Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-12-30
HER SILVER SHOWER
HOW GIRL GAVE FRIEND a Les.
3. SON in ECONOMY.
Stopping Of the Little Financial leaks
Accomplished What Seemed to the (
Careless One to Border on
( the Marvellous.

1T is the finest idea ever heard
Of" said Lucinda Grey, as she looked
compassionately at her pale little
friend just out Of the hospital. I'm
tired to death OF restaurant fare. and
I haven't forgotten your cooking, Alice
Benton! But are you sure you are
strong enough to do it," ID Il X
For two Of us-in this placer" The
pale girl laughed derisively. 1T will
be like play. and the best possible
occupation for me-" s !
very we'll, it is settled, If you are
certain it's not too much for, you.
You'll find my purse in the bottom bu-
reau drawer in a little tin box; use
what you need for supplies and
things" ~ s ~ ~ rs al ~
"All right. but am going to bear
my half of the expense. remember"
"And do the work besides? call
that an unequal arrangement" pro-
tested Lucinda. She knew what must
be the condition of her friends purse
after her long illness. - s3s Z. ~
my month in the hospital made
quite hole In my savings" Alice ad-
mitted, but need not be a burden
to my friends"
"You mean you have money saved
from your salary?"' asked Lucinda, in
establishment. "Win you kindly tell
me how you have done it. o wise
young person? I've never been able
to save a cent, and 1t worries me
more than can tell. I'm sure try
hard enough to be economical"
Il Perhaps we shall find some Of the
little leaks later" said her friend, with
smile.
Two weeks had passed when, as.
Lucinda was dressing one morning, she
called across to the little kitchen,
"Now, Alice, you've mended this old
corset cover. I told you it was not
worth s !, .s#s$s$s ,.s,,.,5 s.5ts IL
Her! voice died away into astonished
silence. From the folded garment
something fell with thud to the floor.
It was silver half-dollar wrapped in
q piece OF paper, on which were writ
ten the two words, Five Minutes"
Lucinda slipped the silver into an
empty box in her bureau drawer, and
put on the mendad garment thought
fully. AS she was leaving for the
office she paused to call back, do
you mind telling me what Five Min
utes' means ~ z. e. r.. ,s5ss,y33, 4.
"That was the time it took to mend
It," said Alice quietly. i,@
Almost daily after that something
was added to the contents Of the box;
silver half-dollars for each pair Of
neatly mended stockings that Alice
had found discarded in q rag bag In
the bathroom, and varying amounts
for the undergarments and waists and
neckpieces that she freshened and re-
stored to usefulness.
"I'd like to know what she will do
with a pinned-out collar" said Lu-
cinda, q little vindictively,. one day,
as she put three Of them into the rag
bag. When the laundry was returned
Lucinda found the three collars on her
dressing table. A jaunty bow pinned
on the front of each completely con-
cealed the devastation the heavy
brooch had made #tIs$r 81.
4 ""You are certainly hard to circum.
vent, Alice" she said, with q laugh.
,"You needn't do any more, II you
please. I've counted the money in
my box, and I've learned my lesson.
I'll never again see q partly worn gar
ment without seeing also the money it
would cost to replace it, thanks to
your silver shower Youths Com
panion. -