Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-21
The Pitcher Handle Dodge

One morning, during tho mcsr severe nor
tion Of the winter, we were walking down one
Of our rather fashionable avenues: demurely
cogitsting on the ills Of life, and the peculiar
hardships to which the poverty-stricken
wretches in this great metropolis were sub
lected, while suffering from hunger and cold.
incident TO the inclement season and the ab-
s sence oi work or pay, when Immediately be-
tore Us, on the sidewalk, little ragged bare
Iooted girl, bearing a pitcher in her hand,
cIlPPea at the crossing and fell, smashing the
ran olt oi crockery upon the ST )nes. IL was.
seenlnSty' pure accident, and the child, for
moment or two, gazed in mute astonisbmcnt
upon the wreck, retaining only the handle 81
the pitcner In her grasp! The poor little
creature feet were blue with the fros. a,1
one OF ner toes was bleeding from the effect of
Its collision with the curb stone; vet mill
we overlook her, she spoke not a word
An unlucky fall that, sis" was the na,n-
raj observation, as we gazed into her tearJoss
but almost despsiring cOuntenance The re-
mark was, apparently, il-timed, and, under
the circumstances, possibly. even cruel since
the unlucky daughter Of poverty seemed "a
feel the magnitude Of the disaster most sensi-
lively, and leaning against a lamp-post she
commenced sobbing as though her heart would
break.
ooh, sir. it's all we had ,-I-was sent
was sent for the milk-and-and il was the
last-the last two pennies my mother had, 4
don't dare 60 home Little brother won't
have no breakfast, and he's STICK :"
As the girl said this, she burst into fair
and hearty crying spell, each glance at tho
luckless pitcher handle seeming to increase
the intensity Of her grief. We had but a shiI.
ling, and where another would come from for
that day We did not know.
Selfshness said, " Keep the shillingyp
But, quoth sympathy, "the child is the
poorer 20
Pass on 20 was the impulse Of the cold
heart
"Shell out, and risk t,' was the instant
response Of the warm heart.
The girl got the shilling, and we got no din
ner; but happening in the neighborhood the
same day, We were relating the circumstances
very modestly to an extensive dealer in crock
cry, whose store was in the vicinity, when our
friend suddenly was taken with a cit of mus
ing, and then again with a 6t of laughing
Come here :" said he, "do you see that
crate on the sidewalk 20
We acknowledged TO the fact Of viewing =
big, square basket-built thing, nearly half
hlled with dilapidated articles Of delf and
queen ware.
And if she amt there now, I'm a sinner
was next exclaimed by our crockery friend
We gaZed and received instruction The
thing was played out That same " little
unfortunate of our mornings walk was very
cleverly selecting out all the cracked pitchers
IN the crate, they were given away of course
and depositing the same in her capscious
apron
g She gets about a dozen day" :" said our
friend.
." And breaks them all '" we queried, think
Ing of the shilling.
Always before beneVolent-lookiDg old TO
gies like yourself,''
But the bleeding toe ?"
Z" A red wafer
We were wiser by a yard and half but
shall always remember TIE PIrCHKR-HASDLE
DODGE