The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-02-26

the distance between her and her sister
In vain she ran and called,
"Caleb Debby ! o. Debby, do no
leave me !"
Faster and faster rolled the carriage
away, turning corner after corner, til
at length Roxy could see it no longer
nor did she even know the way back tc
the depot.
Gold, tired, and fairly frightened, she
sat down upon a doorstep and burst
into tears. 1t was now nearly dark.
Men were lighting the street lamps,
and people we're closing their parlor
shutters, as is the hospitable custom oi
the City of Brotherly Love. Roxy did
not know what in the world she should
do.
Presently the door of the house
opened, and woman with basket
came out, saying in a whining voice:
BLESSINGS on you for your kindness
to q poor woman as has sick man at
home and six poor little childer. It's
nicely warmed I've got at yer kitchen
fire, and these nice pieces to boot.
Bless you forever, I say"
The door closed, when the woman,
changing her tone, exclaimed angrily,
throwing away some pieces of bread as
she spoke
"Drat the stingy miser. Does she
give me dry bread, when it's money I
want ?"
Here she perceived Roxy sitting on
the step, and instantly resuming her
whine, said
"Ah, pretty miss, have you not a
penny to give poor woman ?"
{" 1 will give thee ten cents" replied
Roxy, quickly, eff thee will take me
to where my sister is staying to-night?"
"And where is that ?" asked the
woman, scarcely repressing smile.
How can take you where your sister
is, when you don't know the name of
the hotel where she has wut up at ?"
"I don't know. Some hotel or other,
think. She is going away to New
York early in the morning. I live away
far off in the country, and don't know
my way about town yet"
"Well," said the woman, "just come
with me. know all about all TIE ho-
tells as we'll as any one, and I guess I
can find your sister,"
she took Roxy's hand and led her
away, up one street and down anoth er,
until they reached one of the most for
lorn districts of the city.
Roxy was utterly fatigued with her
unwonted travels, and was very glad
when the woman told her tsy were
nearly "there."
"Is that it ?" asked Roxy, doubtfully,
as the woman led her upa narrow court
to a low, dirty house, standing quite
alone.
/" Yes, this is my hotel, Sissy, and I
think you will soon find your sister,"
Roxy sighed, thinking the woman was
mistaken, but, too tired to resist, pre-
ceded the woman, who closed and
locked the door, after they entered. In
a room off the entry they found half a
dozel, or more ragged children sitting
crouched over low fire, each with a
basket before her.
"What have you brought tonight,
Sukey?" asked the woman of the eldest.
"Ah that is nice, chicken and pie.
Well be rich if we go on. And money
Humph twentypennies amt fortune,
either"
And thus she went the rounds, until
Roxy found to her horror that she had
been brought into nest of professional
beggars, class of whom she had heard
whispers, but had never before formed
any idea of. Timidly she approached
her conductor and begged to be taken
to her sister.
"You must be little gumpus p
exclaimed the woman, laughing heartily.
How can I tell?"
"Then why did thee bring me here ?"
asked Roxy, crying.
"To rest you, poor child, to be sure" ,"
said the woman, coaxingly. "Just bide
with us till morn, and I'll try to 6nd your
folks, or at least return you to the step
found you on. Eat some of this cake,
dearie, and then I'll show you the way
to bed"
Roxy could not eat the cake for terror
and fatigue. How grieved and fright
ened would her parents be Oh, why
had she ever been so naughty Seeing
that it was better to remain here for
the night than to return to the street,
she made no resistance when the woman
conducted her to her bed, which was
not so dirty as might have been ex-
pected, though bearing no comparison
to the whiteness of her own couch.
Here poor Roxy sobbed out penitent
prayer for protection, with promises
never to be so naughty again if only
she might be brought safely home.
Then jumping into bed, having laid her
clothes across the foot, she soon cried
herself to sleep.
1t was late in the morning before she
was reused by the warm sun shining on
her face. 1t was SO much like home
awaking, that she was quite bewildered
not to find herself in her own bed. A
moments thought, however, recalled
yesterdays events to her mind, and
springing out of bed, she determined
to dress Immediately, and make her
way to the depot at which she had ar
rived yesterday, for she was sure of
meeting some one there who knew her
and could take her home.
Her clothes, however, were not to be
found, but in their stead were laid a
dirty torn dress and an cid plaid shawl,
with ragged hood beside them. The
nice merino dress, quilted cloak, and
bonnet, tippet and muff, had all disap-
peared, and poor Roxy was left with
not single decent article of wearing
apparel, but the little chemise in which
she slept, and flannel petticoat which
she had wrapped round her shoulders.
Even her shoes and stockings were re-
placed with worn pair of heavy boots
and thin pair of stockings.
The room was entirely bare, so they
could not be secreted in it. Poor Roxy
was fain to don the disgusting habili-
ments of beggar in order to be able to
search for her own clothes. What was
her amazement to find, on leaving her
room, that the house was evidently de-