The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-04-09

fOlCCJ 'WIdt uO yOu Wlilt HSIc!
First" said 1, "will you do me fa-
vor to look at that card in your hand.
Perhaps you may know my name"
"Yes," says he, looking at it. 'I
know this name"
Good. 1 only want to ask you a
plain question in civil manner, and
there is not the least occasion for either
Of us to be angry. 1t would be very fool
ish in me to blame you, and [ don't blame
you. | may find fault with the system
you administer, but pray understand that
l know you are here to do duty pointed
out to you, and that have no doubt you
do it. Now, hope you won't object to
tell me what [ want to know"
"No," said he, quite Modified, and very
reasonable, mot at ALL What is it?"
"Doyou know that there are five wretch
ed creatures outsider"
II haven't seen them, but I dare say
there are."
"Do you doubt that there are?"
'.No, not at all. There might be many
more"
ssAre they men, or women?o
"Women, suppose. VeEaskely one
or two of them were there last Night, and
the night before last"
There all night, do you mean?"
Every likely"
My companion and I looked at one
another, and the master of the Workhouse
added quickly, "Why, Lord bless my soul!
what am to do? What can I do? s,rhe
place is full. The place is always full
EVERY night. I must give the prefer
enee to women with children, mustn't I?
You wouldn't have me not do thst?"
"Surely not" said I. at is very
humane principle, and quite right; and
am glad to hear of it. Don't forget that
don't blame you."
"Well!" said he. And subdued him
self again.
"What I want to ask you," went on, ais
whether you know any thing against those
five miserable beings outsider"
"Don't know any thing about Them" T"
said be, with wave of his arm.
II ask, for this reason: that we mean to
give them triae to get q lodging-is they
are not shelterless because they are thieves,
for instance. don't know them to be
thieves?n
II don't know any thing about them, y
he repeated emphatically.
"That is to say, they are shut out, solely
because the Ward is full?"
/ because the Ward is full"
''And if they got in, they would only
have roof for the night and bit of bread
in the morning, suppose?"
That's all. You'll use your own dis
cretion about what you give them.
Only understand that / don't know
any thing about them beyond what l have
told you"
"Just so. wanted to know no more.
You have answered my question civilly and
readily, and l am much obliged to you.
l have nothing to say against you, but
quite the contrary Goodnight"
Goodnight, gentlemen" And out we
came again.
We went to the ragged bundle nearest
to the Workhouse-door and I touched it.
No movement replying, L gently shook it.
The rags began to be slowly stirred with
in, and by little and little a head was un.
shrouded The head of young woman
of three or ur-and-twenty, as / should
Judge; guant with want, and foul with dirt
but not naturally ugly.
''Tell us,n said /, STOPPING down, "why
are you lying here ?"
I Because 1 can't get into the Work.
house."
She spoke in faint, dnll way. and had
no curiosity or interest left. She looked
dreamily at the black sky and the falling
rain, but never looked at me or my com
panion.
"Were you here last night?"
eyes. All last night. And the night
afore too"
DO you know any of these others?"
ri know her next but one. She wa!
here last night, and she told me she came
out of Essex. l don't know no more o
her."
"You were here all last night, but yol
have not been here all day."
''No. Not all day"
"Wherc have you been all day."
,, "About the Streets"
"What have you had to eat ?"
! Nothing"
"Come p said I. 'Think little. Yor
: are tired and have been asleep, and dom
quite consider what yoa are saying to us
= You have had something to eat to-day
Come! Think of it !"
t ''No / haven't Nothing but such bit
E as / could pick up about the marke!
!. Why, look at mel"
n She barred her neck, and covered it u
= again.
g 'If you had shilling to get some sup
e per and lodging, should you know wher
to get it?n
0 eyes. / could do that"
"For Gods sake get it thenp'
: 1 put the money into her hand, an
she feebly rose up and went away. Sh
:, never thanked me- never looked at me-