The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-08-05 00:00:00

SMOKE AND SENTIMENT.
I never smoke a cherished Pipe.
Which plcasol me with its choice, quaint make,
But when it had grown nearly ripe
In colouring, it was sure to break —Pinch.

A SCENE FROM A LONDON POLICE.
COURT.

On Saturday, at the Bow-street Police-court, In the
course of the day a number if children found destitute or
begging in the streets of London were brought to the court
by the onicer3 of the London School lloard.
An Irishwomm, the mother sif a wretched young
urchin, of stbout eight, in workhouse attire stepped
forward, and, addressiiil the Magistrate, said: " our
worship if you send this boy away from me to one of
them schools, you'll be the death of me. My husband
is in the country at work, and he told me that he
would hang me if I parted with the boy, and sure he'll
be as plod as his word."
The Gaoler said this women's children were always
being brought to the court for begging in the streets.
There could be no doubt that she lived by their earn-
rni in this way.
The Woman : God forgive you for the lie you're
telling. If I let them sell a paper or twos' a match
box, surely there's no harm in that. Ile was going to
school this very day, but there was a holiday, and the
school is closed.

The Magistrate said he could not understand the
mother's objection to the boy being sent to Feltham or
some school where he would be taught a trade anti learn
to read and write, unless, as had been said, she lived
oval what her children earned in the :Areas tl her
shame. . . . .

Mother : k the ls•y liiaelf if iie woolthet
sooner live with his own mother than be sent to :whoa

The lhar (roaring): Oh ! drat% soul me to school !
Hio to mother. Don't selm,l toe to school !
lit !i tt.,l I li.l lit ham ..1 a I.ina the boy
h a rine ti n emit sorry to ~ay bf.y,; of tlii
sooner go to Insoa than to ,e1e..1 at any time.
Pv Ycs, I would, your woritip. sonr.er yo
t me to prLon, but delft send me to

t -tfrt +lrate : Why, vu fn4ih boy, I r.-ent to
nt.or Ishoull not have been here. it will be the
t thing for you, awl you maybecorne a goad, hnnett,
intithttrittus loan, instead of being an outcast all your
life, _ _

Here the boy get up a hideouß howl, during which
he wax reMOVIA from the (lock, to he ultimately trans-
ferreil t 4 OW I atlc4le I clot Id Sri. 4 at lit

Another child, apparently about nine rears oil, a
bright intelligent-looking girl, was placed at the bar.
She was more decently dressed than the rest, an .I her
simole :.tery is a • liAtilegi t, with i;rest into, cr, awl
c.,eited much ~ymnathy in cont. She was found
v..andering about Holborn, br;reele,:, and friendlc.„
havin,; been turned out of the Field-lane Lefu,,e,
wi cc. a.JJaidin,4 to the :,tatentsut of the Sciaepl. Lard
"she bad been admitted the niht before, e su-
tra.-y to the regulations of the establishment.' Her
uame was Mary Ann .Micklewalte.

Th, pogg be had no father c,r uo.th g, and
no home. txhe could not tell how old she.wa., but sls:
was born the same day that the big fire broke out near
London Bridge. She had been told that ehe was
given tots beggar woman, who carried her about for
four years, end then sold her to another blind beggar
woman. This woman left her one I lay, and she had
lever !nifl anyone to look after her slice. Some ate
ook her to the Befog°, hut they said it was agailist the
..ults, and she was sent away again next morning,

The officer sail thSblind woman referred to lived at
No. 3. Saffron-hill.
The child :No 4, if you please. (A laugh.)
Officer: Yes, she is nghts The fire she speaks of
happened about nine years ago, I believe, out that will
fix her :tge. She says her name is Mickluwaite. lie
knew it would be contrary to orders to take her into
Field-lane, but upon his recommenilation oh:. wochi be
txkixt back tid the Range and ptovided for until sulutt
tiling could be done.
Thi: Magistrate said she hail latter be taken there
1.. r a week, pending arrangements for her future wel-
fare.