The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-02-22
OR CHI RIrN


crisp two dollar bill. but on opening
the money drawer he WINS confronted
by a gllttering array of new five and
ten cent pieces And then this thought
came upon him:
Instead OF giving 81 10 this charity
for fire escape why not take 81 in
dimes and nickels and 60 out on the
street and give 10 every poor person
who asks you until the entire s. Is
goneT
And 80 he told his clerk to inform
the woman who was waiting IN tho
outer Office that unfortunately con-
tribution could not be spared today
II was O'Clock In the afternoon, the
lamps were III. the streets were IN
stinct with life, the air was keen. And
so he buttoned his overcoat. put 50 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
pair OF pitifully thin legs-a girl with
half fed expression and general
uncared for look-called out In plain
tive voice: matches, sirl Two boxes
for cents"
He stopped and, giving her 8 cents.
took the two boxes OF matches.
do you keep all you maker"
mo. only keep half. Mrs. Johnson
gets the other half"
"Who's Mrs. Johnson
"The lady lives with"
The man dived down into his pocket
and fished up a dime. Here's 10
cents extra for you, mind-not for
Mrs Johnson"
''0h. can't DO thatr answered the
little girl. You see me mother tole
me afore she died that no matter how
I was tempted that should keep
honest And then Mrs. Johnson start.
ed me In business-she bought tho
matches for me- I'll have TO give her
half. IL wouldn't be right. you know,
TO keep II ALL"
That's true" said the man quickly.
Here's 10 cents for Mrs. Johnson"
And there darted through his mind the
thought that he, 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 10 the waif OF tho
streets.
do you want any pencils, sirr'
lie turned 10 the old woman--a kind
ly faced old woman, wrlnkled, bent.
She carried little basket on her arm.
"Yes," he answered, II did want a
pencil What else have you got
thcrel"
She looked down In the basket TO
make quick inventory. Needles,
pins. soap, pencils. darnlng cotton,
shoestrings, hatplns, backing. combs.
matches and toothbrushes."
well, give me a pencil. boz of
matches and needle"
"a needleT' she said. smiling up at
him. why, bless your heart, sir,
don't sell single needles. Nobody does.
You buy 'em by the paper"
"Ah," he said reaectively. II guess
you'd better give me toothbrush
then"
THAT makes 20 cents altogether"
she said.
He gavo her % cents and was about
10 move away after she had thanked
him when suddenly he bethought him
10 ask her how old she was.
"Sixty-four ON the Sd OF April next"
she said
''Sixtyfour," he said thoughtfully.
'nnd no ono to take care OF your
"oh. yes. indeed. there Is" she an
swered brightly. MY husband only
do this 20 keep out OF mischief. You
Bee. he's night Waterman. Goes on
at o'clock In the afternoon aud stays
on uhtil I IN the moralng. | don't
know what 10 do with myself. so 20
around the street selling these things
SO as 10 keep from being lonely pay
the ront every month just from these
little things.- sbo added proudly.
lie looked at her half pltyingly, half
admiringfy. Then he asked. hut what
do you do at IL o'clock nt nightY'
why. you see, John Is Waterman I'm
big place on Delaware avenue, and
every night at ii o'clock l go down
thsre with a supper for him, for the
manF hungry by that time. And
Htay with him talking until O'Clock
In tho morning. for you see that's the
only time we have 10 see each other
and have long talks. He's been there
twenty-five years. and l haven't missed
night. Sundays and week days, from
seeing him-raln or shine, heat or
cold"
"And how long have you been mar.
riedT'
Since / was eighteen. SIR. That's
pretty close on TO forty-six years" she
added. smiling.
"And for twenty-five years you have
gone down To see him every night nj
IL o'clock and have gone away ut 2 In
the morningf" The mans tone was In
credulous.