River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-11-15
sc TOT."

What "a yer done, Tot?"
"Ain't sold none, mother. A boy
took one or EN-"
And Tot, small ragged child, de-
livers up to her mother eleven boxes of
matches, and then delivers herself to a
scrutiny of her rags for the hidden
money. The search is fruitless Tots
scanty dress does not yield even one
farthing.
81 told yer 'ow it 'ud be if yer sold
none, hot or cold; so out you CO."
"Ill be froze to death, mother.
amt eat nothing" replies Tot, plteous-
ly
"Froze to death will yer? I'd thank
the good Lord if he'd take yer-and
me too, for the matter of that. spose
there's SIGH many wants to go, he
can't take 'em all. But out you co."
she goes on, suddenly; and Tot Is
seized, pushed into the street, and the
door shut before she can utter one
word.
She waits for a little, hoping against
hope that the door will reopen. But
it isn't the first time she has been
turned out, and she knows by expe-
rience how very small the chance is of
getting in again. She feels very
wretched, even more than usual. For
once in her little life of eight years
Tot has spoken the truth; she has eat
en- nothing all the day. It doesn't
matter much. She has starved before
and the idea that any one ought to be
blamed because she is in want of food
never occurs to her for moment. She
has a curious feeling in her head, too
but she has been thrashed so often, and
cursed at so often, and faint with hun
ger so often, that she is accustomed to
curious feelings
1t is very cold-freezing hard-and
there is an east wind blowing-a wind
that at once declares war against Tot,
and with it's sharp, cruel teeth, attacks
every unprotected part Of her body
face, hands, legs, and various smaller
pieces here and there. Before leaving
the door that is so helplessly shut, she
ponders for time how to pass the
night-she is sure mother will let her
in next morning. She knows lots of
outdoor sleeping-places; but she
knows. too, that they are always well
tenanted, and that, to pay her footing
she must submit to a preliminary
course of bullying and she is so faint
and so cold that she fears to encounter
it. So she determines to walk about,
trusting to some happy chance to send
her bed.
She hurries along till she gets into
Oxford street. 1t is late in the eve
ming, and the shops are lighted up.
Tot knows them by heart, but never
gets tired of looking. One size likes
best of all it is full of tiny horses and
carriages, and little men and women, and
funny animals like yellow dogs, bat
with very thick necks covered with hair
And all these things are good to eat
Tot knows that, for she has heard la
dy say so. She always stands at that
window till policeman orders her to
move on but tonight though she has
hurried along as quickly as possible to
get to this particular shop, she scarce
ly stays there minute. How it is she
cannot tell. but she has lost all inter-
est in the funny animals; indeed she
can see nothing funny about them.
She is restless, too, never standing still;
and she has strange wish to get some
where, she has no idea where.
She goes on through Oxford street,
down Regent street, and then turns
into Piccadilly. Her head seems to
get lighter every minute. She fancies,
too, that she is not so cold and not so
hungry as ut first, but she cannot be
sure about it. On, on she walks, till
The bright shops end, and a railing be.
gins, with trees and grass upon the 9TH
er side; and there is only single line
of light, stretching away out of sight.
Tot is beginning to get out Of her beat !;
but on she goes-she wants so much to
get somewhere and there IS plenty
of time to go home before morning.
There is q great crowd of carriages,
and cabs, aud people, going the same