Year: 1870

do it handsomely. I could send out the in
vitations for week after next"


well, dear, you must let me dream over
it. | really didn't know receptions we're
such expensive affairs. Five hundred dol
lars for an evenings entertainment, and the
prospect of hard winter, and much suffer
ing among the poor Well, III tell you in
the morning. If can make up my mind
that ii is right, you shall have the party


The rest of the evening was a little con-
strained The young wife, seeing that her
husband did rot care TO talk about the recep-
ton any more just then, struggled brayely
TO avoid the subject, and, inasmuch as it
held possession of all her thoughts, was
rather an absent minded companion.


That night, after his wife was quietly
asleep beside him, John Stirling spent an
hour of not untroubled thought Unlike
Nellie he had been brought up in a quiet
country home, where FIVE hundred dollars
would have been thought by no means in
adequate provision for the support of the
whole family during an entire year. Was it
right, could it be right, to spend it upon one
evenings entertainment, for the sake, too,
OF people who would be in no wise benefited
thcrehy-whose choicest pleasures were SO
common that they had already paled upon
their senses? But then, as his wife had
suggested, they had been out so much
would not this drawing back from a return
of civilities look very mean? And John
Stirling shrank, with all the pride of SEN
sitive man, from the least imputation OF
meanness. They were not rich. True, his
capital was his own, and his business was
good but he had not felt that he could
spend more than three thousand year on
extra upon which he had not counted com
ing at once Surely he could not dare. for
such cause. to stint his contributions for
the relief of the suffering? Could he afford
i, without? Nellie, tha indulged child of
wealthy parents, knew nothing of such anx-
ious thoughts; she only heard the result in
the morning. Before he gave her his good
by kiss, he said in tone a little more sober
than he meant it should be:


We'll, dear, you shall have your party.
You can begin making your arrangements
at once Here is hundred dollars for the
feminine adornments; | will pay Smith and
the music afterwards.


That was all John Stirling had sunny,
his mind to grant his wife the indulgence
she craved, it would not have been like him
to spoil her pleasure by any indication Of
dissatisfaction. Still, as | have limited, her
intuiti0ns were strong and her nature sensi-
tive and impressible, and she had certain
sense of having persuaded her husband some
what against his own wishes that rather dis
inclined her to commence her preparations.
1t was nearly eleven o clock before she dress
ed herself for the shopping expedition. Che
was just tying the strings of her elegant fall
hat when she heard a ring at the door, and
presently servant came in with the intor
nation that little child, who had brought
home some sewing, waited to see her.


Mrs. Stirling was motheyly by instinct
and her heart warmed at once to the shy
little creature who came ,ilnidly in. 1t wa:
girl not more than seven years old-quit'
too young. Mrs Stirling thought, to b
trusted alone in the streets but then shs
herself had been brought up under the sue
cessive rule of nursery maid and governess.
She took the bundle from the child
hand, and said, with the same bright, kind
smile which had wlled John Strings bach
elor heart away;


Where did you come from, and how dit
you find your way here alone, you Poor lit
tie thing?'


Sister Annie sent me, ma am. She ha
done your embroidery, and she thought
she could get the money tor it to pay MI
jenkins. maybe he would let US stay in tn
room till she got little better. ;"
| ''She is sick. then r


'.Yes'm. She didn't feel we'll enough t
come 1t has been hard getting along a
! summer, for the ladies she works for wer
almost all out of town, and some OF ther
owing her; and : pose the worry and nc
! having much to eat did it, ma am. "
( Niie. CilIitliS lcduCu tONdiu iiS ii''iS u S@
ture, and looked at her more closely. Coul
it be hunger, she thought, that made thos
blue eyes look SO large and the skin tran:
parent? Was this little thing actually su
fering for bread, and she going to spend fiv
hundred dcllars In one evening, feastin
those who had never felt a want even {
dainties? She knew not what thoughts ha


been in her husbands mind wher he spok
of the suffering among the poor. She sal


pleasantly:


well, child, you must have some luncl
con, and then | will go with you to see yor
sister. had better speak to her about tt


work"


Isn't it right? Can't you pay her


The child. gave start of alarm and spoil


with the premature womanliness and nat


raj apprehension of misfortune which a


among the saddest fruits of poverty.


Mrs Stirling relieved her with ready syn


pathy.


Yes indeed, the work is all right. 1t


done beautifully; but l want to see yor


sister about some more, and perhaps | c'