The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-05-03

gaze upon, said that would pay fifty cents
apiece for the hire of the girls from eight
O'Clock till twelve o'clock the same night.
The sight of the money acted like a charm :;
but she said it wasn't enough, and that
must deposit five dollars with her as securi-
ty for the due return of the children. ! in
creased my bid to dollar and a half, but
absolutely refused to make the deposit. 1
knew should never see it again.
At that moment, Take it, Mag. take it
you can buy some tea for me- came In
wheezy tones from under the bedclothes.
Now, then, what are you acussin' an
swearin' about?" exclaimed Mrs. Jones to
her better half. Mind yer own business!'
The poor wretch's only reply was a
groan.
We'll, Mrs. JONES'" put in, business
or no business?"
"Oh, put up the money!" she replied
testify.
Half down. and half when the children
come home," said, at the same time laying
down seventy-fve cents.
The woman clutched the money, and had
just placed it on the mantel-piece, when the
door opened and the d" gals !" came in. They
had been out begging, and had come to
dinner. They looked half starved, and had
even less clothing on than their mother.
The elder was thirteen years old, the young
er one only ten. They both looked three
years Younger at least. After arranging
with the mother that they should meet me
at the corner of Forty-second Street and
Lexington Avenue at eight clock, | gave
one of them some money with which to go
out and buy some tea and crackers for her
father. saw her start, waited just long
enough to prevent her mother going after
her and capturing the money, and then took
nv leave of Mrs. Jones, in the earnest hope
that might never see that worthy's face
again.
London play goers of some ten or fifteen
years ago were almost startled out of their
propriety by the extraordinary hit which the
late Mr. Robson made at the Olympic The
atre as Jem Bags, in the andering Min
strel." Without aspiring to the high range
of Mr.. Robsons popularity and success, I
had determined to do a little private bust
ness of somewhat the same character on my
own account and for my own amusement
l went home and recalled all the old and
touching ballads could think of, and made a
list of them. 1t was, perhaps, the remem-
brance of Mr.. Robson's custom of readin <
out the titles of all the ballads on his
81 apenny" song-sheet when he shuffied on
the stage. which led me to do this. As
nearly as | can recolect, his list was as
follows:
"lf had Donkey what wouldn't co.
"Over the ills an far away"
I'm off to Charlestown,"
"Good-by, Sweet cart, good-by,"
Mary Blaine"
40, tell me that you're true to me-
aid be butterfly"
Red, White, and Blue"
"'fhe Fishermans Chorus"
"Im ahoat, I'm aioat,"
1.-The flowers are blooming"
"Come into the garden, Maud"
a should like to marry"
"The girl left behind me-
"When in Death | shall calm recline,"
kiss me quick and CO.
upon the sands at Margate,"
al love to roam by the dark sea foam,"
Love not"
drops O. Brandy"
40, say not woman's love is bought"
Mr.. Robson always gave these titles in coup
lets, and, after the last one, without mo-
ment's pause or change of voice, he added
the usual song vendors .frdte of All for
the small charge of one 'apenny."
J, however, determined to go more into
the touching business, and raked up
"She wore a wreath of roses"
maid of Athens, e'er we part"
Kathleen Mavourneen,"
"Once | loved maiden fair"
Happy land,"m
and other time hQ1 red favorites of the pro-
fession Il curb stol0 Singer. But had reck
oned without my host. When come to in
auire, found that "my little fam ly" knew
them not, and was obliged to let them go
through their own regular programme, TAX
ing the chance of joining in when l could.
| was at our trysting place at the appoint
ed hour, and there stood my temporary in
vestment of rags and tatters shivering in the
biting wind They were barefooted, and
had only an old and very thin shawl each
did not know me at first. And no wonder
| was deliberately got up for the occasion in
true curb-stone singer costume, and had an
old wooden comforter wound two or three
times round my neck, covering the lower
part of my face.
.Oh, that $ you, is it?" said the elder girl
as took hold OF her arm d" ain you late p
told her that it was just eight o'clock,
and inquired their respective names.
"Mes Mag, an she's Lottie," she replied.
And then she added sharply, e say. old 'un,
amt you going to stand us no supper afore
we start? Its id cold, an we're hungry
as the devil"
/ stared in establishment at this prema-
ture old child. That they would be hungry
was certainty. They had probably never
eaten hearty meal in their lives. and | had
intended to give them one before parting
with them. But the girls assurance start
led me, and her language, though it did not
surprise. distressed me. / was also a little
taken aback at being so coolly addressed as
old '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 return, they seated themselves on door
step. and the bread and meat disappeared
with marvellous rapidity. When they had
finished, Mag horriied me by demanding
3" a drop of something 10 warm US.
sternly refused to do anything OF the
sort.
Mother alters gives Us something on a
night like this" r-joined the girl, land /
amt a'goin' to sing without it-are you,
Lott
Lot siguifed an indignant refusal.
Oh, 0dger Bradlaueh. Beaies- Mnndella,
and others Of your kidney, why did you ever
plant your hateful theory of strikes in the
human brain? Here had only been an EN-
ployer Of two young children for fifteen min
utes, and they had the bardihood to strike
for glass of rum apiece! 1t is horrible to