one day her heart was
deeply stirred by story of suffering
that came to her knowledge. She
wept when she heard it, and she re-
solved to do something to give the
poor invalid a little pleasure "a
glimpse of luxury.
It didn't take long to decide what to
do. She had collection of orchids of
which she was very proud, and it re-
,quired a good deal of self-denial to
part with any of her beautiful favor
ties, but she had determined to give
the sick woman treat, SO she select
ed some of the most wonderful speci-
mems and took them to the poor suf-
71crer.
She knew if she had been i'll and con-
fined to her room nothing could posi-
bly, have given her more pleasure or
have been greater diversion than
those same orchids, and she was hap
py in the consciousness of good deed
as she approached the poor little
dwelling. She had preferred taking
them, SO she might enjoy the woman's
happiness in such an unaccustomedd de-
hight.
There was no hesitation in her man
ner as she raped on the black little
door. But it seemed long time be-
fore the door was opened by a pinched,
'wan-looking girl, of perhaps dozen
years.
Surprisedat so well dressed visitor,
the girl simply stared at her until she
asked it she might see her mamma and
give her some orchids she had brought.
A moment later she was piloted
through a bare and dismal room into
a still more dismal little bedroom,
where an emaciated woman lay
-propped up by soiled and dingy pill
lows. The gentle twilight that comes
from too close proximity to tall build
ings softened the sharp features of the
sick woman as she turned weary in
quiring eyes toward her elegant Wis
ttor. If Mrs. Brown was unfamiliar
with such destitution, the sick woman
was surely startled by such a guest.
But the young daughter was quite
equal to the emergency. She didn't
Intend her mother should be humiliat-
ed by not knowing what those blos-
SONS were, so, with the reckless aban-
don of childhood, she rushed up TO the
bed and told her mother a nice lady
had brought her some "orgies." Then
she set broken chair for Mrs. Brown
and went to get something to nut the
flowers into.
"Orgies" or orchids, it was all one
to sick Mrs. Rogers; she said: "Thank
-you," in listless sort of a way. and
Mrs. Brown asked her how she was
feeling.
Before she was through telling how
dreadfully weak she was the young
girl returned with a cracked blue
pitcher, and Mrs. Brown arranged the
orchids so that even the old blue pitch-'
~er did not detract from their loveli-
ness, and held them where the invalid
might fully admire them. No en-
thusiasm rewarded her efforts.
Pretty, amt they? Look some like
lady slippers, don't they?"
That was all she said about them.
She spoke again about being so very
weak, and then relapsed into silence.
Mrs. Brown tried to talk little with
Bessie, for that she learned was the
young girls name. and feeling that
she wasn't succeeding very we'll in her
endeavors tried to say few words of
encouragement and started for home.
Her visit had been great disap-
pointment to her. She hardly knew
just what she had expected. She
wouldn't like to have admitted, even
to herself, that there had been an un-
'dercurrent of vanity in her condescen.
sion and that she had really taken a
great deal of credit to herself for TAX
Ing her floral treasures to such for
:saken place, and had expected re-
ward of overwhelming enthusiasm.
Her self-love had been deeply
wounded. and as she walked slowly
toward her elegant home she tried to
even things up by wholesale mental
condemnation of ingratitude. She
even determined to write scathinp
paper on the subject of THE Absolute
Absence of Appreciation Among the
Poorer Classes" for a very exclusive
and aristocratic club of which she was
member. She liked the ALTERATION.
and the story of the orchids would
make good illustration.