Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-11-11

ing MIR. Thornton seated on the sofa.
"Well, the hall door must be closed, at
least, partially, for too much cold air
comes in" said Mrs. Floyd.
Permit me to do it for you, madam"
said Thornton, as he arose and went to
the door.
But Lillian was not at the steps. "She
should not be out herself. at this time of
night thought the gentleman, and
straining his eyes as he looked up and
down the street, he thought he recogniz-
ed her figure as she passed under gas
light some distance ahead.
To go back in the hall, snatch his hat
from the table and pursue her, was the
work of an instant.
As she turned the corner, he FASTENED
his pace, fearing TO lose sight of her. He
beheld her now enter dark, dirty.look
ing court, lighted by one lamp. with two
coal beavers plodding sullenly along,
and drunken man staggering home
over The hard trodden snow that crunch
ed under his feet; the whole presented
as strong contrast as possible 10 the
street which he had just left. The
place looked as if the Christmas festival
had never been instituted for its inhabi,-
ants, as if the great event which the next
day was to commemorate brought no
ameliOration, no glad tidings to them.
The only sign of the happy jubilee
was group of children standing under
the light, examining with eager, almost
envious eyes, small drum and clum
sy yocket knife, exhibited by two OF
their triumphant companions.
Just as Lillian and her little guide
reached the door, they were joined by
Mr.. Thornton, who said,
"You are very imprudent, Miss Lii
ian, TO go out at SO late an hour; 1 had
to come after you"
ooh, l didn't think about it, Mr..
Thornton; and suppose am; but there
is poor woman very i'll here, and her
baby is dead"
The boy opened the door, and they
entered a room, tolerably clean to be
sure, but with none of the comforts, and
scarce any of the necessaries OF life. A
tallow candle, running in huge cutters,
standing on the rude mantle shelf, threw
dim, worrying kind Of light through
the room; the floor was bare, and The
furniture consisted Of broken stove, two
dilapidated chairs, deal table, and a
camp bedstead, with most scanty sup
ply Of clothing.
Lillian was far from rich herself, but
she had nevea seen anything to equal
this. None, except those living in large
cilies, have an idea OF the extreme poY-
erty of some OF the poor there.
On the bed lay the living mother and
the dead infant together. A coarse,
hard featured woman was at work on the
piece of white muslin, that was to robe
the little form for its last resting place;
and the poor mother wept as she thought
of the bright Christmas day that would
pass so happily to so many little children,
and to so many fond mothers, and of the
cold winter storms that would howl
around the grave of her child: and of
the white winding sheet OF snow that
would cover it; and of the violets and
birds that would be there in the spring
tine. She wept. too, as Zone without
hope" for the poor human love of the
mother could not yet look up with the
eye of faith, and see her babe with the
white winged band around the Great
Throne.
Arthur Thornton stood by the door in
silence. He had never witnessed scene
like this either. A new phase of life was
revealed to him.
He knew that there were such poor,
such very poor people, but fortunate
life had never before brought him in
contact with them. He was not sell
fish or unfeeling man, only prosperous
and thoughtless one; but as Lillian Floyd
bent over the bed and with the sympa-
thetic tenderness of truly kind heart,
talked to the woman, as if she had been
used to the haunts of poverty all her
life, he silently vowed that hereafter,
the talent committed to his care should
not lie unproductive.
Lillian, in the meanwhile, was gather
ing the history Of the sick woman.
"I am a widow, and used TO sew,
Miss. for the Shops" said she, "lill 1 got
a cold in the fall, carrying some work
home in the rain; then l was laid up,
and it camo dreadful hard on us; for
didn't get enough money to put by, Phil
ip only got dollar a week, for being
errand boy in grocery store. And his
money, Miss. l had to take for rent"
'Was the baby sick long?" asked
Lillian.
Eyes, Miss, about two months. She
took the fever from want of food and
fire; it was that that killed her." and the
mother burst into passion of tears.
"And the doctors didn't care, Miss"
continued she, ''to come to see us poor
people, when there amt much chance Of J