Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-21

"Happy Land
and other time honored fsverises o. the pro-
d osss ai,s euTessone singer But had reek
quire, found that "my little family, knew
them not, and was obliged 10 let them 20
,he sne f own regais, programme taking
was at our trysting- place at the appointed
hour. and there stood my temporary in vestm emit
Of rags and tatters shivering In the biting wind.
very thin shawl each TO cover their heads and
shoulders They did not know me at first. And
no wonder! 1 was deliberately got up for the
had an old woollen comforter wound two or
three times round my neck, covering the lower
part of my face.
.'Oh, that's you, Is it?" said the elder GIRL as
| took hold Of her arm; "aint you later"
told her that il was just eight o'clock, and
| inquired their respective names.
And then she added sharply. q Save old 5sPil ao
amt you going to stand US no supper afore We
ssartS IT'S Did cold, an we're as hungry O.
! stared In astonishment at this prem ature,v
old child Thst they would be hungry was
certainty. They had probably never eaten q
hearty meal in their lives and had intended to
give them one before parting with them. But
the girls assurance startled me, and her Ian
guage, though II did nottsurprise, distressed me
was also Q little taken sback at being 80 cooliy
addressed rs sold 'un." However, told them
TO wait where they were, and hurried down TO
Third avenue, and bought some cold meat and
bread for them at an eating saloon. On my re-
the bread and meat disappeared with. maxwell
lous rapidity. When they had finished, Mag
horrifed me by demanding "a drop Of some
L sternly refused to do any thing OF the sort.
~, Mother alters gives us something on a night
like this Ieioined the girl, and 1 amt a'goin'
to sing without it-are you, Lot?n
Lot signified an indignant refusal
On, Odger, Bradlaugh, Bealae, Lundella, and
others OF your kidney, why did you ever plant
your hateful theory Of strikes in the hamau
two young children for fifteen minutes, and they
had the hardihoed TO strike for q glass of rum
apiecei IL Is horrible to think Of. Still did
made diegraceful compromise with NV con-
science by insisting that they should only have
one drink between them. feel uneasy in mind
now now Is ! recall the appalling ggsto with which
their eyes.
In order to drive the repulsive scene from my
thoughts, hurried them along Lexington ave-
nue.. and we were coon following our vocation
In Thirty ninth street, my intention being to
beat backward and forward In the streets lying
men beat up and down the woods for game.
Mag opened with " P ut NJ e in my Little Bed,
IN not unmusical voice, Lottie and joining in
the chorus at the end Of each verse; They both
sang out to their full power, and thoroughly
reused the echoes in the quiet of the night
AFTER we had sung several verses, nv ear
caught the sound OF smiling sob by my side.
looked down and found Lott:e crying.
HulOah! what's the m after, little woman
guard.
The only answer she vouchsafed to my sympa
thete inquiry was hasty soto roce intim alton
thai should "cheese it,"
In an instant I saw nv error. The practised
eye or this accomplished little dSists had caught
the sound of the latch of the basement door
and she was INDUCING in a little by-play, in or
Der 10 narrow up the feelings, to the regulation
elee mosynary standard, OF any one who might
A colored woman was our first victim.
Whether she were cook or chambermaid, of
course knew not; but her sympathies led her to
present Us with the munidcent contribution of
two cents, for which warmly thanked her. The
cold air drove her indoors again; and Mag, who
was evidently of an economical disposition,
started on without finishing her song.
As We walked along, Mag remarked, in the
most business-li OF tones:
"Say odd 'un, / guess I'll boss the talkin.'
I'm more used to il like"
had no objection to offer to this arrange
ment: and, as we neared the other end of the
block, Mag pulled mp and again started 50 Put
Me in my Little Bed" There were lights in the
basement, lights in the parlor, and on the floor
above; but, beyond some one turning the parlor-
shutters for a moment and peering out at US,
we sang and sang in vain. So We edged on
across the avenue, and crawled toward Madison
avenue at a snails pace, singing we went.
The appearance of some ladies and gentle.
men from one of the houses at once gave the
girls violent attack of the shivers-Mag SO
badly, that her voice shook; and Lottle, that
she sobbed again.
in the sire cts such q night as thisi" said one Of
the ladies, from behind her seal-skin muff "FOr
Heavens sake, give them something Harry!
The more they get, the sooner they'll 60 home"
Mr.. Harry" did as he was bid. and dropped
ten cent stamp into Mays trembling hand.
On reaching Broadway, we doubled back
down Thirty-eighth street. and led of with
" Down in q Coal Mine," with great spirit, as
soon as we had passed three or four houses. But
Down in a Coal Mime didn't draw and sug-
geste d to Mag to try something of a more sentf
ing of the Green" and with more success; for,
before she had finished, a nice, ini-hearted
looking old lady emerged from the basement,
with light shawl thrown hastily over her head
children out on such . mig t?" she asked Of me-
Mag dashed to the rescue.
." He can't help it, ma'am," she said. He's
my neck in an oldred silk pocket-handkerchieO,
can he can't work, ms'am."
The old lady retired, and soon reappeared
laden with cold beef and bread, which she dis
THANK you. kind lady-shall We sing
again." inquired Mag.
"AH, we've Sot noWhers's the to OF, go ii ta: re-
joined Mag; and then she artfully added, with
deep, sigh, "as soon as we've got the price of q
nights >, lodging; We shall quit. It's 50 cold"
passed on, the old lady bidding Us goodnight as
We turned away.
damn the old woman ar her stale corned
beer" calculated Mag, rs soon we were out
Of hearing. why couldn't she give US .
nickel?"
The bread and meat was at once consigned to
limbo in the capac0us pockets of my old over
coat, borrowed for the occasion OF q GARDINER
On We wandered, up one street and down
another, varying our repertoire with " The Harp
that Once through Tara's 1.-THE girls pronounced
1t tedrer'sl Halls" " Dermott ASHORE" and
other ballads, taking every nov and then Q cent
or two from the passers-by, who, however, were
"lke angels visits-few and far between" and
an occasional i've cent piece from some chari-
table householder, all of whom seemed to feel
great sympathy with the children, and to be
filled with feelings OF unutterable scorn and In
dignation for me.
We, however, met with little In the shape of
incident till we reached Thirty-ffth street,
where We had stationed ourselves in front of
brilliantly-lighted house. We had gone through
two of our most stirring and touching songs,
and had just begun /" Tara's alls" again, when
an old gentleman, without hat on, appeared
at the top of the steps. The girls at once threw
themselves into the sit uation. and sang as loudly
and plaintively as they could, L following suit
The old gentleman was q small, terrier-like
looking man, with scrubby, gray side-whiskers
and grizzled hair, brushed after the fashion
which history ascribes to Brutus. His pockets
were most capacious, therefore probably well
lined; for, when he Owed both hands into them,
his ms disappeared as far the elbow. There
he stood, watching US without moving q mus
cfs Of - for raj nj do