Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-06

the big box OF lunch was quite hett, but dldn t
mind, KNOWN how it would please them two young
peTTR a1j u;s, Perkins 70 make ,ono stor, short
fore got to New York it was pourln cats an dogs.
My. how it did come down! Of course knew Grace
and Roger wouldn't go in that storm; but l knew
there wasn't noth1n for me to do but to go on to
the meetn place, an wait tranquil till l heard from
EN-. l thought maybe Roger would meet me there
ticket office on the pier where the excursion boat
starts from.
Well, hadn't much more than got there, when
a messenger boy came up to is this Mrs.
Merrwether?" he says, touchn his cap most polite.
Yes" says, wonderin' how he knew me-
Then this here notes for you, he says. No
answer" He poked a letter into my hand, an went
off whistlin.
l see right away it was Graces handwrtin', an
l set down the lunch box an opened the note. 1t
was from Grace, and it said that OWN to the rain
we wouldn't go on the excursion, but for me to
come right up to the Waldorf and spend the day
with her. She apologized for not coming after me
herself, but said for to take cab right from the
pier and L d have no trouble
| amt much used to CABS but gracious | ain t
afraid of EN-. All you have to do is to tell the driver
you won't pay as much as he asks OF course you
do pay it, but it lets him know you amt green
hand. No, the cab part didn t bother me none but
the lunch did. l couldn't go up to the Waldorf
luggn that enormous box of eatables, and | cast
about in my mind to see what L d do with it.
wanted to give it away, but wanted to give it to
really deserving person and not to some worth
less lder. In fact 1t was enough for whole starv
L
felt like organized charity, as | looked around
for some worthy poor.
Well of course there wasn't nobody on the dock
but the men workin there an they all looked pros
porous an we'll fed, and kind of cross an grumpy
besides. l must say like cheerful, pleasant dis
position in the people | cast my bread upon the
waters to. But bein' as there was nobody around
there, had go out into the street to look up the
right one. So | decided I'd dispose of the box first
an then I'd take a cab and go on up to Graces. 1t
was full early anyway to go to spend the day. espe
ciay in the city.
But when 1 got out from Ter cover had to
open my umbrella, for it still drizzling and of
course | had to hold up my skirt had my
second best Henrietta and it has a silk drop-and
with my bag and my shawl and that big box | was
so ba1asted l did hope I'd find the right charity
patient quick.
Well the first one I saw that seemed about right
was newspaper seller. She was in a little
booth, with her papers and magazines piled up in
front of her She was as neat and tidy anybody
could wish, and she was knitting, so l knew she was
thrifty. | offered her the box, and told her it con-
tanned lot of first class food enough for her and her
family
Well if you'll believe me- Mis- Perkins, that wom-
mad as hops She was Irish, and she berated
like I'd offered her fearful insult. Is it the
likes O me to be takn charity?" she says No
body can be dolin' out food to Mary OFlanagan,'
she says while thes fools Twin to print newspapers
an bigger fools to buy EN-! Take yer cold victuals
to somebody as is too lazy to work for an honest
livn!'
Well, Mis- Perkins, was so surprised was sort
of stunned for hadn't no idea of insutin the poor
thing 1 scudded away mighty quick and it
rainn some harder then, l got under the elevator
road an stood there while l looked around for some
one more thankful an willin to receive.
Soon l spied ragged little chap, lookin' sort of
hopeless an disconsolate, an l thought if he had
the usual allowance of brothers and sisters that
lunch would bring tears of joy to their eyes So
says, My little man, are you one of large famly?"
Mine brudders an nine sisters, num-, says he,
an me fader is dead an me mudder is out o woik.
Then you're Just the boy m looking for, said.
a Of
along
Well, that boy he made motion to take the
box he only 1eered at rudely and said, law,
gwan! Quit yer kiddin I'm wise to dat kind er CUFF
dc,a,t ,tat he hut the 7