Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-01-26
OUR SATURDAY NIGHT.


--Longfsilog.
OUR SATURDAY NIGHT.
no HOME!
This Saturday night the wind
howled as il whirled by, lifting dirt,
dust. rags, and the like from the street
to dash them in the faces Of those who
hurried along. And it was cold, shiv-
cring, ment-searching, as if in an
ger at one who would be comfortable.
The heavy omnibuses rumble by over
the frozen pavement The horses
seemed all in a shiver-the driver sat
pounding his gloved hand on his
knee, his face well muffled, as the bus
turned from Broadway into Four-
tecnth street. Every one was hurry
ing to reRch home, or somewhere.
"Hip
Too late. We sprang to catch the
horses TO a curriage. The driver
turned out 10 meet the omnibus. A
little, little ragged girl ran TO cross
the street-did not notice the team
two gentlemen sprang at the same
time with us TO save her, but too late.
The carriage, with its driver in
livery hurried on, as if it were not
worth while to pick up ragged little
girl
We helped bear her into n store.
Her little face and hands were blue
with cold. The little calico frock and
thin petticoat did not keep the cold
from her body. The ragged shoes
kept her feet from cold pavement, but
there were no stockings or little pan
ties TO keep per ankles and legs
warm.
The poor little thing moaned and
shrank away as we placed her on a
counter. while the great, agony-illed
tears camo TO warm her freezing
checks Gently as mans hand could
were the hooks TO her dress unlocked
the blood from a cut on the left side
of the forehead wiped away, and her
little feet warmed by our hands.
Then wo found three ribs broken by
the foot of one of the horses, as be
struck her down.
aW hat is your name, little one =
"Sarah RYAN, sir
Where do you 1--we
"Nowhere, sir"
"Wherc is your mothorg
"She is dead, sir"
"And your hther|
"IIo was sent TO prison, sir, two
years ago, sirT And here the tears
f fell fast and scalding.
"How old are you, Sarah y
eTen years old, sit"
"But Won live somei0hercs'
, 81 sleep at Daddy Burke's cellar
"Who is Daddy Burkey"
! "Ie isl rag-picker, sir; and let's me
sleep in his cellar"
Chow do you live"
4 IL sweep the crossings when it''
5 muddy, and hold out my hand, sir.
To hold out tho hand is 10 silently
/ ask aims"
"And, sir, know kind lady wh'
gives me victuals, sometimes, iol
/ Daddy and me-
; We took the little waif uptowr
where lives a good woman, and q ply
4 sician friend called TO render assistance
Q charging nothing for his time AM
! troublc. Perhaps It was two hour
4 ago VIC lett the little sufferer in
II warm room, on a clean bed, her dirt.
rags removed, and clean little night
N dress or her slim body. And sh
was sleeping with tear in each eye
e trying to hold back other tears.
re- Old Daddy Burke, in hiss ragcolla
's will wonder tonight where is the hi
|, tie one who, it seems, begs for him !
N return for the shelter he gives thi
be little girl who once had a mother, an
q ?. who is somebody's little girl for a
be her poverty.
Tomorrow she will be bette
a Pretty soon she will bo well, an
= somebody will care for her as yo
= and we. kind reader. would wish SON
y one to care for our little ones.
Who Of the little girls that rea
T, this chapter of facts would chang
: places with poor little Sarah, who b.
"A no home-no ono TO love her! WI
! would carry the load this poor lit
n innocent must carry all the years
no her lifei
"Moihcr is deadl'
m "fathcr IN prison y
n God pity the little sufferer. \
home-no one to keep her good, AT
=, purc. and spotless. The world
=, cold to her, as was the blast this nigi
hc Who will keep her from falling ev'
worse than she fell the while sine
no. who will take hcr-bo kind TO her
prav for her-carc for her, and try
"a make her frozen life happyt Sor
!, one will-wc know it-have asked
= and knotu some ono will care for b
an as she is cared for now.
re If thousands who read, and W
in know Of the armies Of poor little cl
dren in great cities who have
homes, would pause and think OF th'
mi own homes, and how much better
AN they are than they might be-h'
,er much moro comfortable they are Oh
on thousands Of others, they would
nv happier, braver, more conienied a
be liberal of heart.
ing Sometimes, when weary from ov
alk work, or when trouble, as all arc
Igh times, We feel depressed in spii
w. tried, and Just little envious OF th'
la. who fare sumptuously, live in idlen
ing and extravagant luxury. And wei
,dy tempted to close up business
what we have, and invest in non-t
able securities, and live on the inter
tho without more labor. Sometimes
nut are very, very tired. The SANDER
10 enemics-the bctrayals by so.cal
friends-the continued strain NJ