Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-09-12
Author OF "Pollyanna."

at first-[that ] could help, you know,
in so many places"
Then ) u always sent 1.-THE
money!" asked Mr.. Smith.
"Oh, yes. Why, ! just had to, the
way ,Aey rote: and wanted to,too:
They wrote lovely letters. and real
interesting ones, too. One man
wanted a warm coat for his little
girl, and he told ME all about what
hard times they'd had. Another
wanted a brace for his poor little
crippled boy, and he told me things;
Why, ! never s'posed folks could
have such awful things and live! One
woman just wanted to borrow $40
while she was so sick. She didn't
ask me to give it to her. She wasn't
beggar. Don't you suppos- Id send
her that money? OF course ! would!
And there was a poor blind man-he
wanted money to buy Bible in
raised letters, and of course |
wouldn't refuse thatl Some didn't
beg, they wanted to sell things. |
bought diamond ring to help boy
through school, and ruby pin OF a
man who needed the money for bread
for his children. And there was
oh, there was lots of 'em--too many
to tell" ,
"And all from Boston, I presume
murmured Mr.. Smith.
ooh, no--why yes, they were, too,
most Of EN-. when you come to think
OF it. But how did you know"
ooh. Guessed it. But 60 on. You
haven't finished" .
"No, / haven't finished" moaned
Miss Flora, almost crying again.
"And now comes the worst Of it. AS
| said, at first | liked tall these
letters--and ! was so glad to help:
But they're coming so fast now /
don't know what to do with EN-.
And I never saw such lot of things
as they want--pensions and mort"
cages. and pianos. and educations.
and wedding dresses, and clothes to
be buried in. and-and there were
so many, and-and 80 queer, some Of
'em, that ! began to be afraid maybe
they weren't quite honest. all OF EN-.
and Of course ! can't send to such a
lot as there arc now, anyway, and |
was getting so worried.
Besides, ] got another one OF those
awful proposals from those dreadful
men that want to marry me. As if |
didn't know that was for my money!
Then today. this morning. II got
the worst OF ALL" From her bag she
took an envelope and drew out
small picture of several children, cut
apparently from a newspaper. Look
at that. Did you ever see that be-
fore?" she demanded.
Miss Maggie scrutinized the pic
ture.
Why, no,---yes, it's the one you
brought us a month ago. isn't it,"
Miss Flora's eyes flashed angrily.
Indeed it anti The one l showed
you before is in my bureau drawer at
home. But l got it out this morn
ing. when this one came, and COM
pared them; and they're just exactly
alike--exactlyp
ooh, he wrote again. then--wants
more money, ] suppose" frowned
Miss Maggie.
"No, he didn't. It amt the same
man. This mans name, is Haley.
and that one was Fay. But Mr.
Haley says this is picture Of his
children. and he says that the little
girl in the corner is Katy, and she's
deaf and dumb; but Mr.. Fay said her
name was Rosie. and that she was
lame. And all the others-their
names amt the same, either, but
there amt any Of 'em blind. And, Of
course I know now that--that one Of
those men is lyingyto me. Why.
they cut them out 81 the same news
paper; they've got the same reading
on the backi And IL don't know
what to believe now. And there are
all those letters at home that |
haven't answered yet; and they keep
coming-why, | just dread to see the
postman turn down Our street. And
one mamie wrote twice. ! didn't
like his first letter and didn't answer
it, and now he says il | don't send him
the money he'll tell everybody every
where what stingy tightwad | am.
And another man said he'd come and
take it if ] didn't send it, and you
know how afraid Of burglars / am!
Oh, what shall do?" she begged
piteously.
Mr.. Smith said a sharp word behind
his teeth.
"Do?" he cried then, wrathfully
First, don't you worry another bit,
Miss Flora. Second. just hand those
letters over to me-every one OF
them. I'll attend to EN-"
ITO you" gasped Miss Flora. "But
how can your"
ooh. I'll be your secretary. Most
rich people have to have secretaries,
yon know"
".But how'll you know how to an
swer my letters?" demanded Miss