's wife," Mrs. Wentworth commenced hesitatingly. "My
husband is now a prisoner in the North, and I am here, a refugee from
New Orleans, with two small children. Until a short time ago I had
succeeded in supporting my little family by working on soldiers'
clothing, but the Quartermaster's department having ceased to
manufacture clothing, I have been for several days without work." Here
she paused. It pained her to continue.

Mr. Swartz looked at her with surprise, and the idea came into his
mind that she was an applicant for charity.

"Vell, vot has dat got to do vid your pisness," he observed in a cold
tone of voice, determined that she should see no hope in his face.

"This much," she replied. "For over twenty-four hours my two little
children and myself have been without food, and I have not a dollar to
purchase it."

"I can't do anything for you," Mr. Swartz said with a frown.

"Dere is scarce a day but some peoples or anoder vants charity and
I--"

"I do not come to ask for charity," she interrupted hastily. "I have
only come to ask you a favor."

"Vat is it?" he enquired.

"As I told you before, my children and myself are nearly starving,"
she replied. "I have not the means of buying food at present, but
think it more than likely I will procure work in a few days. I have
called to ask if you would give me credit for a few articles of food
until then, by which I will be able to sustain my family."

"I thought it vas something like charity you vanted," he observed,
"but I cannot do vat you vish. It is te same ting every tay mit te
sogers' families. Dey comes here and asks for charity and credit,
shust as if a man vas made of monish.--Gootness gracious! I don't
pelieve dat te peoples who comes here every tay is as pad off as tey
vish to appear."

"You are mistaken, sir," Mrs. Wentworth replied, "if you think I have
come here without being actually in want of the food, I ask you to let
me have on credit. Necessity, and dire necessity alone, has prompted
me to seek an obligation of you, and if you require it I am willing to
pay double the amount you charge, so that my poor children are saved
from starvation."

"I reckon you vill," Mr. Swartz said, "but ven you vill pay ish te
question."

"I could not name any precise day to you," answered Mrs. Wentworth. "I
can only promise that the debt will be paid. If I cannot even pay it
myself, as soon as my husband is exchanged he will pay whatever you
charge."