Mower County transcript., 1903-03-04
lIINII Illustrations by Herman Heyer OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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Hermar Heyer. Observation-Disclosures llllIlIllllIllfE &
Ut people need the help Of money
more than anything else, how else shall
we help them? Sympathy and prayers
don't seem to be enough in such cases"
II think father might make Mr..
Barnes present of box Of soap."
said Faith. Lam sure he needs that
as much as the IS he has come to beg
for, II +
"They are very poor" sighed Dor
othy. -
$50 are we," replied Faith. "Or we
shall be If we always give. to every
body" g.:
Dorothy did not answer this, and
Faith picked up the coat and worked
on in silence. She was evidently plan
ming something serious in her mind It
was not the first time she had ventur-
ed to demonstrate about the habit her
father had Of helping. all sorts Of. peo-
pie. Until few years past Dorothy
had not allowed thought Of the mat
ter to disturb her. Malcom's salary
was very small still. The most rigid
economy was necessary to keep the
family expenses within the income.
The annual income from his writings
now amounted to about $500, but a
large part Of it was given away, and
Dorothy faced increasing difficulty
each year in managing the household
finances.
The study door opened, and Malcolm
and his visitor came down stairs.
II am going out for a little while,
Dorothy. Mrs. Barnes is very sick,
and am going over there. Don't
wait dinner for me If I'm not back be-
fore half past H."
he kissed his wife and went out.
Faith and her mother watched the tall,
heavy figure 60 out Of the yard, with
the unattractive Barnes shambling aft.
er him. Malcom was growing gray,
but he was erect and vigorous, in his
prime, and to these two women watch
ing him Qua of the window he was the
best man in the world. " :. ID
''I'd like to see any one say anything
against fatherw said Faith decidedly
while an unusual tear came into hel
eyes. At the same time her mother
and herself were wondering how Nal
com ever found time to write his ser
mons or any ything else. '~'
Faith stole qp TO the study and look
ed at the loose leaves Of the sermon
on the fatness desk. The last words
he bad written were "a quotation
"Whoso sgiveth to the poor lendeth UNI
to the Lord = = ~ zsz z.s..'.s.:..-- -. ..---
'Dear old father - said Faith softly
I'D better let the Lord rebuke him
At the same time we've got. TO- live
Here ] am aawoma1 grown and earn
ting no bread, and the boys want to &c
to, college and mother saving every
cent -->''| -
She went of to her own room thai
afternoon and brooded.. When Faitt
brooded, something happened. And il
was not altogether surprise to Dor
othy when q few days afterward Faith
announced her decision:
Mother, I have made up my mind
to 60 away and earn something. for the
family. I've tried every possible place
here, and you know how it is:''
Dorothy looked at the girl gravely
but did not say anything.
II have been writing to Grace Hol
ley, who went to Chicago q year age
to learn retouching in Keffen's studio
She is earning as high as SIT and $1s
week. She says there will be va
cancy there soon, and If I apply al
once I may get the place. You know
have learned retouching here, al
they can teach me, and like it. Moth
er, l can't stand it any longer to re-
main here at home doing nothing. The
boys will soon want to go to college
never cared about it. want to be 9
photographer or an architect or g. pa
per hanger or something useful. If IA
ther can spare enough money to get me
started, can be In position before
the year is out to help the family. W.
never can break father of his habits o1
helping everybody, and 1 want to be
self supporting and help the rest too"
This was a long speech for Faith tt
make, but it was the beginning of sew
eral family conferences, and the end o1
it all was that one day in winter OF
that year Faith and her father went
down to the station, and Faith tool
the express for Chicago. The arrange
ments had all been completed for hel
to enter the studio, where she was tt
receive $S a week to. begin with anl
promise Of rapid increase If the worl
was satisfactory.
"Goodby, father. Don't give away
your overcoat before you get home
will yeu?" Faith called out Of the win
| dow as the train started. Il
! Malcom Kirk smiled and waved hi
hand. Then he ran along the platform
and handed up an envelope to Faith
She managed to kiss his hand as sh,
took the envelope and then leaned bach
In her seat and cried. 4 :,
| When she opened the envelope,
check for $25 dropped out. .& Il, i
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