Snappy Sketches from Life: Satisfaction, or Money Refunded

Snappy Sketches From Life BY STUDENTS OF THE BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

II Satisfaction, or Money Refunded

BY FRANCIS SMITH

The smallest pig sometimes squeals the loudest. How forci- bly this thought was impressed upon me in a recent incident con- nected with Mr. Tightwad's first, last, and only contribution to a charity fund Mrs. O'Hooligan's husband had died recently, leaving her nothing in the world but a family of eight ever-hungry Irish boys and girls, a mortgage on her home, and the memory of Tim's love for a "dhrop o' the crature." For some time people had discussed means of helping the unfortunate woman but nothing came of it until the chairman ;

of the Good Fellows Lodge suggested that each member be re-

quired to visit the citizens for contributions. The resolution was carried and the work was soon under way. Two weeks later the report showed a total of fifteen hundred dollars. The secretary, having been appointed to take the money to Mrs. O'Hooligan, walked over to the shack which the O'Hooh- gans called home. "Come in," called Mrs. O'Hooligan, cheerfully, m response to his knock. "Oh, Mr. Graham, I— er—thought— have a it's

chair," she continued, wiping the dripping soap-suds from her arms with her apron, and dusting a dilapidated^ chair with the same garment. "It's a purty warm day, isn't it?" proffered "Yes it is," agreed the secretary, ignoring the "Mrs. O'Hooligan, the Good Fellows Lodge has been chair aware of your circumstances for some time and ; we took up a lit-

of fifteen hundred dollars, which we hope you will tle collection " be able to use." . , .

"Fifteen hundred dollars! Oh, Mr. Graham, it s so good of got a letter from some you but I can't take it, because I just that Tim's uncle has died an left us lawyers in Chicago, sayin' five thousand dollars." . . _ certainly is fine, Mrs. "Five thousand dollars! Well, that Take good care of it, O'Hooligan, I am heartily glad to hear it.

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and you won't have to wash any more," responded the secretary, as he started back to the lodge. The next question was what to do with the money. It would take a long time to refund it to the contributors. The committee finally decided to give it to the public library for some much- needed books. A notice was published in the newspaper, stating the decision of the committee. The contributors were told that if anyone had an objection to the arrangement, his money would be refunded. No one called for a refund except Mr. Tightwad, who said he had never used the public library, and never intended to do so, that books only made educated fools out of people; and that, therefore, he wanted his money back. "Very well," said the chairman. "What is the amount of Jonah Tightwad's contribution, Mr. Graham?" The secretary turned over a few leaves, ran his fingers down the page, paused, smiled, and replied "fen cents."