Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-03-29

seen too much proof. Just to snow
you, on Wednesday we only had a
hapenny. 1t was all we'd got left
from that shilling Mrs. G. gave me.
And a man went by singing in the
| road-poor dear his face was so thin.
| I've got a good mind, I said, to give
| him that ha'penny oh, do as you
| like, said Mary, and without another
word ran after him up the road.
| Here | said, take this--it's the last
we've got Thank you, mother, he
said and good luck to you, and 1t
turned out good luck, too" added the
yivacious old creature, for next morn,
ing Mrs r. came and gave me six
pence Else we shouldn't have had a
crust. Now I've got this other bit OF
washing 1t was the same fortnight
last Wednesday, Oh, such poor dear
outside the door-a thin old man, not
long for this world, to look at him.
Would you like a piece of bread" /
said, and he said, i don't mind So
ran up here and got him a bit"
Yes, that's her way" interposed
Mary half apologetically and mani
testify desiring to arrest disreclosure
which, to the sensitive girl selfadver-
tisement. But the innocent old lady
had not finished her narrative.
when / was cutting the bread
said, Now, I wonder if could get
that poor dear drop of warm tea
We'd just been having our own tea,
you understand, and"
"Mother!" broke in the girl re-
proachfully, but smiling in spite OF
herself
We'll, you were here!" protested
the old soul, bristling up against the
girl. Then, turning to me, she added
in mellow tones of confidence. But
| couldn't squeeze another drop out OF
the pot, and the kettle was empty"
1t was some time before coulu
coax the dear old thing back to these
revelations of an unselfish self
Meanwhile we talked about the elder
ly fox terrier that had just come in
and now crouched before the fire
gnawing at a dry bone.
That's our Nell | wouldn't part
with her, not to the king. We've had
her six years"
How do you manage to feed her.?
| asked
while we's got bread there's al
ways q bit for Nell" and a skinny
hand stretched out to stroke the un.
responsive quadruped. And she Of
ten brings in bones, the same as this
one. Its a marvel to me how that
dog finds them"
There was no MISLEADING the tone or
admiration. One marvellous old for
ager" was paying a tribute to another
"If I was rich presently came this
further revelation of character, do
you know what I'd do? I've often
thought, Oh, If only had some
money! when I've met those poor
dears coming away from the docks
1t makes You almost cry to see their
faces-all thin and pinched; and got
to go back to their wives again with
nothing for the children, That's who
Id give a bit to if was rich"
IF you We're rich" said the young
man, who had not previously spoken,
you'd have the sense to clear out of
this pretty sharp. Then what you
didn't see you wouldn't bother about
Besides" he added, with a short
laugh, you'd be busy gallivanting off
to the theater and bazars and things
same as all the rest of EN- and put
ting on fine clothes to go and meet
dukes and duchesses."
"Lor!" exclaimed the old soul, graf
iled despite herself by this gorgeous
vision. DO you really think
would?" she added in some anxiety
No" asserted the girl, you'd be
different because you've seen it. The
fine ladies haven't seen 1t, so they
don't know and that makes all the
difference If they did know she
added, they'd do something.
Thus the poor girl of the East de-
Tended her sisters of the West,
Why Mary is out of work proved a
simple story She is employed by a
Matchmaker in small way. and, with
the other three girls. must stand by
for Il time, He has plenty of fiber but
the stock Of Irvine cannot be replaced
until he has sold the mats already
made.
The Young man is a carter.
.tAll I've done for nearly six
weeks" he testified, lis to wear out
shoe leather Far or near 1t don,
seem to mater where | go; no one
! can't take me on, And only three
years ago some mornings could pick
and choose between two and perhaps
three different jobs They were build
ing houses and making roads in West
Ham then. But that's all finished.