The women looked at each other in silence; the magnitude of the generous sacrifice was almost too great for their comprehension.
“She was just poor enough to do that!” declared Mrs. Crowe at las in an abandonment of feeling. “Say what you may, I feel humbled t the dust,” and her companion ventured to say nothing. She never ha given away sixty dollars at once, but it was simply because she neve had it to give. It came to her very lips to say in explanation, “Temp was so situated”; but she checked herself in time, for she would no betray her own loyal guarding of a dependent household.
Sarah Ann
“Folks say a great deal of generosity, and this one`s being public sperited, and that one free-handed about giving,” said Mrs. Crowe, who was a little nervous in the silence. “I suppose we can`t tell the sorrow it would be to some folks not to give, same`s twould be to me not to save. I seem kind of made for that, as if `twas what I`d got to do. I should feel sights better about it if I could make it evident what I was savin` for. If I had a child, now, Sarah Ann,” and her voice was a little husky, “if I had a child, I should think I was heapin` of it up because he was the one trained by the Lord to scatter it again for good. But here`s Mr. Crowe and me, we can`t do anything with money, and both of us like to keep things same`s they`ve always been.
Now Priscilla Dance was talking away like a mill-clapper, week before last. She`d think I would go right off and get one o` them new-fashioned gilt-and- white papers for the best room, and some new furniture, an` a marble- top table. And I looked at her, all struck up. “Why,` says I, `Priscilla, that nice old velvet paper ain`t hurt a mite. I shouldn`t feel `twas my best room without it.
Dan`el says `tis the first thing he can remember rubbin` his little baby fingers on to it, and how splendid he thought them red roses was.` I maintain,” continued Mrs. Crowe stoutly, “that folks wastes sights o` good money doin` just such foolish things. Tearin` out the insides o` meetin`-houses, and fixin` the pews different; `twas good enough as `twas with mendin`; then times come, an` they want to put it all back same`s `twas before.”
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