Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-09-29
mislellnllenus.
From the New York Tribune
LIFE At THE FIVE POINTS,:
MADAL1NA; The Rag-Pickers Daughter.

Sir, said the door keeper to Mr. Pease one night
little Madalina, the beggar girl, is at The door
crying bitterly, and says she wants to see YOU
Tell her to go away, cannot see her tonight
1t Is 'leven o'clock, and am very tired She mus,
come Tomorrow
The fellow turned upon his heel to go away, bu,
as ne dId SO Mr.. Pease caught glimpse of bis
hand and the motion of the coat sleeve across his
eyes.
Tom said he, Tom, my dear boy what is the
matter? q
lom did not turn round as he had been taught
and usually did. so as to look him full in the face
when he answered in TACT he did not answer read
lily; there was choking sensation in his utter
ance which prevented his words from coming
forth distinctly.
Now, this boy had been about three months in
the Home and perhaps more squalid, wretch
ed, drunken boy, cannot be found in the purlieus
of the Five Points than he was when he was actu-
ally dragged out of the gutter, brought in, washed
and dressed, before he came TO, SO as 10 be con-
scious of the change that had come over him
Yet this outcast, who cared for nothing human
not even himself, now stood rainly trying to choke
down his grief for the SORROWS of a little beggar
girl.
Tom, said he springing up for getting all ia
tgue, Il will 90 and see what is the matter. Who
is this Madalina1' y
She is an Italian rag pickers daughter, Sir
they live at Cow Bay-I used to lodge with them
sometimes That is, the mother picks rags and
father goes with the hand organ ard monkey
All, that is where the little tamborine girl came
from that we have in school There is a quarrel
| suppose, and the little girl has come for me-
Tom went down stairs .xith heart as light as
his step, which, said Mr. p | followed i must ac-
knowledge, rather heavily, for did not quite rel
ish the idea of being Weakened out of comforta-
bic evening nap, to do police duty at Cow Bay,
and fear there mis- ght not have been quite as much
suavity in my tone and manner towards the rag
pickers daughter we ought TO use when speak
ing TO these poor children for recollect the words
were, What do you want girl :? instead of What
can do for you chiId-come, tell me, and don't
cry any more
don't want 10 be beggar girl Iwant to be
like my cousin Juliana'
Juliana-Juliala. l don't know her.
1t is the little tambourine girl, sir, said Tom.
Oh, see now Juliana is your cousin, then
Come here Madalina let me look at you, and /
will talk about IL
He drew her forward into the light, and think,
said ne, never saw finer formed set of features
in my life Her hair which matter of course
was black almost as the ravens wing, and subse
quently. when cleaned of dirt and accompaniments.
became almost glossy, overshadowed pair of
the keenest vet mildest black eyes | ever met
with. Her skin dark, partly natural, and
partly the effect of the sun upon its unwashed,
unsheitered surface. Her teeth OH what a set of
teeth, which she afterwards told me she kept clean
b. habit she had of eating charcoal. She was
about twelve years old, slim form, rather tall but
delicate structure. Her dress consisted of dir
ty cotton frock, reaching little below her knees
and nothing else. Barefooted, bareheaded, almost
naked at - clock of a cold March night, lit
tie innocent child wandering through the streets of
New York, vainiy plying the words Please give
me penny, SIR 10 we'll fed, comfortably dressed
men, whose feelings have grown callous by
stantly hearing such words from such objects to
whom to give is not to relieve, but rather en-
10 pursuit oi SuSl III SolAeH
means of prolongins life, without any prospect
of benefit % themselves 10 their fellow crea
lures
Then YOU don't want to beg, Madalina -
Why not q
Because people push me- and curse me, and TO-
day one man kicked me, right here sir, and she
laid her hand upon her stomach, and groaned with
pain,
Kicked YOU; what for were you saucya'
No, sir my mother says if saucy, men
won't give me anything. l must be very quiet,
and not talk any, nor answer any questions they
ask me-
Then how came he to kick you
i don't know, sir, did not say word, | only
went into one OF those nice rooms Broadway
where they have such beautiful glass bottles and
tumbsers and looking glasses, and such sight of
all sorts of liquor, and where many fine gentle
men go and sit, and talk and laugh and drink, and
smoke; and just went along and held out my
hand 10 the gentlemen. when one them told me TO
open my mouth and smut my eyes and hold out
my hand, and he would give me shilling. Now
look what be did-he put his cigar all burning
in my hand and shut il up and held il there
Horrible! she opened her hand and showed
three fingers and the palm all in blister.
Oh sir that is nothing 10 what the other one
did. He put great nasty chaw of tobacco in
nv mouth, and then could not help crying, then
the man that sells the liquor he run out from be
aind the counter and how he did swear. and caught
me by the hair and pulled me do sn on the floor,
ard kicked me SO could hardly get away But
he told me if did no, he would set the dogs on
me and tear me 10 pisces
What did you 60 In such place for ?
i had been all day IN the streets and oniy got
three pennies, and wanted TO go home
Well, why did you not go
My mother said If did not gel sixpenoe 10
iav she would whip me, and SO went in that place
did not think such fiue dressed gentlemen would
10 SO. What if they should have 10 beg some
aavs Nv father used 10 dress as fine as they do
when he kept the Ca sis flnperator