Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

from a man named Buffum??

“Never mind that I’ll see to it by and by.?

“But I do mind, for I’m interested in all your affairs, and though

you think I’ve no head for business, you’ll find I have if you’ll try

me.?

“This is only about my two old houses in the city, which are being

repaired and altered so that the rooms can be let singly.?

“Going to make tenement houses of them? Well, that’s not a bad

idea such places pay well, I’ve heard.?

“That is just what I’m not going to do. I wouldn’t have a tenement

house on my conscience for a million dollars not as they are now,”

said Rose decidedly.

“Why, what do you know about it, except that people live in them

and the owners turn a pretty penny on the rents??

“I know a good deal about them, for I’ve seen many such, both here

and abroad. It was not all pleasure with us, I assure you. Uncle was

interested in hospitals and prisons, and I sometimes went with

him, but they made me sad so he suggested other charities that I

could be of help about when we came home. I visited infant

schools, working women’s homes, orphan asylums, and places of

that sort. You don’t know how much good it did me and how glad I

am that I have the means of lightening a little some of the misery

in the world.?

“But, my dear girl, you needn’t make ducks and drakes of your

fortune trying to feed and cure and clothe all the poor wretches

you see. Give, of course everyone should do something in that line

and no one likes it better than I. But don’t, for mercy’s sake, go at it

as some women do and get so desperately earnest, practical, and

charity-mad that there is no living in peace with you,” protested

Charlie, looking alarmed at the prospect.

“You can do as you please. I intend to do all the good I can by

asking the advice and following the example of the most ‘earnest,’

‘practical,’ and ‘charitable’ people I know so, if you don’t approve,

you can drop my acquaintance,” answered Rose, emphasizing the

obnoxious words and assuming the resolute air she always wore

when defending her hobbies.

“You’ll be laughed at.?

“I’m used to that.?

“And criticized and shunned.?

“Not by people whose opinion I value.?

“Women shouldn’t go poking into such places.?

“I’ve been taught that they should.?

“Well, you’ll get some dreadful disease and lose your beauty, and

then where are you?” added Charlie, thinking that might daunt the

young philanthropist.

But it did not, for Rose answered, with a sudden kindling of the

eyes as she remembered her talk with Uncle Alec: “I shouldn’t like

it. But there would be one satisfaction in it, for when I’d lost my

beauty and given away my money, I should know who really cared

for me.?

Charlie nibbled his pen in silence for a moment, then asked,

meekly, “Could I respectfully inquire what great reform is to be

carried on in the old houses which their amiable owner is

repairing??

“I am merely going to make them comfortable homes for poor but

respectable women to live in. There is a class who cannot afford to

pay much, yet suffer a great deal from being obliged to stay in

noisy, dirty, crowded places like tenement houses and cheap

lodgings. I can help a few of them and I’m going to try.?

“May I humbly ask if these decayed gentlewomen are to inhabit

their palatial retreat rent-free??

“That was my first plan, but Uncle showed me that it was wiser not

make genteel paupers of them, but let them pay a small rent and

feel independent. I don’t want the money, of course, and shall use

it in keeping the houses tidy or helping other women in like case,”

said Rose, entirely ignoring her cousin’s covert ridicule.

“Don’t expect any gratitude, for you won’t get it; nor much comfort

with a lot of forlornities on your hands, and be sure that when it is

too late you will tire of it all and wish you had done as other

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