Medoline Selwyn's Work

s, for which fact I was very glad. I knew the task was going to be no easy one, with Mr. Winthrop silently,

er. Mr. Winthrop had not discovered, or if he had, did not interfere with my continued friendshi

ir share of our gifts; she assured me there was already considerable interest, a

ould be little remaining for me to distribute. But one bright morning, just in range with my own windows, I saw the gardener nailing up some wooden booths, and when completed, they began to pour in great ba

e; and did I ever think I

ing to share your bountiful ha

r have been staying in them foreign parts than be giving decent folks such bother. I give him a clip on the ear that made him howl in earnest, I can tell you. I says to him, says I, 'Why, one would think you was one

account again-won't you please give him a holiday s

gets holidays right along;

reading that day, but watched from the shelter of my window curtains the slowly accumulating pile. Samuel, I noticed, seemed to work with unusual cheerfulness, and even the gardener himself did not empty his bask

e this afternoon, and ca

them know

them yourself?" he a

" I gave him a mutinous look, but my heart fluttered; for,

se to house peddling your gener

ides, I do not go to their houses at all. I have only to ac

You will need all your strength to maintain

the Mill Road people

s; but are they a very distinguis

ge as clearly as the President of these United States, and some of them

doubt, feel flattered to

your Presidents conquered the high position they

ble friends with European

prepared for them by others will do j

sudden look of relief she said: "Shall I despatch Esmerelda to the Mill Road? They wil

Once outside she said in her gentle way:-"I would not get arguing with Mr. Winthrop if I were you. He is a good deal older,

solate, homesick fancies to keep me company, that pretty soon my eyes were so blinded with tears I could scarcely see the enlivening prospect under my windows. Ashamed of my weakness I set myself resolutely to thinking of Daniel Blake and his heavy, sad life; of the poor barefoot children, and tired mothers on

as frightened, and foolish as so many dogs that's

r. Winthrop

eath to him having so many of them poor wretches comi

urning away. It was certainly not my place to all

pair of wide, frightened eyes and an unusually pale face. Mr. Winthrop was waiting for me in the hall. In my excitem

have come-a begga

there

th Thomas to get your gifts carted home. Their basket

him to get

pealingly; for I felt quite overwh

vants to go to work-anythi

pleaded. "Just think how hard it is to be poor,

much too swift for my courage. I would gladly have walked the entire length of Cavendish to have escaped what had now become a very difficult task. I

ed she came with the hope to lighten my task, if possible. I went directly to her, and shook her hand as cordially as if she had been one of our bluest blooded Cavendish aristocracy. I saw her cast a half frightened glance at Mr. Winthrop, but my fearless manner seemed to reassure her, as she soon regained her customary coolness of demeanor. I nodded cordially to the rest of the group who all seemed just then to be gazing at me in a very helpless manner. I endeavored to comport myself as the easy hostess dis

o?" I whispered

me forred and fi

o the gardener said: "If you will plea

etty looking woman, with red-rimmed eyes a

you like bes

ell; they all

of this that is left aroun

if it realized it and must be on its good behavior. I took the little creature in my arms; its clothes were clean, but so thin and poor, my heart ached, while I looked at them. I gave it my

I impulsively asked, forgetting too speedily my determinat

u lessons in philanthropy a

art to be a rock like"-and then I shut my mouth and wi

of my crowd had got their baskets filled, and paused with longing eyes regarding the heaps that still remained. I made their faces grow suddenly much brighter as, with a slight elevation of voice, I said: "Thomas will carry the rest of these vegetables around for you with the horses. You will please s

come with their baskets," he said, grimly; "the

s have bime-by, of all their riches, and overplus, and so many

I sees to the roots and posies, that

re can starve for all the great folks cares. Deary me! it's a terble onjointed sort of wo

, no doubt, dreamed her dreams long before my spirit got started on its long voyage through time and the eternities. I accompanied her all the way to the gate, listening sadly while she told me for the second time the sorrowful story of the widow Larkum, whose baby I had just been fondling. "Ever sin

support th

would be the happiest man in town if the Lord would send his a

em. Does it cost very

ould do them. She's that savin', the hull o

s with her; and, in the meantime, will you please tell

; and then she is right handy with her needle. My! I feel a burden lifted already. I c

t feels another's woes. Every on

d none too well pleased along wi' us bein' there to-day." She looked at me

ill give me leave to give away all the unused stuff I see goi

'em without any trouble get right into a man's heart, and they'll go through fire and water to please 'em; and others may be just as good-lookin' and they have hard work to get any man to marry 'em. I've wondered more'n a little about it, but i

but you are to be disappointed I am sure. But I c

silence; then she said softly: "Dear; you can