The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-11-08
FoR CHAR TX.

The lady was collecting donations
for a fire escape for a building OF the
Ladies' Aid society.
The man listened quietly and then
told the woman he would wee what ne
could do He arose and went into the
inner Office, intending to send out q
crisp two dollar bill, but on opening
the money drawer he was confronted
by gllttering array Of new FIVE and
Ten cent pieces. And then this thought
came upon him:
Instead Of giving 81 to this charity
for a fire escape why not take 81 In
dimes and nickels and go out on the
street and give to every poor person
who asks you until the entire 81 Is
goneT
And so he told his clerk to inform
the woman who was waiting in the
outer Office that unfortunately a con-
trlbutlon could not be spared today.
II was o'clock In the afternoon, the
lamps were lit, the streets were in
stinct with life, the air was keen. And
so he buttoned his overcoat put 81 in
loose change In one of his pockets,
and, putting on his hat and gloves, he
walked into the street.
A little girl with shawl pinned
over her head. with dress whose
scanty, knee high length showed a
pair Of pltifully thin legs-a girl with
a hnlf fed expression and a general
uncared for look-called out in a plain
tive voice Matches, sirf Two boxes
for cents"
lie stopped aud, giving her cents,
took the two boxes of matches.
"Do you keep all you mukeT
"No. ! only keep half. Mrs. Johnson
gets the other half"
who's Mrs. JohnsonT
1.-THE lady lives with"
The man dlved down into his pocket
and fished up a dime Here's 10
cents extra for you, mind-not for
Mrs Johnson"
| "Oh, | can't do THAR answered the
little girl. "You see me mother tole
me afore she died that no matter how
was tempted that | should keep
honest. Aud then Mrs. Johnson start
ed me In huslnessshe bought the
matches for me. I'll have to give her
half 1t wouldn't be right, you know,
to keep II ALL"
"That's true" said the man quickly.
Here's 10 cents for Mrs. johnson"
Aud there darted through his mind the
thought that he, a man OF the world,
had learned lesson from little child
who sold matches.
And then, as he moved away and
said good night, he did something
strange for a man OF the world to do
he lifted his hat to the waif Of the
streets.
"Do you want any pencils, STRIP
He turned to the old wOman-a kind
ly faced old woman, wrlnkled, bent
She carried little basket on her arm.
YES" he answered, IL did want q
pencil. What else have you goI
theref"
She looked down in the basket tC
make a quick inventory. Needles
pins, soap, pencils, darnlng cotton
shoestrings, hatplns, backing, combs
matches and toothbrushes."
WELL give me pencil. q box Of
matches and needle"
"A needle7" she said, smiling up al
him. "why, bless your heart, sir,
don't sell single needles. Nobody does
You buy 'em by the paper"
"Ah." he said reAectlvely, II guess
you'd better give me a toothbrush
then"
'"That makes 20 cents altogether >
she said.
He gave her 90 cents and was about
to move away after she had thanked
him when suddenly he bethought him
to ask her how old she was.
"Slxty-four on the Sd Of April next,
she said
"Sixty-four." he said thoughtfully
"and no one to take care of your"
"oh. yes, indeed, there is" she an
swered brightly. my husband only
do this TO keep out of mischief. Yor
see, he's a night Waterman. Goes OF
at 4 o'clock In the afternoon and stays
on until In tho morning. dom
know what to do with myself. so l &
around the street selling these thing: