The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-01-14
OUR SATURDAY NIGHT.
Ten Miles for Ten Cents.

This Saturday Night We wish to
talk with the little girls whose par
ents may read this chapter, or who
may be able to read it themselves.
1t is about a little girl in the great
city Of New York.
We want little girls in the coun-
try TO read it, and to tell us, as
some Of them will, if they had not
rather live in little homes there
than here in the city, where the
houses are all in . row, and where
whole families Of poor folks live
in cellars, garrets, and little rooms,
not SO large as the kitchen or din
ing-room where thousands Of the
little girls, we are writing to, eat
their dinners or suppers.
This afternoon the air was raw
and cold. Overcoats, shawls, and
furs felt good. We were in our
room uptown, two miles away
from the downtown office, where
the men work over types and press
es to print the paper. In the CRATE
nice coal fire burned brightly,
and we were working at our wri.
ting. thinking how glad we were
that Saturday night had come
again, so we could rest, excepting
to write our regular chapters after
dark, when there was little timid,
tiny knock on the door-so light
and softly we hardly noticed it.
Then there was another little
knock. So we arose from the
desk and opened the door, for it is
not polite to shout aloud-'come
in when one can step and open
the door.
A little girl not nine years old
came in. She was poor little
girl, with coarse clothes, and a
tired look on her face.
Come in, little one. Come to
the fire and be warmed. What is
your name1
She told US, and told where she
lived, and that her father was killed
in war. and that her poor mother
was sick.
What do you do?'
I work in a milliner shop on
Fourteenth street, sir
Are you little milliner to make
little hats and bonnets?'
mo. sir; l only carry home the
work for the ones who come to
buy things of the madam
What have you il that bandbox,
all strapped so nicer
That is q hat-box, sir. / carry
home hats and bonnets in it,
'Ah! see. You are q little err
rand-boy2'
No, sir. A little errand-girl.
.Imean q little errand girl to do
boys work?'
yes, SIR
How much do you earn2'
The madam pays me two dol
lars a week.
what do you do with the mon
ey?'
Take it home to my poor moth
err
! What does she do7'
She works at anything when
} she is we'll enough
what kind Of work.
: Sewing for anybody that want.
, her to-
: How much does she earn2'
l.. Il don't know, sir. Sometime,
/. four or five dollars week, whel
e she is we'll
DO you have many errands tt
t do?'
Yes. sir. / must be there at
! o'clock in the morning, and kee]
e busy till 6 at night
+ We'll. you don't have to be run
d ming around all day, do your
s yes, sir. get back, then g
u right out again somewhere else
! well, tell me what you cam
here for. Have you bundle 0
bonnet for me2'
No, sir. l ran all the way frol
$ Forty-fir street here (Sixteent
: street after took hat home fo
It lady, to see you, then will ru
It again 10 lose no time
II We'll. little one, what can / d
+. for your
!. L don't know, sir. A man wh
If gave me this little shawl said if
20 would come to you may be 20
e would give me pair of little shoe
y for may be you had little girl wh
y had some all worn out for her, b,
ID l could wear them
q On her little feet were sho,
ii much too large for her-give
ar her nv a vOnnu ladv- They hli