The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-02-13
AUNT MARY'S
EXPERIMENT
BY c. B. LEWIS
Copyright, 1905, by E. G. PARCELS

IeOple SAN VI AuuI MARY warner,
"She was born that way and can't help
It," In saying thus they referred to
her faith in mankind and charity to
ward all. AS the good wife Of Farmer
Moses Warner she fed more trampa
every year than any ten farmers
| wives combined, and whenever she
heard any one complaining Of the In
| gratitude of human nature she always
had words of excuse. Her reputation
as good SOUP extended for twenty
miles around, and the tramp who
passed up OF down the Red Bridge
road without calling and reaping the
benefits of her faith was in hurry to
outwalk the constable.
A few weeks before the farmer hus-
band died he spent an hour casting up
figures. When the wife expressed her
curiosity he replied:
"We have been married going on
nineteen years. In that time you have
fed 5000 tramps, you have let 400 tin
peddlers get the best of you in buying
your paper rags, you have given away
1000 bushels Of apples, you have gath
cred about ton of mayweed, catnip
and smartweed to give away to people
too lazy to gather their own, you have
done and done and done and you have
given and given and given, and I'll be
logged if l can see where you are any
better OFF,
But some one has got to be good to
people in trouble" replied Aunt Mary.
Then give some one else a spell at
1t. You've done your share This fore
noon you fed great big wall eyed
tramp"
Yes, poor man, and when he had
finished the tears stood Ia his eyes. He
said L reminded him Of his dead moth
err"
'Mebbe you did, but he went out
through the garden and stole a shovel
and a hoe. tell you, Mary
Come, come, Noses" she interrupt
ed, 1--WE must do our duty as we see it,
and if you'll turn the cat outdoors and
wind the clock we'll go to bed. I'm
pretty well tuckered out with that big
washing today"
Aunt Mary's faith neither increased
nor decreased after the death of her
husband. She went right along In the
same old path, and the slices of bread
and butter and the hunks of cold meat
continued to be handed out When
asked by friends il she ever had met
with one single instance of gratitude
she would reply:
mo, l can't say that 1 have, but l
expect to some day If keep on. Some
day l shall be the means of making
a wicked man see the error of his ways
and he'll bless me for it,
1t was hardly three months after her
prophecy that man about thirty years
old came along the highway at a late
hour one night and when opposite Aunt
Mary's barn climbed over the big gate
to find the stable door on the latch.
He was after horse, and he found
two in their stalls.
Unfortunately for him, one Of them
was a kicker, and the man had only
laid hands on him when the equine
dashed out with his heels and there was
a yell Of pain. The intruder's leg had
been broken. He tried to crawl back
to the highway, but the pain was too
great. He suffered for half an hour
and then began to shout for help, and
after awhile the hired man appeared
with lantern. 1t was no use for the
man to deny his errand. If the hired
man had been alone he might have
tried a bluff, but when Aunt Mary ap-
peared and he heard her kindly voice
and caught sight of her motherly face
he saw his way clear and at once threw
himself upon her generosity.
'I'll get the constable, and we'll have
him in Jail inside of an hour" said the
hired man, who wasn't feeling for his
fellow man to any great extent, but
Aunt Mary shook her head and replied
We'll carry him into the house first,
and then you go and get Dr. Walker"
But he's horse thief, and II Billy
hadn't kicked him he might have got
away with both Of EN-"
Eyes. But don't you see how he must
be suffering? I've always contended
that a wicked man would come along
some day and that what I would be
able to do for him would change him
into better one. Poor fellow, how he
must sufferp'
Tho CTR c,slx fho In ok
and took advantage of 1t. He was the
wicked man for whom she had long
been looking. He had been a wicked
man. He had done everything but cut
threats and burn orphan asylums. He
had been driven into such a career by
seeing that no one cared for him. It
had been over twenty years since any
one had given him kind word, while
policeman or constable had ever stood
ready to order him to move on and to
rap him on the head If he didn't. He
had come to steal at least one of the
horses, as he was ready to admit, and
he had intended to continue his career
of villainy to the end, but now that
woman had spoken kindly to him, now
that he was being treated like human
being, now that
But his voice choked up and the tears
rushed to his eyes and he could say no
more. The hired man had told the doc
tor about the affair, but the medico
made no comments until he had set the
broken limb. Then he said to Aunt
Mary:
You should notify the authorities
and have this fellow placed In charge of
a constable until he can be removed to
Jail"
"But. doctor. he has repented Of his
w1ckedness. He has given me his
promise to reform"
And you are idiot enough to believe
him?"
If he didn't mean what he says,
would he shed tears?"
What are you going to do with
him?'
Let him stay right here until his leg
Is all right, and then I'll help him
choose better path. I've always want
ed to help some real wicked man to re-
form and to feel that he owed his ref
ormation to me-"
well, guess you've got your wick
ed man right enough" observed the
doctor as he made ready to 60
And I'm going to win his gratitude
and make good man Of him"
"Humph! Well go ahead, but shall
have to look to you for my BILL
The story leaked out, and the sheriff
called at Aunt Mary's and talked about
arresting the stranger, but as he had
committed no crime and as the woman
would make no complaint the patient
was left on her hands.
The man was tenderly nursed and
given every comfort, and, being young
and In the best of health, he was soon
an lan 80 A A..