The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-05-05
FOR CHARITY'S SAKE.

Virginia says she Is not contributing
any money to charity this winter
That is deplorable, Of course, but II
won't last. II is merely the reaction
that follows excess. Last winter Nir-
ginia sowed much wild oats OF philan-
thropy.
Her enthusiasm came on with the
first cold snap and the first cold snap
came on early last winter November
wasn't Il?
Joe" said she one evening, Il know
that ! shall have your sympathy in
this" She was particularly bewltch-
ing. You see" she went on. Il have
been thinking how the poor must suf-
fer this cold weather and ! want TO be
Of some help TO them"
Buy up the coal trust" ] suggested
namely
please be serious | have thought
Of this plan: Whenever you think Of
giving me yiolets. or taking me TO the
theater, or anything like that just
send the money instead"
Virginia leaned back and surveyed
me triumphantly. l surveyed Virginia,
feeling rather chapiallen.
isn't it a splendid scheme?" she
asked.
Great" said /. but didn't mean IT,
"Of course. Joe, we will work to-
gether. You must come every few
evenings so that We can talk things
over.
Great" repeated l. and ! meant 1t
this time.
Well, we started out magnifcenly.
With our first theater money Virginia
bought pink woolly stun. enough 10
stretch to Milwaukee Cotton flannel.
she called IT,, TO make things" I
should have said there was enough
raw material to make pink wardrobes
for whole slum district but we never
got farther than three finished pro-
ducts-one something in which by
mistake both sleeves had been made
for the same arm and two more some
things, whose obvious deformities
were inexplcable even to theiS, crea-
tor. There were dis,ouragements else
where, too. Somehow Virginia. in the
role Of philanthropist didn't make a
90 OF things.
First, there was the old widow who
got mad and made cutting remarks
because Virginia forgot she didn't
have any teeth and took her steak in
stead of chicken broth. Then there
was the lame man to whom we unhesi-
tatingly voted five dollars and who. as
we learned the next day, owned
house and lot
l got entirely sick Of the thing. but
Virginia wouldn't give up.
Joe" she said one night-it was
after her credulity mad suffered a par
ucularly fragrant abuse-"T have
learned one thing-we must stop our
promiscuous giving"
l said that was very true and !
started to talk Of the Boyd dance.
And the only way to get the in
formation we want" declared Virginia.
rs to call up some bureau Of charity"
/ promised 10 look into the matter
and produced a box of candy. But
Virginia wouldn't be diverted from her
purpose. So. In anything but a phil
anthropic frame Of mind. / set about
making immediate inquiries. Organ
lied charity responded at once. II had
exactly what we wanted. A family
had just moved into a respectable
neighborhood, but evidently ii was in
desperate circumstances. A neiebbor
who was interested. but felt a deli
cacy about intruding personal help.
had reported that the family was
probably hungry aud certainly was
suffering from the cold. as the day be-
lore It's stove had been forcibly carried
away.
Virginia received the news ecstati-
cally. Here was her opportunity.
1t was just six O'Clock when we
found the place / with fingers stark
ind blue around the handle Of a basket
heavy with provisions.
And to think Of their being with
'ut fire on a night like thisl" said
Virginia from behind her wall of furs.
A youngster very neat let ms in.
Your mother please" said /.
lie led us down a hall and opened
IN inside door Great waves of heat
ushel out and enyeloped as. made
DASH fearing fire. but only precipi-
ated myself into a family circle
nugly gathered around a stove that
vas one red glow.
i fear We have made a mistake "
asped Virginia.
Just then an odor OF cooking steak
nd onions blew upon us and with II
through the kitchen door, hustled the
lother whom we had asked TO see
iy fingers were still gripping the u
asket Of provisions. Il
"Sit down, sit down" commanded u
be. o.
we have made mistake" repeated r
Virginia was past words Il
do sit down." said the cheerful "
ostess. How cold you lookl Right ST
YER here by the stove. miss. Would pi
gu like a cup Of hot coffee. sir?" OF
We, the ones to be warmed and fedt te
hink Of H. ro
My daughters, sir and miss. Lucky. rC
mt 1t girls, the stove come back this Il
ternoon? We sent It away yester- N
~ for repairs, miss, and we was con- &C
almost froze all morning Of
it'll only the kitchen fire." VI
Virginia and looked at each other OF
q were thinking OF that kindly ca
'ighbor who had reported this case -
restitution. ca
When we left, after doughnuts and
nee, the COMPOUNDED basket of pro-
clone MAJ, e, - ~