Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-06-17
A QUESTION
OF CHARITY


Thousands Of dainty lanterns. half
hidden among the branches Of the
trees or swinging merrily on Invisible
wires. flooded the place with soft light
There were long tables, over which
presided young women In white. who
.strove to sell you all sorts Of dainty,
impossible things; tent where an oc-
casion-made gypsy told your fortune;
lottery with prizes ranging from pea
nuts to a French doll; refreshment
bar where the only change from your
profered bill was surfeit of gratitude
and an engaging smile. Well down the
lawn. behind an imprOmptu screen Of
potted plants, an amateur orchestra
was struggling-heroically, at least
with classic overtures.
For something over half an hour
Mr.. Robert Weston had been wander
ing about, making most reckless pur-
chases at the tables and playing the
lottery with all the abandon of born
plunger. To all appearances his course
about the place was very like that of a
ship without rudder. Yet there was
method in his madness, and all the
time he was being outrageously swim
corner of his eye he was watching for
certain white dress and a crown of
copper colored hair. Presently his pa
tience was rewarded. Far down to-
ward the palm screen he saw her sink
into a lawn chair. He deposited his
bundles in an undignifed heap on a
neighboring table and made his way
to the lawn chair.
"Nan," he said gravely as he came
up to her, "you're tired to death, poor
childv
ooh, no." she said. "Only I'll be glad
when it's all over"
"Come away from it for awhile" he
advised. "I'll take you down to the
boathouse."
She rose and slipped her hand
through his arm. Together they de-
scended the slope to the river and
went out to the end Of the little pier
by the boathouse, where they sat down
on a rustic bench.
"Well," Weston said, twas 1t sue
cess?"
"It would be If everybody spends
money as recklessly as you have been
doing" she replied.
He laughed. " was particularly for
tunate in the lottery" he explained. Il
drew four bags Of peanuts, doll and a
box Of hairpins. My last purchase was
three aprons and half dozen fatiron
holders. Imagine it." he chuckled.
Anyway" she said, "you've done
your best to help us out. You're dear,
good boy"
"Ah," he said solemnly, 81 knew I
should be discovered some time.
'"Tell me, Nan, what this is for" he
went on after a pause, prayer books
for the Eskimos or blankets for the
Fiji islanders?'
''The money goes to st. Agatha's
Home For Orphans and Foundlings.
We support it mainly" she explained.
"H'm-m!' he unused. "Don't suppose
you ever see the orphans and found
lings,' do you? Just turn over the
money to 'em and let it go at that, Ell?
Say, Man," he said, with sudden seri-
BUSINESS which rather surprised her, 81
don't believe all this giving money to
charity is the best way Of doing it.
There are plenty of old moneybags
trying to buy a chance to heaven
who'll look out for that end of it. I
say, for those who are fitted for it, per.
sonal work among the needy is the
most practical thing"
Perhaps few details would make
your suggestion more explicit, Bobby"
she said.
Undoubtedly" he assented cheerful
". "N0w, for instance, take case I
know about There's an orphan, and
he's cold and hungry and lonesome. It
isn't SO much money he needs as some
one to take an interest in him, to
stand behind him, as it We're. You see,
they won't take him into home
'Why not?" she interrupted.
well" he said slowly, ito begin
with, his age
what is his ageT
Thirty -one."
Gracious! I should say he wouldn't
get into home. The age limit at st.
Agatha's is fifteen. Thirty-onev'
81 realize it's a crime for him to be
thirty-one," he said. "Still, that really
isn't his fault
whats the matter with him?' she
asked sharply. Doesn't he work? Is
he lazy?"
1.-THE LATEST rascal alive" he said.
"But he really doesn't have to work,
you know. He's got money enough, as
far as that goes-keeps horse or so
and an automobile. When I said he
was cold and hungry / meant he was
cold for lack Of interest and hungry
for sympathy and-oh, hang it! You
know we'll enough what 1 mean. The
orphan is me-" he burst out INGRAM
matically, "and II and = for heavens
sake, don't send all your charity to st.