The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-05-03
The Amateur CurbstOne Singer.

Creak crack, creak crack, went every stall
/ stepped on, as stumbled up what did duty
for staircase, but would have made fire
wood at which first-c class washer woman
would have turned her nose mp, in splendid
specimen of the Five Points tenement house
of the period
"Confound the rickety old place!"
muttered. as stopped for moment at the
top of the third fl ght if don't mind,
shall take a trip to the ground-ho like
Puck swiIter than an arrow from the
Tartars bow and without requiring the
assistance of a patent hydraulic elevator"
peered through dingy, dirty pane OF
glass by my side, almost the only one in the
window which was not covered and pasted
over with brown paper and, TIN Oueh the cob
webs had a fine though somewhat mixed up
view of tumble down chimneys, gable-ends
and clothes of all cuts and cOlors, Tapping
about with the eddying current of air. This
was consolatory. for | knew | must he near
my destination the top floor back"
screwed up my courage, went at the stair
case again. and raped with my knuckles on
Mrs Jones's door.
out shoes and stockings, and with her hair
streaming about her, answered the summons
Are you Mrs. Jones'? inquired.
Yes. be- replied the woman, so snap
pishly. that 1 shrank back. And then she
added, still more snappishly, what dye
want?"
mentioned the name of the person who
had given ire her address, by way of intro
duction, and she seemed greatly Modified
Oh! if it's him as yer come from, yer
can come in" she said
] entered. and she handed me an old
wooden char, which so far defied the laws
OF Nature that though it had lost its back
1T was tulerabIy firm on its legs. took in
the place, the family, and the situation, at
glauce. If ever was in the abode OF
degradation. wretchedness, and misery, ]
was then But 1t was no worse than L had
been led to expect. A rickety deal table
two other chairs, a dilapdated chest of
drawers on which II few old rags were dry
ing. small cooking-stove, and a tumble
down bedstead. comprised the stock OF Mrs
.lUness furniture On the mantel-piece were
ranged several dirty medicine-bottles a
wIneglass without stem, and two broken
plates OF different patterns, some cups and
saucers, and two tin saucepans, stood on q
shelf On the table was a sarsaparia- bot.
tie with little gin in it. The Odors
which rushed from Mrs. Jones's lips told me
that 1T WAS gin. In fact, she was in the
primary stage of intoxIcation.
was about to open The business l had in
hand. when rafting cough from under the
heap OF filthy bed-coverings startled me.
"Some one ill? asked.
My man." replied the woman, again tax
ing nappish turn; and, without lowering
her voice and with the utmost Indifference
she added, hes drunk hisself to death
An now he's got the lung disease, an the
doctor says he won't live above week Oh
ten days"
was Mortified at the woman's coarse
brutality, but what could l say or do?
rushed at once into the business which hat
led me to SEEK her out.
Don't you sometimes 90 out singing il
the streets?" inquired.
We'll. if 1 do, that amt no business o
yourn,' replied the woman, :nsolently.
assured her that | had not asked the
question from motives of impertinent curl
osily, and limited that | might be able t.
put dollar or two in her pocket, if sh,
would he civil and listen to what | had t
say. The woman eyes sparkled, as nearly
as the liquor she had already taken woul(
permit, at what, to her, was nothing NOR,
nor less than prospect of more gin, anC
she at once requested me to speak up"
Thus encouraged, said:
gu have two children | hear ?"
as Yes, gals, she replied.
j asked her if she took them with be-
when she went out singing.
why, what d We take me for? The gal,
is what does it. couldn' do nothn' with
out the gals" she replied.
then informed her that | desired the
company of the girls that evening. and that
if she choose to look at the matter in tn,
light of a bargain, ] was perfectly willing tc
pay for the hire of them
In an instant | saw a fearful storm wa;
brewing.
cd d-n yer! no." cried the woman
"Yer want to get 'em away, do yer
Send EN- to some refuge or formatory
No, yer don't. Them beggarly missherna
ries has tried that game afore yer"
| had some trouble in sppeasing her. fol
in her anger her tongue ratified on at such {
pace that could not even get in a wore
edseways. She was evidently Us famous
for scoIding tongue as Baptista's daueh
ter Katharine in the :" Tanning of the Shrew;'
and ! wisely held my tongue and let he
have her say ont. hoping to bring her t.
terms by far more gentle means than thos,
adopted by Petruchio. simply waited til
her whl-k key sodden throat gave out. an,
then played her with her own great foible
| was right.
At last her breath was gone, and, seizins
my opportunity. | said;
Listen to me a minute: let me explain
why and for what purpose want them"