Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-12-05
MRS. MIDWINTER.

Mrs. Midwinter, though she continues to
look Just as an object of charity should
look-a pple-cheeked aud scrupuously
clean, arrayed in a Paisley shawl, Il
black drawn silk bonnet with white
cap border, and black skirts innocent OF
cores. She was, until quite lately. a
constant worshiper mt Aunt Charlottes
chapel, and she regularly and gratefully
received from her Il hundredweight OF
coal q week ali through last winter.
Mrs. Midwinter's appearance, and her
command of the English language, made
a great impression OH me when she called
once, during Aunt Paramors absence
froh home to render thanks to me for
her weekly hundredweight of coal, in
stead of to Aunt Charlotte in person.
Her attitude struck me as being humble,
but not too humble-a humility tempered
by self-respect: while a certain frankness
Of utterance commanded my admiration.
How long have You been 4 widow"
! inquired in the course of our CONVEX
sation.
"Ah, ma'amr' she said, signing ana
shaking her head, "a widow never was,
and | misdoubt me if a widow ! ever
shall be in this life; though | confess
there are times when | could lind 1t IN
my heart to wish that such was the case,
for widows, as SUCH have many adyan-
tageS which you, being a lady. would
hardly credit" She sighed again.
do you mean that you have Il hus-
band still living?" | inquired.
Il have no wish to disguise the fact,
not even if it were expedient to do so,
she replied.
Where is he, thenY' / asked.
"In the union, ma'am, where ! hope
and pray he may long remain"
How is that!'
xxyin win ap
MAJ am, ii Is the result of intemperance--
of intemperance successfully practiced.
A tear glistened in Mrs. Nidwinter 5
eye, and the subject was evidently such
a painful one to her that | FASTENED TO
change it by an INJURY concerning her
chapel.
Yes she said, simply. Il 80 TO the
Wesleyans now, for / found the church
people did very little for me-very little,
indeedand your Aunt ParamOr has
really been q mother to me ever since |
went to her chapel; and as a means OF
grace il is equal, ii not superior, to the
church, in my poor opinion. if YOU will
excuse my saying SO. Aud II yen would
| be SO kind as to mention TO your Aunt
| Paramor, when next you see her, that,
the weather being SO warm. parcel OF
groceries would be more acceptable to me
now than hundred of coal-for gro
cerieS, | find. runs away with a mint of
money. And if she had such n thing as
an old black silk skirt parts of il would
come to make me a bonnet beautiful; and
what didn't come in for a bonnet would
come in TO make me reticule, such as !
always carry with me, and very useful |
find it for many n little behest." She
displayed a large black reticule, some
what aged and rusty, as She spoke. and
| was moved to give her n new piece Of
silk to make herself another, knowing
well that Aunt Charlotte, charitable as
she is. can never bring herself to give
away her cast-off clothing
''rhe coal" / said doubtf1lly, was
just to help you through the winter. |
don't know at all whether--N | stopped
short, because Mrs. Midwinter looked so
surprised and panied.
Il must beg of you to put in n word
for me when next You see your Aunt
Paramor," She said, rising to make an
drained her cup of tea to the dregs.
Waste not. want not is very IA
vorite little MAXIM of mine,' she re-
marked. as she slipped a piece of cake
which remained on the plate into her
reticule. Yet, though | have practiced
the maxim without ntermission for near
upon three-score years and ten, want,
must say. | have known, and trouble, AS
the sparks fly upward;' for the Almighty
in His wisdom, has ordered it so that Us
peer women should want what our hus-
bands waste. | must, / suppose. be
thankful that my old man is safe out OF
the way of temptation in the house, md
my poor little home delivered from the
ravages of intemperance.
DO You never see him" | asked.
From time to time, on visiting days,
take him bit of tohacco-the best
Turks Head at sixpence the quarter
pound"
was moved to give her sixpense fol
quarter of Il pound of Turks Head for
the old man, and Mrs. Midwintef re-
eeived 1t very graciously.
at will be blessed to the recipient as
well MS to the receiver" she said, cour.
tesying again as she slipped the coin into
the palm of her clean cotton glove.
Doesn't he come out for the day some
timesi' | asked.
You see. ma'am. his years are begin
ming to tell upon him; nigh upon SO years
and few of them well spent" Mrs. Mid
winter replied evasively.
She departed, and week or two later
when | broached the matter of the coal
to Aunt Charlotte Paramor. | found that
Mrs. Midwinter had been beforehand
with me, She took tea in the servant
room regularly once a week when she
called to thank for the COAL and she had
taken an early opportunity of suggesting
that groceries would be more acceptable
during the summer months.
Aunt Charlotte was in thoroughly
charitable frame or mind. IL viii take
you with me TO see Mrs. MidWinter." she
said, in tone which admitted of no re-
fusal. ut will be n treat to YOU TO see
her in my own home. The poor old soul
in her one spotless room may well prove
lesson 10 us all in her accomplishing
poverty. / have ordered the carriage.
We viii pay her visit and relieve her
mind about her groceries"
"A pleasant odor assailed our nostrils as
soon as the door was opened. Aunt
Charlotte stood still and sniffed-once,
twice, three times. Her ample form oh
secured my view, and l was obliged "a
raise myself on tiptoe to peep over her
shoulder
The room was spotlessly clean. I re.
marked the hed in the corner. with its
curtains of chintz, the shining brass can.
dissticks on the mantelpiece and the
white cloth on the table, which was set
Tor dinner. Mrs. Midwinter, in clean