The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-11-08

",
Missionary of the New Yorl, Home for the
FIieDdess.
THE LITTLE: STREET SWEEPER.
Brother Pease, Of the Five Points
House Of Industry said to me one jav
when | was in his room. There is littl,
girl here on the Points-she lives in the
house next TO the corner there she is about
nine years old, and ought to be taken away
from the people who have her. Size is on
the streets all the time. and they have no
right at all to her Her father and mother
are both dead, and the little thing is not
treated properly
In answer to my inquiry she said, "She
was always to be found about the corner of
Beekman street and Park row, when the
streets were muddy, sweeping the cross,
ings'
Hardly any OF my readers have failed of
an introduction to this class of children, as
they have passed through the city thorough
fares; and many of your pockets have been
relieved, as little hand from some dirty
garbed solicitor, has been raised before YOU
with the cry. Please give me penny,
SIR Please give me penny, man"
After hearing the facts about this little
girl, l started in company with an employe
of the House of Industry, familiarly known
by the name of Father Burke" who
knew the little girl, ard was to point her
out to me If she could be found Half an
hours search failed to discover the child,
and We gave up the hope of finding her
at that time. Two days subsequently, a
like effort proved useless, and Father Burke
returned to the institution, after giving me
description Of the child, and her name
Having some business in the vicinity OF
the post office, on my return toward the
Park l was looking for some one to answer
the description given to NE of little Mary
and had reached as far as the Times
buildings, when, looking back, discover
ed just by the most southerly gate of the
Park three girls, one of which | hoped was
the one for whom my search so far had
been fruitless
Almost Immediately on my discovering
them they disappeared through the gate in
to the Park, and were hid from nv view
by an apple-stand located at that point.
! With all possible haste ! was in tht
Park, back of the applc-s,and but only
two children were TO be seen. Hurriedly
l asked, "Was there not another girl will
you just now p
| "Yes, sir
"Where is she 30
Don't know she ran from us as 500,
as she got in the Park"
"What is her name !''
Now We were surc we had seen tn
child we were in search OF, for Mary Mul
len was the name Brother Pease had piy
en- us.
Searching earnestly for few moment:
our eye rested again on the busy little thing
sweeping the lower crosswalk in the Park
and coming directly toward us as hard a
work as if matters of moment we're depen
ding on the manner in which she moved
as | have no doubt 4 severe fogging was
Approaching her, | asked, What i
your name
Mary Mullen, sir.
Where do you live p
"On Pearl street.
"Who do you live with p
My father and mother
When | desired her to 90 with me
she refused, and began to cry, AM
my assurance that | should not ALLOW
her to be injured did not quiet her fear:
and she continued to cry until We reaches
the Mayors Office.
His Honor was considerably amused b
our appearance before him with our lttl
street-sweeper, for there she was, broom Il
hand. her cid ragged dress fastened u
about the waist. after the fashion of th
Emerald Isle;' short petticoat; leg:
feet, face, and arms spattered with mud
an old hood, from which her mot,led fac
only peeped ont her broom with the W
per half of the handle gone. completed th
inventory of Mary's effects as she was pre-
sci ted by US before the Mayor for munich
pal inspection
Our story was soon told. and Mary va