The times., 1899-09-03
TWO SIDES
TO A QUESTION
3 SsssssSssssssSsssssssss 4

| opinions She was also possessed of a will
OF her own, and a very determined way
OF enforcing it. A rather TALL handsome
girl. with dark pensive eyes and smooth.
thoughtful brow, in rather eoniical contrast
with the proud bearing and independent
| appearance of their owner. She wended
her way homeward with the quick, irreg-
! uiar step of one who chafes inwardly at
the world. and knows none on whom 70 lay
| the blame. She sought a mission, a new
! sphere of action for the benefit of her fel-
| low-creatures
| Suddenly. before she had sufficiently
awakened from her reverie to notice
whence il came, a flood Of sweet song
seemed TO soothe her ruffied feelings
lark, imprisoned in narrow cage, poured
forth 10 the needless world outside its
soul of melody through hard bars Of wire
The sense of relief which had stolen
over the girl gave place to one of anger,
combined with some odd satisfaction. Here
at last was an opportunity to do good. even
| if it were but obtaining the freedom OF
one poor hopeless lark. And who more
suited to the task than she, the president,
self-constituted only three days since of
I the N Society for the Promotion of
Christian Charity Toward AnimaIsi The
song that had soothed her unawares now
made her soul burn within her Crossing
the road with decided step, she entered
little shop. over the door of which the
bird sang on. 1t was 4 cobbler's workshop
she found, scattered as such places are
with implements of the trade and pcrvedei
with the pleasant smell of leather A lit
tie, bent old man, with large spectacles
on his wrinkled nose, and deft lean fiRgers
that moved nimbiy over the rough leather
put aside his work and shutfied forward to
the counter He moved slowly and with
difficulty, for his old limbs were getting
past their work Pleasantly, but rather
curiously, he bade her Good day" scarce
hoping for work in his poor shop from so
smart and nicely dressed lady Evelyn
felt somewhat uneasy at the old mans
harmless aspect.
This bird. she began rather tim.dly;
lis il yours"
The cobbler looked at the cage WITH
visible pride.
Yes, yes, miss, my bird sure emo igh;
and hne bird, too; not a better bird in
all N, miss" He rubbed his hands
and smiled genially. Evelyn was silent.
as he continued, half to himself. as old
men do:
Four years it is I've had him; four
years. and scarce a day on his song 1t
was my boys. my Dicks youngest that's
gone for sailor; it seems only yesterday
he came in just as it might have been
you. miss, today. with the bird in his
hand. and says he
But begin your pardon; you was say
ing-?'
What will you take for the bird?', she
asked, not feeling quite so sure of her
cause. now she had actually plunged into
the battle.
Wouldn't sell him, miss; wouldn't take
sovereign for him, not If was starv-
ing"
Evelyn took out her purse and counted
its contents-two and sevenpenee half
penny. She drew out two shiIlings. say
ing in firm and superior tones: Two
shillings; not penny more"
The old man looked at her kindly. and
explained gently, as il to a child lit was
really very irritating):
mo. miss, l don't want to sell him.
was sayin', you see, it was my lad gave
me the little bird before he went to sea
No, I'm not likely to part with him for !
that, dearie," indicating the coin with !
smiling contempt "Ay and him all the I
chick or child I've got left since Dick
died. It minds me o. my lad when hear !
him sing so bright; often when I'm feel |
ing lonesome and low-spirited he'll chime I
in so CHEEKY, and set me thinkin' how my +
boys coming soon-eh deari eh dearI /
No, you can't have him; but never mind, /
never mind" He nodded kindly, as If to /
comfort her in her disappointment
Evelyn's patience could stand it no ion I
ger
do you suppose want to keep the POOR
bird?" she broke forth. Il want TO buy il |
to give it back its liberty, TO let it be free /
in the fields and the blue sky. Surely YOU I
know how very. very cruel it is to confne I
a creature made TO soar and sing at the 1
very gates of heaven in narrow cage /
with scarce room to turn"
This was delivered huently being a YER
batim quotation from her speech at the
opening meeting Of the before mentioned
society.
Poor, miserable birdl" she concluded.
the unconscious lark,
The cobbler's simple soul was good deal I
taken aback at this convincing TRADE. He 4
attempted defence however
Nay, he's not miserable-hear 10 him
sing; would he sing like that if he weren't .
happy?"
Yes cried Evelyn, che sings because he {
longs to be free; that is the song of de-
spair and not of joy
The old fellows face fell. Her eloquence
half convinced him. Evelyn felt rather
heated, and wanted, she didn't know why, to
get out of the shop.
Come, she said, again proffering a coin.
Two and six, and far more than the /
wretched bird is worth
Nay" he said sadly, I'm not going TO /
sell him. He's like an old friend TO me,
and he loves me, too. that he does.
Keep your bird, them" cried the angry 1
reformer; keep 1t, and let it die in its
miserable prison. Some day you will per-
haps repent your wanton erueltyi" With I
which grandiloquent threat she departed,
with rather more haste than dignity
That night, getting into bed, Evelyn 1
n he cnnplnciOn that she had made !
rather poor show.
She had also lurking idea that her
motive had not been quite so much the
cause of righteousness as the pleasure o.
progress to her new society
Her passionate words kept recurring to
her mind as she lay sleeping half through
the night. She wondered if little birds
had their duty TO do, as she had; whether,
perhaps, in giving pleasure to lonely old
mans declining days, the lark might not
be unconsciously doing its great Maker
bidding in the place for which He intend
ed IL. She was she decided, overyoIng
10 Judge so hastily. And. being a thought
ful and conscientious girl, she brayeiy re-
solved to go the next morning, humble her
oride to the dust and own herself in the
wrong.
About 8 o'clock the next morning, walk
ing. with rather a red face, up the narrow
street, she perceived the old fellow stand
nq al his door with the empty cage in his
nand: he was gazing toward the sky, and 4
,he saw tear trickle down his wrinkled
heck. He turned as she approached, and
smiled mournfully in answer to her en-
luiring glance.
"Maybe you was right, miss, he said;
maybe" He passed into his shop as a
sob checked his utteranee.
Evelyn turned away abruptly. Never In I
,er life had she been so much ashamed of