The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-08-30
HE Dilleys seemed born to
misfortune. How much or
the "ill luck" that so stead


but no one could deny that the Dill
leys were indolent and improvident,
nor that they appeared to be childishly
ignorant OF the value Of money. When
they had money, which was seldom,
they spent IL SO foolishly that IL was
difficult for their friends TO sympa-
thize with them when they were pen
niless and their cupboard and pantry
were bare.
Their tastes ran so largely to jewelry
dhat Mr.. Dilley had been known 10
pay SO for a glass and brass breastpin
and "ear-bobs'' for Mrs Dilley when
she sorely needed shoes, and her best
gown was faded calico. Likewise
Mrs. Dilley had been known 10 pay
81 for an imitation diamond and pearl
ring for Mr.. Dilley's great unwashed
hand when he was almost barefooted,
and on one occasion she presented
him with a big gold "bosom-pin" for
his shirt front when he had hardly
whole shirt to pin 1t TO.
Next to this uncurbed fondness for
jewelry, the Dilley taste ran largely to
family photographs and plush albums.
with mirrors and embroidered flowers
on the lids thereof. Nothing seemed
to give them greater pleasure than to
"set for their pictures" in group,
with the baby on Mrs. Dilley's ample
lap, Hermlnius, the next In size, be-
tween his fathers patched knees, and
Antoinette, Claudia, Reginald and
Percival gracefully grouped around
their parents.
II was like the Dilley luck" the
neighbors said, when poor Mrs. Dill
ley's garments caught fire when she
was boiling soap In her back yard,
and the result was that the six Dilley
children were motherless within
week.
The remembrance of this tragedy
was still heavy upon their hearts when
poor Mr. Dllley was brought home
dead, having been killed by a tree he
had felled In the woods near his home.
And there those six poor younguns
were orphans. and not change of
clothes to their backs nor hardly any
food In the house." said the next neigh
to me, "and not cent for the future,
and not one of them old enough TO
earn any money but Claudia. the old
est girl, and she only fifteenr'
The question what could or should
be done with the Dilleys afforded food
for prolonged discussion. The imme-
diate wants Of the children were will
ingly provided for, and they remained
I'm the shabby little house In which
they had lived. Claudia knew of but
one relative OF her fathers TO whom
she could write regarding his death.
This relative was her fathers brother,
John Dilley, who lived in the Far
West He had not been heard from
for several years, but Claudia knew
his address, and she felt that IL would
be proper for her to inform her Uncle
John of his brothers death.
Ten days after Clauda's pathetic
little letter had gone on its way out
over the Western plains. this philoso.
phical and well-meant reply came to
her from her warm-hearted Western
uncle, whose ignorance Of grammar
AID photography were more than
atoned for by his generosity:
My Deer Neese:-I got your letter
saying that your Father was ded.
We've all got to go some time. If he
wasn't prepared he ought to have
been. He was good-hearted. / was
not surprised to hear that he didn't
leave no property. A body can't very
well leave what a body never had.
Your father wasn't one Of the accumu-
latiye kind. 1t wasn't in him to be
that way, and / guess he couldn't
help IT,
Il amt been able to lay up n CRATE
amount, and I've six children of my
oun to fetch up. but you are my oun
brothers children, and your Aunt
Mary and Inc are willing TO do what
we can for You. Ike got big farm
out here, and room for all of you IL
you can get here. But money is scarce
and l amt got any to send you.
IF you kin sell your furniture and
things. and get money TO come on with
we'll make you all welcome and give
you plenty to eat and enough to wear
and some schoolin', and do the best we
can by you. Let mo know when YOU
will start. and I'll drive to town TO
meet you. SO no moro now from
John Dillcy"
When the contents of this letter be.
came known in tho little town where
the orphans lived. the opinion was
quickly formed that the Dillcy chill.
dren should by all means be sent 10
their Uncle John. and lie was highly
commended for his generosity In being
willing to take "thc whole tribe of
them" But how TO get them 10 him
was the next question. The entire
household possessions OF the Dillcys
with the family jcwclry aud photo
graph albums Included. would not
have sold for $50.
1t was Thomas Jefcrscl Briggs who
conceived the idea OF the D.llcy bcnc
ut. Thomas possessed great fertility
of ideas. although he was but twclv,
years old; and rs his Grandmother
with N-Jm he lived. said. he wal
''smoll for his sizc." Somc boys II
Melville OF ten yrars were larger tha,
Thomas. but none were more read,
with cxpedlents. Ono cay. when th,
discussion about the DDleys was a
full tide. Thornss said 10 Mics JAM
Crane. vino was talking about the mat
Ger to his grandmother:
'S'posc we sc. VIZ benelt 20
1beiuf'