The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-01-04
.s From the N. Y. Daily Tribune. of Aug 5.
HOT CORN: Or, Life in the City.
CHAPTER 1.

THE FIRST INTERVIEW WITH LITTLE KATY.
..Hor CoRNl Here's your nice Hot Corn.
smoking hot, smoking hot, just from the
pot!n Hour after hour, last evening, as we
sat over the desk, this cry came up in
soft, plaintive voice under our widow,
which told US of one Of the ways Of the
poor to exc out the means of subsistence
in this overburdened, ill-fed and worse
lodged bone Of misery-of SO many with
out means. who are constantly crowding
into the dirticst purlieus of this notorious
dirty City, where they are exposed TO the
daily chance Of death from some sudden
outbreaking epidemic like that now DESC
,laiing The same kind Of streets in New
Orleans and swallowing up lis thousands
of victims from the same class of poverty
stricksn.s uncom!ortably -provided-ior hu-
man beings, who know not how. or have
not the power to flee to the healthy hills
and green fields Of the country. Here
they liye--barely live-in holes almost as
hot as the hot corn. the cry of which rung
in our ears from dark until midnight
ssHot corn, hot corn! here's your nice
hot corn" rose up in faint child like
voice, which seemed to have been aroused
entering the Park, while the City Hall
clock told the hour when ghosts 60 forth
upon their midnightrambles. We estarted,
as though spirit had given US rap, for
the sound seemed to come out of one OF
the iron posts which stand as sentinels
over. the main entrance, forbidding all
vehicles to enter, unless the driver takes
the trouble 10 pull up and tumble out ol
the way one Of the aforesaid posts. which
is not often done, because one of them
often, if not always is out Of its place, Civ
ing free ingress to the court yard, or livery
stable grounds of the City Hall, which. in
consideration Of the growth Of few mis-
cradle dusty brown trees and doubtful
colored grass patches, We call "the Park. :
f,- Looking over the post we discovered
the owner Of the hot corn cry, in, the per
son Of an emaciated little girl abouttw
ytars old, whose dirty frock was nearly
ths color of the rusty iron, and whose face
and hands and feet, naturally white ant
delicate, were grimmed with dirt unit
neerly oil the same color. There wer,
two white streaks running down from tn
soit blue eyes, that told of the hot scaldin,
tears that were coursing their way owe
that naturally beautiful face.
s.Some corn, Sir" lisped the little sui
ierer, as she saw we had stopped to loo
at her, hardly daring to speak to one VIII
did not address her in rough tones OF com
mand, such as .'give me Some corn. yo
little volts whelp," or name still NOR
opprobrious both to herself and mother
Seeing we had no look of contempt 70
her, she said, piteously, .please buy som
corn, sir" Eabs
.No. my dear, we do not wish any;
is not very healthy in such warm weathe
az this, and especially so late atnight."
rOh' dear, what shall do?'
"Wby, 90 home. II is past midnigh
and. such little girls as you ought not to b
in the streets Of this bad City at this tim
Of night"
Il cant go home ] am SO tired an
sleepy. Oh dear"
.yGapnot 60 home. Why not?"
..Qh, Sir, my mother will whip me 1t