Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-03-09
FOR CHARITY.

UeSpOko uor dS VI Tho 6OClttAly oAoOS. 1u0
charity she represented was in want-a
new fire escape was needed for one OF the
outbuildings and the Ladies' Aid society
had undertaken to collect the money from
the oharitably inclined.
The man listened quietly and then told
the woman he would see what he could
do. He arose and went into the inner Of
fee, intending to send cut q crisp 50 bill.
but on opening the money drawer no was
confronted by glittering array of new
and 10 cent pieces. And then this thought
came upon him:
"Instead of giving So to this charity for
fire escape, why not take 50 in dimes and
nickels and 20 out on the street and give
to every poor person who asks you until
the entire 50 is gone9''
And SO he told his clerk to inform the
woman who was waiting in the outer Of
flee that unfortunately a contribution
could not be spared today.
Itwas o'clock in the afternoon, the
lamps were lit, the streets were instinct
with life, the air was keen. And SO he
buttoned his overcoat, put 50 in loose
change in one of his pockets, and putting
on his hat and gloves he walked into the
street.
A little girl, with shawl pinned over
her head, with dress whose scanty, knee
high length showed pair of pitifully thin
legs-a girl with half fed expression and
general uncared for look-called out in 3
plaintive voice, "Matches, sir-two boxes
for cents"
He stopped, and, giving her cents
took the two boxes of matches.
"Do you keep all you make?"
"No; only keep half-Mrs. johnson
gets the other half
"Who's Mrs. Johnson2"
1.-THE lady lives with"
The man dived down into his pocket and
fshed up dime. "Here's 10 cents extra
for you, mind-not for Mrs. Johnson
sob, can't do that" answered the
little girl "You see me mother tole me
afore she died that no matter how I was
tempted that should keep honest. And
then Mrs. johnson started me in business
she bought the matches for me- I'll
have to give her half-it wouldn't be
right, you know, to keep it ALL"
'"That's true,' said the man, quickly
there's 10 cents for Mrs. Johnson''-and
there darted through his mind the thought
that he, man of the world, had learned
lesson from a little child who sold
matches
And then, as he moved away, and said
'gocdnight'' he did something strange
for a man of the world to do-he lifted
his hat to the waif of the streets.
''Do you want any pencils, sir?''
He turned to the old woman-a kindly
faced old woman, wrinkled, bent. She
carried a little basket on her arm.
"Yes," he answered-''I did want a
pencil. What else have you got there2''
Sh1 /o1 to- nj 30 H.
quick Needles, pins, soap,
pins, backing, combs, matches and tooth
brushes
"Well, give me- a pencil a box of
matches and needle''
"A needleP" she said, smiling up at him
-"why, bless your heart, sir, don't sell
single needles-nobody does You buy
'em by the paper.''
''Ah," he said, re6ectively-''I guess
you' d better give me toothbrush then. :"
That makes 30 cents altogether" she
said
He gave her 20 cents, and was about to
move away after she had thanked him,
when suddenly he b%thought him to ask
her how old she was.
"Sixty -four on the Sd of April next"
she said
"Sixty-four, he said thoughtfully.
land no one to take care of your:
'Oh, yes, indeed, there u.s." she answer
ed brightly. my husband. I only do
this to keep out of mischief. You see,
he's night Waterman. Goes on at
O'Clock in the afternoon and stays on tn-
til in the morning. don't know what
to do with myself, SO 1 go around the
street selling these things SO as to keep
from being lonely. I pay the rent every
month just from these little things,' she
added proudly.
He looked at her half pityingly, half adj
miringly. Then he asked: but what do
you do at II o'clock at night?"
"Why, you see, John is watchman in
big place on Delaware avenue, and every
night at II o'clock I go down there nth
supper for hi1n-for the mans hungry
by that time. And stay with him talk
ing until o'clock in the morning-for,
you see, that's the only time we have to
see each other and have long talks. He's
been there % years, and I haven It missed q
night, Sundays and week days, from see
ing him-rain or shine, heat or cold.''
."And how long have you been mar
ried?''
"Since I was IS, sir. That's pretty
close on to 46 years ago. she added, smil-
ing:
'And for 81 years you have gone down
to see him every night at II O'Clock and
have gone away at 3 in the morning?"
The mans tone was incredulous.
Indeed l have" she said proudly.
For there's not another in the world like
him."
He helped her across the street-flrst,
because she was an old lady, and, second
ly, because travel had congested at that
particular corner. And when she babe
him a CHEEKY good night he lifted his hat
and bowed low to her with Difference and
reverence that was her due
For she had loved the same man for 46
years!
The man walked up the street rapidly.
Before he had reached the next corner q
fire engine went laundering and Changing
past him., He watched it until it wheeled
sharply out of sight two blocks farther up.
II WONDER" he said to himself, II won
der if I ought to have given those 90 for
the fire escapel"-
Then the bent old lady who had the lit.
tie basket and who had loved the same
man for 4e years went past him and nod
ded.
sI,m Glad f1if3n,t ,, h. aaid to h,u,..1f