Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1852-12-22
SCENES AMONG THE POOR OF N. YORK,
"With fingers weary and worn
With eyelids heavy and red,
A woman sits in unwomanly rags,
PLYING her needle and thread,


The New York Daily Times has the fol-
lowing pictures of virtuous misery which
are worthy Of reflection
My companion was Mr. Pease, the Mis-
sionary, and as he knew the ground better,
let him lead, keeping as close behind him
as possible, and Unjust be confessed, grasp
ing my cane with feeling of some satisfac-
ton. AS we CROPPED along the dark passage,
a door opened occasionally, and lights
cleaned out, and haggard, filthy faces
looked at US, but with no especial curiosity,
for no one knows or cares for any one else
IN these great roockeries.
At length. as we turned the angle we
found ourselves in more light, and an open
door showed crowd of low woman in a
small dirty room, gathered in great gee
around some poor fellow they were plucking
Scarcely glancing in, we passed, and in the
next room, at the door, there stood two or
three dirty children. Something in the ex-
preston of one-perhaps lock of such
sad want-struck me that involunta rily
stopped, and the children rushed forward,
recognizing Mr.. Pease and chung to his
hand most affectionately. Hardly stopping
he turned down another stairway, led me
into the ceier of the old building, then
going On a few steps, knocked at the door
of a room. 1t was opened at once, and we
were welcomed by nice young Irish girl.
The place looked neat-there was a table
cloth on the table. with candle burning in
the centre-and the floor and hearth well
swept.
In one corner was large bed with three
children. Tie air was very damp in the
room, and rank with oders from without.
This young girl and her mother occupied
the room. Her mother was out Mr..
z. fell at once into conversation with
her, after some talk he asked her. s:What
she was working at now % ''Plain check
shirts, SIR" she said showing them to
US. ''What did she get for them 90 .sTen
cents apiece" she replied "How many
can you do in a day ?" 1.-TWO, and some
times three, if | begin at six and work till
late at night" ''You do other work 90 s:Oh,
yes sir, pantaloons-and | get two shillings
for them, and sometime three and six by
the day; and dress making beside-though
| don't often get that. What do, can
earn dollar day. You know it wont do
to wait for work. must take what comes,
and ladies don't like to put fine work in
such places, and so take them shirts.''
so, ali you make with them, is twenty
to thirty cents day 2"
eyes SIR"
"Ain't you afraid of falling behind-with
your rent and everything."
''Dh no, slr-lt always comes out right"
"lou did much better with me- Jane
what did you use to earn at my work ?"
'About six shillings, SIR"
Well, come over to the house to-mor-
row, and [ can give you some more work !"
And after little more talk we bid her good
night.
The girl was not more than twenty two
years old-with a fresh, cheerful, healthful
face, which it did one good to look upon
L cannot IN any way convey the healthy,
hopeful tone With which she spoke of her
meagre wages, and the chances of work,
though none knew better than she, in that
foul nelghbOrhOOd, the terrible alternative. if
she did fall behind-hand. She was not of the
best class Of seamstresses; yet there was to
Inc III her clear, hearty look, and her neat
dress, and her ~hole bearing, purity which
contrasted singularly with her vile quarters.
Mr. Pease says he has known her for
y N"io) c'hN eH>iS 10 1UU ~ iiOl flIluOuS StFl
III the city. AS l made my way out of the
fifty den, [ could not but think of how diff
ferently she might be living, if she had cho-
sen anything but all honest life. The virtue
that holds out ia such places, must be
worth something.
Our next visit was to needle-woman Of
rather better class. The house was in an
alley leading out OF Pearl street. We entered
it by stairway on the back side, and it
seemed to me, wound about through some
half dozen passages, and up and down half
dozen stairways, before we reached the
room. Each room that we passed, appear
ed to have separate family in tin one
quiet working. people, cooking their supper; ;
in another company Of coarsely- talking
woman, putting on finery for their evening
walks through the streets, in another, some
desperate looking men, whom one would
rather not meet in a lonely alley of dark
night, and who glanced at US suspiciously
as we passed by. In general, however, we
were not noticed.
The seamstress opens the door at our rap,
and meets Mr.. ?. III a very friendly manner
We are invited in, and chairs placed for us,
and she introduces her aunt, with whom she