Part 5

“The habit doubtless makes it easier for me to obey conscience, but I cannot think I am mistaking one for the other,” replied Mrs. Bennet.

“But, ma, do you think it proper for us to live as simply now as we did when papa had a salary of only $2,000 a year?”

“Annie, dear, have we not been able to dress respectably, has not our table always had well-prepared, wholesome and appetizing food, has not our little cottage contained all that was absolutely necessary for real home comfort?”

“Yes, ma, we have a sweet home: you know I love it. I was not complaining of the past, but why did God give us this fortune if He did not wish us to enjoy _luxuries_ now as well as comforts?”

“I think He did, Annie. I’m sure we can all now enjoy the luxury of doing good as we never have before. Then just think what a luxury it will be not to weary ourselves with making over worn garments. We can now give them to the needy and help still others by hiring them to make our new clothing,—not that we may be idle, but that we may have ‘a heart at leisure from itself to soothe and sympathize.’ We can have dear grandpa and grandma with us all the time. We will have several cosey bed-rooms added to our cottage, and shall not feel too poor to invite our less favored cousins and many dear friends to spend long vacations with us.”

“But, ma, we might do all this and still appear poor, while if we had a grand home like Mrs. Duncan, and exquisite curtains, and a fine carriage, and Bell had her diamond ring, and we all wore expensive and stylish clothing, everybody would know papa was rich.”

“Yes, Annie, and what good would it do people to know papa was rich?”

“Well, I cannot think of any good it would do them.”

“What good would it do _us_, darling, to have people know it?”

“Oh ma, it would be so pleasant to have every one polite to us, and treat us beautifully as they do rich people.”

“Do not all who _know_ us treat us well, Annie?”

“Oh yes, ma, _very_ well; but you know even _strangers_ admire those who dress, dine, and drive as only the rich can.”

“Now think, Annie, what this consideration of strangers costs. Friends envy us, the poor hate us, the irreligious question our sincerity, our own hearts are made vain, if not proud, millions are spent in useless luxuries that might bless the poor, and—well Annie, this is enough for once, isn’t it? When you have been in the city did you ever notice boys slowly pacing the streets and often ringing a bell, who were all covered over with an advertisement of some sale or show?”

“Yes, mamma.”

“Well, I often see young ladies on the street who always remind me of these advertising boys, as their dress makes them a walking advertisement of their father’s wealth. One Sunday night, after attending service in a very wealthy church, I dreamed that all the ladies wore pocket-books on their heads instead of bonnets. Some were too full to be closed, and small coin often dropped out. Others were tightly clasped and ornamented with all manner of precious stones. A few were thin and worn, but all were labelled with the exact amount of contents. And when one lady walked in with $2,000,000 blazing in diamond figures on her pocket-book how all the congregation bowed down.”

“Oh mamma, what a funny dream!”

“Now Annie, if Christian women would all feel that they were Christian stewards of their Lord’s money, and could see what foolish vanity it is to wish the world to know of their wealth, then we should all have some comparatively definite standard of a Christian style of living. But as long as Christian women have no guide but the varying length of a husband’s purse, we shall have no standard, no conscience in the matter, and the world will continue to jeer and the poor to suffer.”

Annie’s dread lest Will Duncan and his mother should think them old-fashioned or Puritanical, or possibly avaricious, was a sore temptation to her, and once more she plead—“But ma, would it not be right to call this ring a thank-offering for the great dowry we have received?”

“My dear Annie, I cannot see how a gift that would simply be a badge of our wealth, and tend to flatter the vanity of our innocent little Bell, would be a suitable thank-offering to the Lord. I believe in thank-offerings, however, and have written my dear old friend Mrs. W——, who is engaged in missionary work South, you remember, inquiring how I can best help her. Perhaps when her reply comes you will feel differently.”

Poor Annie avoided passing Mrs. Duncan’s home for two days, dreading to speak of her mother’s decision. The second day the expected letter came from Georgia. It told of a delicate little colored girl—a graduate of the Higher Normal Department of an A. M. A. School. This girl’s father had run away $150 in debt, and the home that sheltered the little family was to be sold at sheriff’s sale to pay the debt. This girl found a man who would pay it and wait for her to pay him in small sums as she earned it by teaching. As soon as this was paid she begged her sister to go to the school from which she graduated. The sister thought she was too old to begin to go to school again, and could not be persuaded till at last she was told—“Now Sis, kind friends at the North have helped me get my education and _I_ am going to send _some_ poor girl to that same school, and if you don’t go, some one else will be glad of my help.” So now she is paying nine dollars a month for that sister’s board and tuition, and buys her books and clothes, better ones, too, than she wore herself. A letter was also enclosed from this girl to her old teacher, begging for help to build a school house where she is now teaching. So besides educating her sister she is trying to build a school house. But I have the letter and will let the girl tell her own story:

“Dear Friend, Mrs. W——: I know you are very busy, and will not want to hear the word ‘building,’ but I don’t know whom else to write to. We have paid $71.70 on an acre of land for our school lot. We have $68.30 to pay and twelve months to pay it in, with no interest. We want to ask the A. M. A. if they will help us build a school house. We can begin now as soon as we are able. We want the A. M. A. to take full control of the house and the building of it, and we will help all we can. We want this to be a school for _everybody_. We have six men as trustees of the land, and have worked hard and are working still. * * * The whites are helping us and urging us to go on. Three white men gave $5 apiece, and others less. They were a little careful about giving this time, as money has been solicited twice before for the same purpose, so most of them would put their names down and say, ‘Come when you are ready for it.’ There was no trouble in getting it yesterday when we went for it. I was anxious to decide the matter and make a payment yesterday. I’ll try to get my money to you by the 10th for sister.

“Very truly, ———— ————”

When Annie got home from school she read both letters with great interest, but said, “Ma, don’t you suppose such letters are sometimes gotten up for effect?” “Perhaps they are, but I am sure this one was not, for you know I wrote asking for some case of pressing need, and the girl’s letter never could have been written for my eyes, as it is dated some weeks ago.”

“But, ma, I have seen some missionaries who are so long-faced and sanctimonious that some way I can’t enjoy their reports.”

“I am glad you hate cant, Annie. So do I, but if you should see this friend of mine who wrote that letter, you’d feel very sure there was none of it about her. She is one of the merriest, sunniest, most genial ladies I ever knew. And I never knew a person hate shams or pretense of any kind more thoroughly than she. How I wish you had been home when she was here two years ago; but you must take the letter to Mrs. Duncan, for she is a dear friend of hers too.”

“Is she, ma? I’m so glad.”

Annie stopped next morning at Mrs. Duncan’s and left the letter with the servant at the door, saying she’d call for it on her way home. When she called in the afternoon, Mrs. Duncan told her how delighted she’d been to hear from her old school friend, and that she must certainly help that brave little colored girl build her school house. Annie then ventured timidly to say her ma felt she ought to do that instead of buying so expensive a gift for Bell.

“Now, Annie, that is just like your sweet mother,” said Mrs. Duncan. “I wish I was half as good. I did hope, though, little May’s prayer might be answered.”

“Ma says it might be if you could get a simple gift like the one we get Bell,” shyly suggests Annie.

“Sure enough,” exclaimed Mrs. Duncan; “how stupid I was not to think of that. I’ll do it, and then I’ll have twice much to give the little Georgia missionary.”

So the two mothers purchased for the children inexpensive gifts, and sent to the Georgia colored girl a generous donation for her chosen work.

* * * * *

RECEIPTS

FOR NOVEMBER, 1880.

* * * * *

MAINE, $56.16.

North Anson. Mrs. Eunice S. Brown $10.00 Skowhegan. Mrs. C. A. Weston, _for Student Aid, Fisk U._ 5.00 Thomaston. Ladies of Cong. Ch., Bbl. of C. Wilton. Cong. Ch. 6.16 Winthrop. Henry Woodward 5.00 Yarmouth. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 30.00

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $93.54.

Amherst. Cong. Ch., $16.29; Miss L. W. B., 50 cts. 16.79 Auburn. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00 Concord. Ladies, Bbl. and box of C. _for Savannah, Ga._ Dover. Mrs. Dr. L. 1.00 Exeter. “A Friend” 1.00 Hopkinton. Rev. D. S. 0.60 Milford. Peter and Cynthia S. Burns 30.00 New Boston. “A Friend” 5.00 Salem. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.15 Temple. Mrs. W. K. 1.00 Walpole. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.00 West Campton. T. J. Sanborn 5.00

VERMONT, $222.82.

Granby and Victory. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 2.00 Johnson. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.00 Lower Waterford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 13.28 Ludlow. Cong. Ch. and Soc., and Sab. Sch. 12.01 Springfield. Mrs. Frederick Parks 100.00 Thetford. Mrs. L. N. Rugg, deceased, $2; P. R. $1 3.00 Wells River. Charles W. Eastman 5.00 Woodstock. First Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. DEA. JUSTIN MONTAGUE and CHAS. DANA, L. M’s 66.53 Williston. Cong. Ch. 10.00

MASSACHUSETTS, $2,967.62.

Andover. “Friends,” by C. R. B., _for Emerson Inst._ 28.00 Ashby. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 25.00 Ashby. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.25 Ashland. Cong. Ch. and Soc., _for Student Aid, Talladega C._ 8.50 Billerica. Cong. Sab. Sch. 8.25 Boston. Mt. Vernon Ch., in part, $30; Mrs. E. P. Eayrs, $5; “R. W. P.,” $5 40.00 Boston Highlands. “A Friend,” to const. MISS ELIZABETH F. BACKUP, L. M. 30.00 Boxford. F. E. C. 1.00 Bridgewater. Central Sq. Trin. Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. REV. J. C. BODWELL, L. M. 60.75 Brocton. “A Friend of Missions,” to const. CHARLES P. HOLLAND, L. M. 30.00 Byfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.54 Cambridgeport. “A Friend” 5.00 Campbello. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 100.00 Chelsea. Third Cong. Ch. and Soc., $10.55; “A Member of Central S. S.,” $2; Miss E. H. T., 50 cts. 13.05 Charlemont. First Cong. Ch. 8.25 Dedham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 188.00 Dorchester. E. P. 1.00 Dracut. “Friends,” by C. R. B., _for Emerson Inst._ 10.00 Enfield. Edward Smith 150.00 Everett. Mrs. C. K. Farrington, _for Kansas Refugees_ 5.00 Fitchburgh. Rollstone Cong. Ch. 57.61 Florence. Florence Cong. Ch. 115.00 Framingham. “A Friend,” $5; E. K. S., $1 6.00 Framingham. Mrs. Mann, two Bbls., one bag and bundle of C. Gloucester. “A Friend,” $1; Miss M. A. H., 10 cts. 1.10 Hatfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $63.50; R. M. Woods, $40 103.50 Holbrook. “E. E. H.” 25.00 Holliston. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch., $21; Bible Christians, Dist. No. 4, $5; “A Friend,” $1; _for Student Aid, Fisk U._ 27.00 Hopkinton. Bbl. of C., by Mrs. S. B. Crooks, _for Refugees_ Hyde Park. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 75.16 Ipswich. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.78 Jamaica Plain. Central Cong. Ch. ad’l $84; “Thanksgiving,” $4 88.00 Lawrence. Bbl. of C. Leominster. Orthodox Cong. Ch. and Soc. 92.25 Littleton. Mrs James C. Houghton, _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 3.00 Malden. First Cong. Ch. and Soc., _for Howard U._ 2.00 Marblehead. J. J. H. Gregory, _for Student Aid, Fisk U._ 50.00 Medfield. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. MRS. CATHARINE B. GREEN, L. M. 104.00 Medfield. Ladies of Second Cong. Ch., Bbl. of C. _for Savannah, Ga._ Middleborough. Central Cong. Ch. 35.95 Mittineague. Cong. Sab. Sch. _for Talladega C._ 3.00 Monson. Mrs. C. O. Chapin and her S. S. Class, _for Indian boys, Hampton N. and A. Inst._ 9.00 Montville. Sylvester Jones 2.00 Mount Washington. Rev. S. W. Powell 1.75 Newbury. Ladies of First Parish, Bbl. of C., _for Kansas_ Newton Centre. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 39.72 Newton Highlands. Cong. Ch. by Rev. Mr. Phipps, Eleven Bbls. of Apples, _for Atlanta, Ga._ Newton Lower Falls. M. A. M. 0.50 Newtonville. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $58.44; Mrs. A. C. G., $1 59.44 Northampton. First Cong. Ch. and Soc., $57.32; William K. Wright, $30; “B.” $10 97.32 Northampton. Sarah M. Lyman, _for furnishing a Room, Atlanta U._ 25.00 Northborough. Ladies, box of C., _for Savannah, Ga._ Sandwich. Miss H. H. Nye 2.00 Salem. MRS. E. B. MANSFIELD, $30, to const. herself L. M.; E. F. P., 50c. 30.50 Southampton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 35.39 South Abington. N. N. 1.00 South Boston. Phillips Cong. Ch. and Soc. 107.61 Southbridge. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 23.07 South Weymouth. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc., bal. to const. MISS MARY E. LOVELL and MISS MARY ANNA CADY, L. M.’s 47.00 Springfield. Mrs. S. E. B. 1.00 Sudbury. “A Friend.” 10.00 Taunton. Union Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.16 Tewksbury. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 117.50 Uxbridge. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 35.00 Ware. East Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Talladega C._ 53.73 Watertown. Mrs. W. R. 0.60 Watertown. Corban Soc., two Bbls. of C., _for Talladega, Alabama_ Webster. Cong. Ch. 10.00 Westborough. Freedmen’s Aid Soc., _for freight_ 1.00 Westford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 16.50 Westhampton. Cong. Sab. Sch. 14.45 West Newton. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 52.58 West Newton. Cong. Ch. and Soc., _for Room, Straight U._ 25.00 Winchendon. Atlanta Soc., $25 _for furnishing Room, Atlanta U._, and $3 _for freight_ 28.00 Winchendon. First Cong. Sab. Sch., $16.36; “A Friend,” $5 21.36 Winchester. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 85.78 West Roxbury. Evan. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Tougaloo U._ 20.00 Worcester. Union Ch., $105.72; Mrs. J. F. Lovering, $5 110.72 Worcester. David Whitcomb, _for Student Aid, Hampton, N. and A. Inst._ 100.00 Worcester. Salem St. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Talladega C._ 25.00 ———————— $2,742.62 Legacies.—Holbrook. “E. N. H.” 200.00 Waltham. Lucy H. Burnham, by Rufus G. Brown, Ex. 25.00 ———————— $2,967.62

RHODE ISLAND, $234.41.

Central Falls. Cong. Ch. 72.26 Kingston. Cong. Ch. 26.08 Providence. Young Ladies’ Mission Band of Beneficent Ch., _for Student Aid, Fisk U._ 100.00 Providence. North Cong. Ch. and Soc. 30.00 Westerly. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.07

CONNECTICUT, $1,454.26.

Ansonia. First Cong. Ch. 24.14 Ashford. Wm. D. Carpenter, $2.50; Lois H. Carpenter, $2.50 5.00 Avon. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 41.60 Berlin. “A Friend,” _for Student preparing for African M._ 50.00 East Hampton. Cong. Ch., to const. JARED C. KELLOGG, C. O. SEARS and SAMUEL KIRBY, L. M.’s 117.51 Ellington. MRS. HARRIET H. TALCOTT, to const. herself L. M. 30.00 Elliott. Dea. Wm. Osgood. 2.00 Fair Haven. First Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. SAMUEL HEMINGWAY and LUCIUS S. LUDINGTON, L. M.’s 60.77 Fair Haven. Sab. Sch. of Second Cong. Ch., _for Student Aid, Fisk U._ 35.00 Granby. First Cong. Ch. 4.00 Greenwich. D. B. 1.00 Hanover. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 47.85 High Ridge. C. A. P. 0.50 Lebanon. “Five Ladies,” _for furnishing a room, Atlanta U._ 25.00 Litchfield Co. “A Friend,” _for Student Aid, Talladega C., Fisk U., and Indian Dept., Hampton Inst._, $100 each 300.00 Marlborough. Cong. Ch. 21.00 Milton. Cong. Ch. 3.50 Morris. Cong. Ch. 14.00 Naugatuck. Isaac Scott 200.00 New Canaan. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 26.00 New Hartford. North Cong. Ch. and Soc. 30.12 New Haven. C. A. S. 1.00 New Preston. Rev. Henry Upson 5.00 North Guilford. Mrs. Eben F. Dudley 5.00 Norwich. W. A. A. 0.50 Old Saybrook. Cong. Ch. 8.96 Putnam. Second Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Hampton Inst._ 15.00 Tolland. James L. Clough 2.00 Washington. S. J. Nettleton, $5; Mrs. D. Nettleton, $5 10.00 West Haven. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.81 Woodbury. North Cong. Ch. 17.00 Woodstock. Elias L. Snow 300.00 ——. “A Friend in Conn.” 25.00

NEW YORK, $881.20.