Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-15


in sewing. / told her they weren't her rela-
tions nor the Baisdells they were mine, and
they were Just good as her folks any
day. and that it was no disgrace to be poor
But. dear me! You know Hattie. what
could do? Besides. she got mad then, and
took back the dozen napkins she'd given me.
So didn't have anything for poor Nellie
Wasn't II a Shame?"
Il think Il was" Miss Magge's lips shut
in n thin straight line.
well. what could ! do?" brded Jane de-
family. Resides. II I'd taken them to her,
they wouldn't have appreciated it, 7 know
They never appreciate anything. why. last
November, when the money came sent them
nearly all of MelliCents' and my old summer
things, and If little Tottie didn't go and say
afterward that her mamma did wish Cousin
Jane wouldn't send muslins in December
when then hadn't room enough to store
safety pin. Oh of course Mary didn't say
that to me- but she must have said 1t some
whore. else Tottie wouldn't have got hold of
IT, children and fools you know she
finished mCaningly, as she rose to go.
Mr.. Smith noticed that Miss Maggie seemed
troubled that evening, and he knew that she
started off early the next morning and was
gone nearly all day coming home only for
Il hurried luncheon II being Saturday. the
Martin girls were both there to care for
Father Duff and the house. Not until some
days later did Mr.. Smith suspect that he
had learned the reason for all this. Then
thin-faced young girl with tired eyes came to
tea one evening and was introduced to him
as Miss Carrie Davis Later, when Miss
Maggie had gone upstairs to put Father buft
to bed, Mr.. Smith heard Carrie Davis telling
Annahee Martin all about how kind Miss
Maggie had been to Nellie. finding her all
that embroidery to do for that rich Mrs. Gay
lord and how wonderful it that she
had been able to get such a splendid job for
sam right in Hooper's store where she was
Mr., Smith thought he understood then
Miss Maggies long absence on Saturday
Mr.. Smith was often running across little
kindnesses that Miss Maggie had done. He
began to think that Miss Maggie must be n
very charitable person-until he ran across
several cases that she had not helped Then
he did not know exactly what to think.
His first experience OF this kind was when
he met an Enthusiastically "down-and-out" on
the street day. begging clothing. food.
anything. and telling a sorry tale Of his
unjust discharge from local factory. Mr..
Smith gave the man dollar, and sent him
to Miss Maggie He happened to know that
Father Duff had discarded an old suit that
morning-and Father Duff and the beggar
might have been taken for twins as to size.
on the way home a little later he met the
beggar returning just as forlorn. and even
more hungry locking.
We'll. my good fellow. couldn't she fix
you up" questioned Mr.. Smith in some sur
prise.
Elk me upw glowered the man dis
dainfuly "Not much she did She didn't
fix me up ter nothin'-but chin music"
And Mr.. Smith had thought Miss Maggie
so charitable,
A few days later he heard an cager-eyed
young woman begging Miss Maggie for
contribution to the Pension Fund Fair in
behalf Of the underpaid shopgirls in Days.
Days was IIllcrton department store,
notorious for its unfair treatment of its
employees.
Mss Maggie seemed interested and asked
many questions. The eager-eyed young
woman became even more eagcr-eycd and
tn1l Micc Moe oil nhp No hr,,
the nerve-wearinE labor, the low wages
wages upon which it impossible for
any girl to live decently-wages whose
meagerness sent many a girl to her ruin.
Miss Maggie listened attentively, and said
''Yes, yes see" several times. But in the
end the eager-eyed young woman went away
empty-handed and sad-eyed. and Mr.. Smith
frowned again.
kind-hearted She gave to some fairs.-why
not to this one? As soon as possible Mr.
Smith hunted up the eager-eycd young
woman and gave her ten dJllars He
would have given her more. but he had
learned from unpleasant experience that
large gifts from unpretentious Mr. John
Smith brought comments and curiosity not
always agreeable.
1t was not until many weeks later that
Mr. Smith Chanced to hear Of the complete
change of policy Of DalYS department store
Hours We're shortened, labor lightencd. and
wages raised. incidentally he learned that
IL Hau ali started from 4 crusade OF wOmen'S
clubs and church committees who had got
after old Daly" and threatened all sorts
of publicity and unpleasantness if the
wrongs were not righted at once He learned
also that tn leader in the forefront of
this movement had been-Maggie Duff.
As it chanced, it was on that same dav
that strange man accosted him on the
street.
Say, she was all right. she was old man.
I been hCpn I'd see ye some day ter tell
ye."
ITO tell me?" echoed Mr. Smith stupidity.
pidly.
The man grinned.
"Ye don't know me. do ye? Well. / look
diffrent. I'll own. Ye give me dollar
once. an sent me to a lady down the street
thar. Now do ye remember"
'"Oh on Are you that man."
Sure | am! Well. she was all right
Member? ! thought t was only chin-music
she was gvn me. But let me tell ye She
hunted up the wife an kids, an what's more
she went an faced my boss, an she got me
my job back, too. What do ye think of that
now?"
"Why, Tm-1m glad, of course" Mr.
Smith spoke as One in deep thought
And all the way home Mr. Smith walked
as one in deep thought.