Malcolm’s face did not brighten with a feeling of heart-warm benevolence.  But he turned slowly away, and opening his money-drawer, very slowly toyed with his fingers amid its contents.  At length he took therefrom a dollar bill, and said, as he presented it to Lyon,—­signing involuntarily as he did so,—­

“I suppose I must do my part.  But we are called upon so often.”

The ardour of Andrew Lyon’s benevolent feelings suddenly cooled at this unexpected reception.  He had entered upon his work under the glow of a pure enthusiasm; anticipating a hearty response the moment his errand was made known.

“I thank you in the widow’s name,” said he, as he took the dollar.  When he turned from Mr. Malcolm’s store, it was with a pressure on his feelings, as if he had asked the coldly-given favour for himself.

It was not without an effort that Lyon compelled himself to call upon Mr. Green, considered the “next best man” on his list.  But he entered his place of business with far less confidence than he had felt when calling upon Malcolm.  His story told, Green, without a word or smile, drew two half dollars from his pocket and presented them.

“Thank you,” said Lyon.

“Welcome,” returned Green.

Oppressed with a feeling of embarrassment, Lyon stood for a few moments.  Then bowing, he said,

“Good morning.”

“Good morning,” was coldly and formally responded.

And thus the alms-seeker and alms-giver parted.

“Better be at his shop, attending to his work,” muttered Green to himself, as his visiter retired.  “Men ain’t very apt to get along too well in the world who spend their time in begging for every object of charity that happens to turn up.  And there are plenty of such, dear knows.  He’s got a dollar out of me; may it do him, or the poor widow he talked so glibly about, much good.”

Cold water had been poured upon the feelings of Andrew Lyon.  He had raised two dollars for the poor widow, but, at what a sacrifice for one so sensitive as himself!  Instead of keeping on in his work of benevolence, he went to his shop, and entered upon the day’s employment.  How disappointed he felt;—­and this disappointment was mingled with a certain sense of humiliation, as if he had been asking alms for himself.

“Catch me at this work again!” he said half aloud, as his thoughts dwelt upon what had so recently occurred.  “But this is not right,” he added, quickly.  “It is a weakness in me to feel so.  Poor Mrs. Arnold must be relieved; and it is my duty to see that she gets relief.  I had no thought of a reception like this.  People can talk of benevolence; but putting the hand in the pocket is another affair altogether.  I never dreamed that such men as Malcolm and Green could be insensible to an appeal like the one I made.”

“I’ve got two dollars towards paying Mrs. Arnold’s rent,” he said to himself, in a more cheerful tone, some time afterwards; “and it will go hard if I don’t raise the whole amount for her.  All are not like Green and Malcolm.  Jones is a kind-hearted man, and will instantly respond to the call of humanity.  I’ll go and see him.”