New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-09-01
LIFE AT THE FIVE POINTS.
MADALTNA; The RAG-PIcKERs DAUGHTER

TEL her 10 away, cannot gee hei "'''-"' ~ - ~
O'clock, and am very tired She mus CUM - l''''V"
r. f.ur turperuDop hs heel to 90 away but a. he did
49, A. .,, the yi;ure Of his hand and motion Of the coat
sleeve across the eyes.
.Ton0 aid be. Tom, my dear boy. wha, is the mat
TER
t.. Ala M, turn round a. he had been taught and
al. Ala m NJ 70 look him full in the face when he answered
m f.et he did not answer readily there choking
ston in his uerance which prevented the words from con
ing forth distinctly
Now this boy had been about three months in the
Home and perhsps squald wreched drunken boy
cannot be found in the pureus Of the Five Points than he
was when he was actually dragged out Of the gutter
brought IN washed and dressed before he came TO- as to
be conscious Of the change that had over him Yet
this outcss who cared for nothing human not even him
self now stood vanly trying TO choke down h grief for the
sonows Of little beggor gid,
"Tom,r said he springing up forgetting all fatigue
will 60 and see what is the matter. Who is this Made
Enar
"sbe Is an Italian rag pckers daughter. sr-they 1--we IN
Cow Bay-I used to lodge with them sometimes That a.
the mother picks rags and the father goes with the hand
gan and monkey
"Ah that Is where the little tambOrine girl came from
that We have now in school There quarrel suppoe
and the little girl has come for mi"
Tom went down stairs with heart as light as his step
which said Mr. p followed must acknowledge rather
heavily for did not quite relish the idea Of being wakened
out Of comfortable evening nap TO do police duty in Cow
Bay and fear there might not have been quite a. much SUI
avy in my tone and toward the pckers daugh
ter ought when speaking to these poor children
for reooIect the words What do you want girl
instead Of What can do for you my cbild-cone tell
me and don't cry any more
IL don't want to be bcggar girl. want 10 be Ike ny
cousin Julsna.
"Juisna--.Jurana don't know her
ct IA the little smborine girl, sir" said Tom
.Ob see now Juliana il your cousin then. Come
here Madana lei look at you, and will talk nb ut II
He drew her forward into the light and think sad nc
never saw finer formed ct Of features in my life Her har
which ns matter Of course black almost a. the ravens
wing and subsequently when cleaned of dirt and ITS a.
commandments became almost glossy, ovcrshadowed
u.r Of the keenes yet mdest black eyes have ever met
with Her skin wes dark partly natural and partly the
effect of tho sun upon its unwashed unshetered surface
Her teeth Oh what O set teeth which she aitcrward tod
me she kept clean by habit she had OF eating charcoal
She was about twelve years old slim form rather tau bat
deca,c structure Her dress consisted of one dirty cotton
frock reaching little below her knees and nothing else
Bare footed barebcaded almost naked at IL ocok oil
cold March night it'll. innocent child wandering through
the streets Of New York vainy plying the words, Please
give mo uonnv sir to well fed comfortably dressed mon,
whose feelings have grown caous by constantly hearing
su, words from such objects to whom to give is not to re
leve but rather encourage 10 continue in the pursuit oi
such III gotten means Of prOonging life without any pros
pect Of benefit 10 themselves their fellow creatures
"Then YOU don't want to beg, Madalna Why not =
Because people push and curse me and to day one
man kicked me right here sr and she laid her hand upon
her stomach and groaned with pain
kicked you what for were you saucy =
.No. sir I am never saucy. My mother says If am
saucy men won't give anything must be very que;
and not TAX any, nor answer any questions
Then how came he 10 kick you
"I don't know Sir did no, say word only went into
one of those nice rooms on Roadway where they have
su,h beautiful glass bottles and tumbers and looking gasso'
and such sight Of all sorts Of liquor and where 30 many
fine gentlemen 20 and SIT and talk and laugh and drink
and smoke and just along and held out my hand to
the gentlemen when Of them told me to open my mouth
and sbu, nv ewes aud hold my hand and he would give
me shilling Now look what he did-he put his cigar all
burning in my hand and shut it mp and held ii there
Horrible she opened her hand and showed three fingers
and the palm all in blister.
oh Sir that is nothing to what the other one did lie
but erea, nasty chaw OF tobacco in my mouth anu 'en
could not help crying thon the man who sells the quor
he run out om behind the counter and how he did swear
and caught me by the hair and pulled me down on the
Hoor and kicked me so could hardly get away But he
told me il did not lac would set the dogs on me anu
tear me 10 pieces
"What did you go into such place ior
he'd been all day IN the streets and only got three pen
nes. and wanted to 60 home
We'll why did you not go =
NV mother said IL did no, get ssponco to day she
would whip me- and SO went in that place d'd no.
think such nice dressed gentlemen would do 50 "h@
they should have to beg day My father used 10 uess
as fine as they do when he kept the Cge de fimPTao'
And wh.ro have YOU been since they abused You so
crept M in ear in rearlst, was SICK oher the
tobacco and The kick, for il was very hard
Gould you not get home !"
M Sir Besides what ii l could and my mothor {
been drinking She would kick me again, perhaps
What. then are YOU going to do tonight You cannot
sleep in the street II is too cold
Wont yen LET me slcop'--
with Your cousin Jasna =
No Sir not that she is clean, and II wish | was
Won't you LET me sleep on the floor
"You shall have place to sleep tcnshi and to NOR
row. il your mother is willing, you shall COME aud I've
with cousin Juana and be dressed as she Is and learn
to sew, and when you get big enough
Her mother will prostitute her she did her older SIS
ter to a miserable old pima lor ten dollars
Tom Tom. what is that =
The truth Sir Have ever told YOU lie since have
have been in your house ~
"Wcl we'll Tom take Msdalna to the housckeopor
and give her somewhere sleep tonight aud tomorrow
manning Won shall 70 to her mother and what she
will do"
.Iord Sir must Go TO night She will BE- of with her
hook and basket pokng in the cutters after rags before
the STAR 20 10 bed These NsPckegs aIe early birds
Ihave known them walk four Eve miles on morning.
to g, to their walk
Own walk. What is that -
An the city Is divided up among them Fash INST