Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-12-23
jected somebody.

Is SO near Chistmss. / suppose each
of US has her pensioners. The list
of mine gets longer yearly. | lop
of names after the holidays, only
to add others BY the time the Civ
ing season cames around again.
Last year | bought a full set of ba-
by clothes for women whose twins
were born a week after her husband
was killed in machine shop acct
dent. The Bible reader from the
Place Church brought the case to
my knowledge. | was too busy to
investigate it just then. At few days
after Christmas | went to look up
the widow, meaning to do some
thing more for her. / found that
the Bible reader was an impostor;
that the woman had neither chick
nor child, and her husband was in
States prison.
81 am surprised that the Bible
reader gave you the right address
said Mrs Howard dryiIy. aThey
are not often so careless
"She could not help herself. l
insisted upon having the name and
address that I might send the par
eel by q messenger. 1t would be
too bulky for her, I told her."
Elsie Wynne had contribution
to the tale of woes.
"Mamma and | we're interested
10 promising case last summer.
We had hired a country cottage and
needed, a choir-woman. One was
recommended by some people in
the neighborbood as honest and
needy. She was quick, willing and
Industrious, and we actually made
opportunities fer employing her and
her thirteen year-old daughter, q
bright, handy girl. We gave them
all our washing and housekeeping,
our picking preserving and mend.
ing for three months. When we
went back this year we found that
the woman-whose husband was a
confirmed drunkard and usually out
of work-had spent the money We
paid her in buying a secondhanded
piano! Her children had not de-
cent clothes, and hardly food enough
to keep them from starving. So far
from feeling that she had acted fool
ishly in getting the piano, she came
TO ask for work for herself, and
would Miss Wynne mind giving.
Janey few music lessons as part OF
the pay? The poor child was that
crazy to learn to play, and couldn't
get no instruction: l had denied
myself set of books ] was pinning
for, in order to send a box of Christ
mas gifts to that family, Mamma and
and | and l agreeing that / ought
to earn the money | spend in chair
ty."
"All this is discourageing Christ.
mas talk" l remarked soberly,
That crust stuck in my throat. "Yet
half the holiday flavor and sweet
ness wonld be gone if We did not
open our hearts and purses to the
poor
Mrs. Robert Boyd looked up mod
estly from her low seat. her young,
face solemn and wistful.
That wonan-a mere girl by com.
parison with my gray maturity
Startles me sometimes by her spirit
ual insight.
''Don't you think these9-I was
about to say mistakes but God
doesn't let US make real mistakes
when we act 10 His Name,-don't
you think what looks like blunders
to US are part of our Christmas
lesson? We give willingly and, we
think, wisely according to the light
granted us. Our aims seems to be
thrown away upon those We meant
to help. Can we afford to lose the
specific benefit OF that giving in and
upon ourselves? Some call it the
reflex action Maybe we ought
to call it the direct effect of what
we have done. Giving as Elsie does,
until we feel it, may be wasted,
sometimes, as men see. Are we re-
sponsible for the deception and
wastefulness of those who receive!
We are unjust to ourselves If we do
not deserve, and get, the blessings
promised to the giver.
"Aud-"yet more timidly the
crimson burning higher 10 her cheek
-"when we recoliect how layishly
Our Master gave, and what return
He had-doesn't it seem as il we
in giving and net hoping to receive
again-in any shape or manner
from our fellow creatures-are some
how, made partakers with Him in
doing--and in suffeing?"