Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-01-08

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| which comes to every brave soul that docs
! its duty, but ! am rich old woman. with
no rela tivcs except this hoy out here, and
] would count II great honor to be privi-
| legged TO do something with a portion Of
my means in some way that you might
suggest, In IL city like yours there are. ot
course, very many causes that appeal to
your humanity What makes your heart
ache the hardest? Let mc know where "a
few thousand dollars will do the mos.
good. lave looked into your face sir,
though e never saw mine, end / know;
full well thai the time here with Won ia
brief. Thank BOD. sir. it has been brave.
When YOU and | meet on the other siGo,
the nifty and FIVE odd years difference in
our lives Will not bc any gulf between us
for my heart has never grown old. and
shall lac rejoced to count you among the
noble friends who have made life worth
while. The captain will be glad to meet
you. Tell him l have not forgotten how
he looks and hope he has not changed
oyerinuch' am. sir with great respect
ami gratitude. faithfully yours.
MRS. CAPT. GEORGE EFFiNGHAM
The alusion TO the captain made
Gordon smile a little. But his face re-.
gained its usual quiet seriousness as
he took up the second letter and slow
~ opened and read it.
Mr.. David Barton:
My Dear Friend-r hasten at once 70
answer your reply to my letter for Your
words assure me that the days are few
for Vol Oh the earth. God grant YOU
peace, sir, both Of mind and spirit
What you say about your friend Mr.
Gordon and the work ne is doing interest,
mo exceedingly. ! have read u little about
Miss Andrews, and / believe in what sh.
Is doing If either she or Mr. Gordon will
write ne stating the immediate needs Of
the settlement, | will send something
The only condition I make is "A request
that my name be not used anywhere in
connection with the gift. ] don't want to
soc my name over doorway "The Mrs
Captain George Effngham Retreat" or
The Mrs. Captain George Eningham
Free Reading Room and Library" Aside
from that | don't care what is done with
the money only | want TO know how
much win do something real well I Ike
the idea Of putting it into something that
Will help children. Why on earth any
one wants TO live in city If he can 1.-Two
anywhere else IL a puzzle 10 me. but after
they once get there 1 suppose We can't
ask too many questions about it. at
least asking the questions will not relieve
the situation that has already been made
] am sure the captain viii be pleased
with the use made Of his money. II lie
asks you any questions about it, tell him
/ have saved enough to bury my poor old
body deccnty and left the house and fur
nishings to the East India Marine mu-
scum. lie need not worry about any
thing,
II you ara not able to answer this turn
the whole matter over to your friend l.
shall await a letter from him or from
Miss Andrews. The Lord bless you, sir
and may he meet you himself as YOU pass
over. With respect and affection, your
friend.
MRS. CAPT. GEORGE EFFINGIIAM.
John Gordon reread this letter with
glistening eyes. The hand of David
Barton seemed TO reach out Of the
shadows and grasp his own with his
old hearty benignant cheerfulness.
God bless you. David.' Gordon said
reyorently as he put the letters in his
pocket and fastened down 10 Hope
House to show them to Grace An.
drcws.
As she read her blue eyes grew
thoughtful. 1t seemed at last as IL
some part of her desire for the people
was going to be gratitied.
she does not say how much she
wants to give Miss Andrews re-
marked as she finished reading.
NO, only she says, 1 want to know
how much will do something, real
WE'LL"
I'VE could use almost any amount
the words We're uttered softly and the
gaze of the blue eyes was on the scene
vi<ble from the library windows.
The district burned over was about
three blocks on ono side OF Hope House
and two blocks on the other. Com.
pared with the entire tenement district
it was only 4 black speck on the city
map. The people who We're burned
out were now crowded into the other
teuoments. II conditions of over
crowding before the nre We're indie
scribable, they We're now beyond en-
durAnce even to the WretChes who
had before endured the indescribabe.
The city had begun the work of clean
ing away the debris in Bowen street.
but progress was slow Carts We're
going by filled With rubbish. Hone
House itself contained still many vic
tins whose condition was so precariOus
that they could not yet be removed
to the hospitals, The resources of the
building had been taxed to its extreme
limit But the outside scene was what
Miss Andrews saw now with some
CLEAN OF promise shining out Of those
letters. Groups OF children gathered
over the burned area, poking in the
ashes or among the bricks and lime
for tribes that Were eagerly treasured
rs souvenirs of the ira gedy. The whole
dreary. dismal, melancholy wretched
ness of the scene had not one ray OF
comfort anywhere, except that which
lay in the two letters i'll her lap, And
even with that what could be done:
If Ihat desert of ashes could be
transformed into a park, Miss An
dreWs.' Gordon suggested. They had
tota reached the same conclusion at
the same time.
PARKS and Fairgrounds, the two
sweet 'P's' Of my life" she said visit
fully. but it would cost
How much do YOU suppose Mrs.
Captain George Dillingham; is WORTH
Il have no idea, have YOU
Not the least. Why not write and
give her n frank account of the facts?
Ii the old lady wants to add some Of
the spicy fragrance OF life 20 children,
here is her opportunity. Let Ford send
her photographs of the burned district
including the sWarmS of children like
those out there now. and let us leave
it To her to give what she will"
.s'rbpt iS ,ronJ VIII Won N.IitD thp