National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-12-27
LITTLE BETTY.

She had no other name that she could
remember, so she said, and be we'd
her. And she hardly had need that
so seldom was she called anything but
Brat You Bet and Girl" Nc
home had she either, or friend; nothing
on earth save one little, crippled broth
er, who was left to her when her mother
died. She didn't live. anywhere. Does
that surprise you, She stayed in New
ork ; that is, she ran the streets and
alleys all day, selling papers now and
then, begging most of the time. and
always dragging round with that lame
boy
She loved that ragged little brother,
and she would care tor him as an animal
wonld Tor its young. But what did she
know about getting him a nice home, or
having him cared for by others All on
eaEth she feared was that the night
watch would find her asleep some time
and lock them mp. So she hid in out-of-
the-way pa es after dark many times
down in the foundations Of unfinished
buildings oftener in empty barrels but
they always slept together.
Perhaps little children who live at
beds to sleep in, wonder how Betty could
have slept in barrel. Very safely when
1t was in some obscure place where she
was not likely to be seen. And there,
through all the long dark hours. she
would sit cramped and confined, folding
tte little brother close to her, and loving
him as only SO holy u nature as hers
could lsve. But when l say Betty hail
a holy nature, / do not mean to say she
was christian, or went TO Sun say
school, or didn't steal occasionally, or lie
always when she ran risk of having a
Cop catch her, But do say for we
must remember that no one ever taught
her right from wrong, that naturally she
was a brave, strong, true. little girl, do
ing her duty just as well rs she knew
how, and never forgetting for a moment
to shield her helpless little charge.
How gladly she would run an erIand
for penny; how quickly she would
answer when asked if she wanted any
thing TO eat. And when she got the
penny or something to eat, it was not for
herself she wanted it,-oh, no, but for
hungry " Buddie'
She lived for another more than she
lived for herself and that is the way
knew she was holy knew that she was
tender, loving girl, spite of her sur
roundings. And the other way that
knew she was coed, was from her man
ner of living alone.
No one told her that she must be care
ful and protect herself; for who cared
what happened to Betty! But her own
soul told her to go where there were the
fewest bal people; TO live to herself,
even if she die stay in the streets, and to
keep her own life pure as she would her
brothers.
She knew she must not sleep on the
cellar doors or under the awnings, where
80 many children do; for if there were
girls and sometimes even women huadled
there together, Betty knew it was not the
place for her.
One day last SKINNER, as l was hurry
ing along my way thinking of my own
troubles, whc should meet but this lit
tie street child. She almost staggered
she was so very pale ana weary and this
tAne there was no brother with her.
"How is this, Betty 7" l said to her
"where is Ted!' The boy had no 9th
er name that he knew Of She burst
into tears, aud when she could speak, /
learned that he was dead.
Then I'VE sat down on one of the bench
es in the Park near City Hall, and she
told me all about herself; for often as l
had seen her, it had never occurred to
Inc to find out everything / have been
telling you, until then; and then-it was
too ltte,
FED got sick when we slept down to
the dock by some cotton bags, one night,
and all l could do, he died. In the
morning, when was going away with
HIM in my arms, a man took him from
me-" bitterly sobbed the child; "but
went with him, and see them put him
in box, and, oh Miss, they took him
right off and wouldn't let me go. cried |
and run after the cart, but the man cut
at me with his whip, and l fell down,
'foEe l could hang ON, they were all !
gone. Oh, it's awful not 70 have any
brother"
Poor, starved child; she had told her
story it was love that had kept her
strong and hopeful so long; and u was