The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-03-30
BY STELLA cADr1US

4ACIC Md6 III use 0CAAJ AAAeS AA4eAS ~ -
ney Gerald was a dawdlsr. he had
wealth, good looks, youth, and was a
society favorite. Now and then he
went hunting or yachting, but most
Of the time he simply dawdled. That
meant his club, the races and society.
He was accounted catch, but no
one caught him. He didn't really try
to dawdle, but pursued his Emphatic
way simply because there seemed
nothing else to do.
"See here, you good-for-nothing, .
said the widow of the late Hon.
| Charles Spofford one evening at a re.
ception as she drew him down TO Q
seat beside her. 81 have a duty to
perform"
81 wish I had" he replied.
People are saying you have no
energy, no ambition, no aim In life.
You have tno much money-too much
time on your hands. You are throw
ing your years away"
''TelI me what to do" replied sgd.
ney, yawning.
"Get married"
"Too much trouble-too many emo
tious"
take trip around the world"
''Too much change Of scenery
"Ah. 1 have ttr' exclaimed Mrs. Spot.
ford after a moments thought. "You
are rich. Why not turn philanthro-
pistP Not in the way OF hospitals or
asylums, but go among the poor and
give a few of your dollars to alleviate
distress and misfortune. You don't
know the real people as I do. There
is no day that am not feeding the
hungry and giving out aims. Only
this afternoon gave one legged man
half dollar, and you ought to have
heard his words Of gratitude"
"Just so,' replied Sydney Gerald,
with bit Of a smile as he thought OF
the many one legged men he had
tossed quarters to.
"Try It for a few weeks-for three
months. 1t may lead to your becom-
ing a reformer. At any rate, 1t will
rouse you up and give you something
new to think Of 1t is positively sin
full for you to be dawdling along this
way"
Eyes, think So"
eff you should turn out to be a re-
former l shall take most Of the credit
to myself. Three months, Mr.. Gerald
try it for three months, and at the
end Of that time l will arrange for a
little gathering to hear your report.
1t cannot fail to be interesting. You
will have hundred different incidents
to relate. Don't you feel new and
strange ambition already2"
Eyes, / think / do. Yes, think l
will turn reformer. may not make a
success of it, but III make try"
The relict of the Hon. Charles spread
the news. AS Sydney Gerald did not
entirely drop society while fitting him
self for a reformer, he was lauded
and quizzed on numerous occasions by
numerous people.
Only a scanty few credited him with
the necessary energy to pursue the
object, and the most that was predict
ed Of his efforts was the depletion OF
his purse without corresponding gain.
There was a great deal said about the
unthankfulness and ingratitude Of the
| world In general, but it didn't seem to
affect him much.
"You know you must not look for
too much gratitude" cautioned Mrs.
Spofford.
"No, shan't."
"You will feel that you have done
your duty, and your conscience VIII
reward you"
"Just So"
MANY and many time have given
pennies and got never a word Of
thanks. In fact, I have got black
looks as the wheels of my carriage
happened to throw a little mud, but I
drove on feeling that had made tn,
world a trife better. That feeling
must be your reward"
Eyes, shall look for It.
When the three months had expired
Sydney Gerald announced his readi-
ness to report A score of ladies gath
cred In the drawing room Of the Hon.
Charles widow. There were no men
among them. Charity and reform did
| not COucn IndC Dex.
When he was ushered in it was re
marked that he seemed to have ac-
| quired energy and gained ambition,
and there was great curiosity az to
what he would report,
Ladies, beg to say" began Sydney
''tlaat In my ignorance Of how to go to
work I began my investigations IN the
house Of a wealthy lady. 1t came
| about almost by accident found
| that she was in arrears to all her serv-
ants and that tradeSmen were clamor-
ing for their bills. relieved the dis
tress. 1 gave each servant two months
back pay and paid each tradesman
something on account / have a mem
orandum Of her name"
Here Sydney Gerald paused. Mrs
spofford turned pale, but her nerve
was with her, and she managed to
force smile.
by accident again." resumed sgd
ney, 'T turned a corner one evening
and bumped against young woman
In tears. / was stranger, but when
she understood that had taken ur
the business Of reformer she told me
the cause of her distress. She was 8
eeamstress.
"She had worked a week on gown
for a well known lady and on carry
ing It to the house had been told thai
she must wait a couple Of weeks FOL
her pay. She was going home penni
less. hungry and the rent unpaid. Ths
lady in the case bought diamons
tiara next day that was mentioned II
all the papers. She could have pai'
the bill a thousand times over, bu
she needed the diamonds first I pai'
the seamstress."
There was an uneasy movement u
and down the room, and for some rea
son all eyes were directed on Mrs
Somerville. She was conscious OF tn
fact. but with sang froid that did he
credit she put up her lorgnette ant
, stared at picture on the wall.
AZ happened in at miliner's," SAT-
sydney. With a smile. Queer plac
for man to be, but / happened
Can't say that was looking fer a hal
but In searching out subjects for re
: form YOU have to drop into variou
places. Milliner nice little widow
All her capital in the business. Jus
received a letter from a wholesai
house threatening suit on bills oyel
due. Her customers all rich, but the
didn't pay cash down. Don't pay i
three or six months. In fact the
didn't nov for a year or 50 and onl
when forced to. have seen many 9