Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-06

lrlenGs as she passed down Main street. Nrs
Baldwin told her husband all about her walk,
and her adventure, and he (silly fellow kissed
her and said:
Bless your heart, dear wife, You are a
perfect sunbeam. Who, beside YOU, could
find any thing but wretchedness in Howard
street,"
Mrs. jefferson thought she would never
60 near the dirty alley again but on talking
with some ladies of benevolent association,
of the degradation qf its inhabitants, she con-
sented, after considerable urging, to 90 as a
missionary to the 'poor miserable creatures" !"
She supplied herself with bundle of tracts
and taking care TO wear clothing which would
not suffer the least injury from dirt, she sailed
forth on her mission.
Dear dear me p she said as she entered a
wretched domicil, Il should think you would
infect the whole city with fevers and cholera.
Don't you know that it is shamefully wicked
the Savior?" she added, In a simple tone.
Il don't want to be, if you are" was the
reply.
Here are some tracts l should like to have
you read If you can"
The woman snatched the tracts from her
hand, tore them to pieces, and threw them into
her visitors face.
Shaking the dust from her feet Mrs Jefferson
passed from that dwelling to another, making
similar remarks, and meeting with similar
reception.
Here comes that cross woman, who looks
so ugly at baby's sister and companions" and
she slammed the door in Mrs. Jefferson's face.
Il should think you would be sick, and |
should think your husband would drink" says
Mrs. j. to pale, feeble looking woman; Il
am not surprised at it at all. You oughtn't 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,' y
said Mrs. jefferson. ''There is no use trying
to do anything for Howard street.
Mrs. Baldwin could not help feeling an in
terest In the children who responded read
lily 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 a kind
reception.
Twas joyous welcome they gave her, for
the baby's sister exclaimed:
20, here is the pleasant lady who stopped
to look at Patsey, the other day. o, she i:
coming right in here'
1T is too dirty for the like o ye," said Pat
sey'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
rale lady see my house. Things didn't use to
90 so wild me No, indadel" And the poor
woman poured her life's history into the
strangers ear.
Tears filled 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 wash.
tub all day; but this smart little girl, who swept
the walk so nicely the other day, could make
capital housekeeper, am sure. Won't you
try it, my little girl? Won't you place every
thing, and scrub everything up clean, and keer
nice and tidy? Try, so when call again
can say how nice you look here. Wash your
dear little baby brothers face, and brush hi,
hair, and have his clothing clean, and | shall
love to tend and kiss him, for he is beauti
ful baby, | think
Mrs. Baldwin called upon every family il
Howard street that afternoon. None treated
her rudely, and many opened their hearts tC
her, as the babys mother had done. They
promised to follow the kind advice she Offered
while her tears fell with theirs, and the kline
look and encouraging words left sunbeams il
the cherries home after she had gone.
In two or three weeks Mrs. Baldwin called
again. Babys sister bounded to meet her
exclaiming with delight:
THE sweet lady has come at last She
come al last"
The "sweet lady" could hardly believe i
was the same place where she had called be
fore. The cobwebs had been brushed dowr
tho old broom. instead of doing service il
the mud puddle, had swept and scrubbed tbs
floor. Everything was in order. A few
weeds and common flowers formed bouque
for the table, and the Growing, capering baby
was perfectly bewitching in his wholesal,
cleanliness.
We'll DONE my brave little girl hop,
YOU will keep on"
Keep on. Indade, an | will keep on
ma'am. Father saws he won't stop ava,
nights, as long as everything is so nice ant
pleasant here-and my mother says she cal
rest great deal better when she comes home
and her face looks so happy too! O, amt /
HltC W W
Some had failed to carry out their plans o
reform; but Others had succeeded. and testified
TO the delights of neat, orderly home. Th'
indolent and discouraged housekeepers wer
reused by the good example of their neigh
bors. and one by one they followed suit, unit
az length the leaven had leavened the who'll
lump.
After two or three such friendly visits, Mr.:
Baldwin took some tracts with her. The,
were not only kindly received, but differen
families met together to hear them read-no
so much for the good they might get as for tn
kind lady's sake. The tracts produced goo'
effects. however and from time to time ther
| were added TO the various city churches fror
the inhabitants OF Howard street, of such a
shall be saved.
Ii was two years ago that Mrs Baldwi
l made her first call at the dirty alley, and no.
) the walk which shortened the way down
, lined with neat cottages, with flowers in tn
| yards, and vines curtaining the windows-th
homes of sober, contented working men an
a women. Mrs jefferson wonders, and man
i others, what can have wrought such happ
r changes. Mrs. Baldwin has never blazone
4 her successful work abroad. but she thank
D God that he made her the humble instrumer