The Portland daily press., 1862-12-08
egradation ofits inhabitants. She consented

dlter cOnsluerdDle urging, 10 20 as u ullsslOud-
ry to 'the poor miserable creatures She sup
piled herself with bundle oftracts; and TAX
ing care to wear clothing which would not SUI
fer the least injury from dirt, she sailed forth
on her mission.
Dear, dear me she said. as she entered a
wretched domicile, Il should think you would
infect the whole city with fevers and cholera.
! Don't you know it's shamefully wicked for
! you to be so dirty? Are you friend of the
Savior?' she added, in simple tone.
Don't know. don't want to be if you are
was the reply
Here are some tracts should like to have
You read if you can
The woman snatched the tracts from her
hand, tore them to pieces, and threw them in
her visitors face.
Shaking the dust from her feet, Mrs. Jeffer-
son passed from that dwelling to another max
ing similar remarks, and meeting a similar re-
ception.
Here comes that cross woman, who looked
so ugly at baby's sister and companions and
she slammed the door in Mrs. Jeflerson's face
L should think you would be sick, and
should think your husband would drink says
Mrs. Jefferson to a pale, feeble-looSing wo-
man; i am not surprised at it at all. You
oughtnt to live in this miserable way
Mrs. Jefferson did her duty in distributing
her tracts, but she had the satisfaction of see
ing the most OF them follow her into the street.
and the rest were consigned TO the flames.
Those creatures are hopelessly depraved,"
said Mrs. Jefferson. There is no use trying
to do anything for Howard Street"
Mrs. Baldwin could not help feeling an inter-
est in the children who responded so readily to
her kind looks, and so, without telling even Mr..
Baldwin what she proposed to do, she set out
to make some calls among them. She thought
she would call first where the baby lived for
she felt quite sure-of kind reception.
''rwas joyful welcome they gave her. for
the baby's sister exclaimed:
"Oh! here is the pleasant lady, who stopped
to look at Patsey the other day! Oh! she is
coming right in here"
''It's too dirty place for the like o. We" said
Patsey's mother.
'Never mind" said our sunshiny Mrs. Bald
win. Il felt like dropping in, and thought /
would take the liberty"
"Bless We for it! am ashamed TO have a
reale lady to see my house. Things didn't
used to 20 so wild me No indadet And the
poor woman poured her life's history into the
strangers ear.
Tears filed the loving listeners eyes, and
she replied:
Il think l can understand your feelings. my
good woman. A poor, weary body must re-
quire rest after she has been out over a wash
tub all day; but this smart little girl, who swept
the walk so nicely the other day, would make
a capital house-keeper, am sure. Won't you
try it, my little girl? Won't YOU place every
thing, and scrub everything up clean, and keep
nice and tidy? Try. So when l call again /
can see how nice you look here. Wash your
dear little baby-brother's face, and brush his
hair, and have his clothing clean, and shall
love to tend and kiss elm, for he is a beautiful
baby, think"
Mrs. Baldwin called upon every family in
Howard street that afternoon. None treated
ha~tt .slalx~ o,,1 Al
her rs the babys mother had done. They
promised to follow the kind advice she Of
fered, while her tears fell with theirs and the
kind look and encouraging word left sunbeams
In the cherries homes, after she had gone.
In two or three weeks Mrs. Baldwin called
again. Baby's sister bounded to meet her, ex-
claiming with delight:
THE sweet lady has come at last! she's
come at last."
The "sweet LADY, could hardly believe II
was the same place where she had called be-
fore. The eobwebs had been brushed down
the old broom, instead of doing service in the
mud-puddle, had swept and scrubbed the floor
Everything was in order. A few weeds and
common flowers formed boquet for the ta-
bic, and the Growing, capering baby was per-
iectly bewitchirg in his wholesome cleanli-
ness.
We'll done, my brave little girl! hope
you will keep on"
Keep on! Indade, an will keep on, nam!
Father says he wont be away nights, as long
rs everything is so nice and pleasant here
and my mother says she can rest great deal
better when she comes home, and her face
looks SO happy too! Oh. amt it nice TO be
clean?"
Some had failed to carry out their plans of
reform; but Others had succeeded, and testi-
fled to the delights of a neat. orderly home.
The indolent and discouraged house-keepers
were reused by the good example of their
neighbors, and one by one followed suit. until
at length the leaven, leayened the whole lump.
After two or three such friendly visits, Mrs.
Baldwin took some tracks with her. They
were not only kindly received. but different
families met together to hear them read-not
so much for the good they might get as for
the kind lady's sake. The tracts produced
some good effects. however, and from time to
time there We're added to the various city
churches from the inhabitants of Howard
street of such as shall be saved
1t was two years ago that Mrs. Baldwin
made her first call at the dirty alley! and now
the walk which shortened the way down is fl
led with neat cottages, with flowers In the
yards, and vines curtaining the windows-the
homes of sober, contented working men and
women Mrs. Jefferson wonders and many
others, what can have wrought such happy
changes. Mrs. Baldwin has never blazoned
her successful work abroad, but she thanks
al. L