The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-05-15
Their FUND
BY cATHARINE CRANMER.

A~~~SSS~'0%~~S$S~S$s
Williams & Company offered &
prize of twenty dollars in gold for the
best name suggested by an employee
for their new line of graniteware.
Harry Benton, salesman, and Amy
Werner, cashier, tied for the prize. The
boss handed each of them a ten-dollar
gold piece, but Benton knew that his
annual salary reached in thousands
almost what Amy's did in hundreds.
Wont you let me add my gold to
yours so you'll have enough to jfngle?"
he asked smilingly.
"Oh, you couldn't think l meant
really to take it, could your"
Won't you? You really earned it
more than l. I've talked the goods so
constantly for years that it was nat
ural for me to think up a name cas-
lily
"Ah, now" said Amy, with a tiny
pout, don't intimate that thinking
was such hard work for me; but l
can't accept what you earned by your
thinking even if it was easy to do
VIII you have dinner with me this
evening and help me think out a way
70 do something nice for somebody
with that piece of goId?"
Wees" began Amy slowly. III
help you if you'll let me contribute
my gold piece to the happiness fund"
And Harry agreed.
A few hours later, over their dinner,
they discussed the possibilities of their
fund.
Il want our fund to bring happiness
20 somebody who doesn't dream Of it,
and to bring it just at the psychologist
cal moment when it means every
thing" Amy was charming when she
was serious.
That's the idea. exactly" agreed
Harry, and the best way to distribute
happiness is to go where there is
lack of it. What do you say to our
taking stroll through the outskirts?"
"That's where there are extremes of
happiness and unhappiness, I've heard
All right. let's go! that is, if you think
we won't attract too much attention"
oh, you'd attract your share of at
tentiOn anywhere. but I'm plain enough
to Offset your charms" This was said
without any palaver Of gauantry and
was accompanied by such a genial
smile that Amy laughed, too, although
she thought Harry's clear eyes and
honest face and broad shoulders a very
satisfactory kind OF plainness.
AS they passed through the district
of the downtown poor, they distributed
various bits of happiness in unexpect-
ed dimes given TO small tots who were
standing disconsOlately in doorways or
tagging each other on the brick-paved
sidewalks.
Look who's here! No need for our
happiness fund in that party" said
Harry, as they saw approaching them
a festive party consisting of an Ital.
ian girl still in her teens. her swag-
geTing young escort who pulled at his
sunburned mustache, some dark
gowned women with scarfs over their
heads. a few plodding men and chill
dTen Of assorted sizes and varying de-
grees of uncleanliness. From one of the
children Harry learned that the young
couple had been married that day and
were on their way to their new home
of two rooms in a nearby rooming
house
At that instant, the clang of the fire
bell was heard. and with each stroke
the sound grew louder until around the
corner came the galloping horses and
rafting hose wagons and the scream
ing engine leaving its trail of sparks
on the uneven cobblestones of the mar
row street. Amy and Harry stood or
the curb, and down Amy's spine went
the chilly creep and into her eyes
came the unshed tears that the sight
and sound of fire department in &C
ton always brought to her.
She became conscious, in the midst
of it, that Harry was holding her arm
protectingly. Two blocks away the
engine stopped, the wagons sought the
curb, and the lately happy group Of
people began to scream excitedly. The
young groom tried to enter the burn
ing house and the protesting bride
threw herself before him to prevent
the risk. The f~e was in the house
where their two rooms had been fur
nished.
The lamentations of the bridal party
made a babel, but Amy and Harry
looked Understandings at each other
Gould we find better place for a
happiness fund.-" asked Amy.
I'VE won't look for a better, will
WEI" And Harry put his hand in the
pocket where the happiness fund re-
posed.
No; this is the psychological mo-
ment We wanted" answered Amy, and
together they approached the dis
tressed young couple.
This is hard luck, my boy" began
Harry, but this lady and l had a bit
Of good luck today and we'd like to
share it with you and your bride
Won't you take this"-handing him
the money-"and get other lodgings
and such furniture as it will buv9"