The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-12-17


hearth. Awoman was there-a woman
with sullen, defiant face and dishev-
elled hair, and | saw. also four young
children two were nestled shivering at
her feet, and the other two we're asleep
upon the floor. The woman was shoe
less and stockingless, while the
only carmen she possessed
was so tattered and worn that
through it could be traced every curve
and outline of her form. The clothes
of the children were like those Of the
mother, while her youngest-her baby
had nothing but shawl to keep it
warm As we entered the woman
sprang to her feet and steadily regard
ed US. Her two children that were
awake chung to her garment as if IN
fear. The woman was rude, rough, ig-
norant, defiant. Hunger ragged in her
breast and hate and madness cleaned
in her eyes. | felt as l gazed upon her
like one who views some ruined man
sion, in which comfort and peace once
dwelled, but which at last was left des-
olate to the wolves. Every spark OF
womanhood from her had fed. Every
human trait was absent from her coun-
tenance. Courage, hope, pity-nay,
even shame had deserted her and lett
her devil incarnate. She was one
like the many about her-who had been
once a woman. but whom hunger and
| misery had transformed into tiend,
She broke forth in torrent of pent-up
grievances. which our coming had
cerved to unloose--a profane catalogue
of the ill-treatment she had received,
that she had brooded over during her
poverty and distress, and that our
presence seemed to intensity. She not
only raved. she threatened. She went
to the broken window, and throwing up
the sash, pointed to the turrets and
roofs of the rich that cleaned IN the
moonlight On the other side of the
gorge, and swore vengeance upon them.
l have read how, during the reign Of
the Commune, women, brandishing
the incendiary torch, ran shrek
ing through the streets Of Paris but |
felt that had this creature been there
she would have disdained the torch and
caught up the live Goals in her rude and
naked hands. The cries of the woman
aroused her two sleeping children, and
one of them, upon arising. stood before
me almost as naked as at the hour OF
it's birth. Look at Them shouted
the Infatuated creature, 'Look at them.
They are cold; they are starving, while
the children of them over there have
had their supper, and are now sleep
inc in their nice warm beds. 1t is no;
because they are better off than US
but because they have been abusing
and cheating US for years. Then tol
lowed another
oUrBuRsT OF RAGE AND DESPAIR
that would terrify any listener ant
cause him to place his hands upon hi
ears lest the memory Of the sounds
should haunt him forever. We passed
out, | and my miner guide, out Owe
the fitting, rickety floor, out over tn
; body of the PROSTATE dog, out into thu
cold and dreary night. For momen
paused upon the threshold, as If b.
instinct, to reflect. No work, no food
no fire, but few clothes for herself ant
almost none for her children; living II
home likely to tumble to ruin upol
the heads Of those she loved at an.
, moment; her heart bursting with hat
, and vengeance against all whose condl
. ton in life was better than her OWL
f nursing in her poverty and want tie
. thousand imaginary grievances. lgne
4 rant and defiant of the law and frenzie
with despair; her life a curse. not onl
i to all who surrounded her but also t
G herself. Would it be strange if, in
y moment of supreme madness. sh
4 should break from her home, and, wit
| the kuife or the bludgeon, lay cold
/. death the first creature she met IN hs
r way.
d We walked the hard, stony thorough
i fare, and entered another hut Ju
II across the way. But, ah, how strans
e the contrast Poverty was here, an
d want and woe, but it seemed as if Il
$ hand, daily and hourly losing /
d strength, was daily and hourly glvir
5, that strength to keep it warm az
N clean. The fire that burned was fal
n and nickering, and the room was M
,e cradle and mean but the presence OF
as mother and the pure, white face OF h
h. child wrought up picture which, d.
of pite its dreary coloring and territ
I'D background, w4s as sweet and touchr
It. as it was painful and sad. There "
n, no defiance on the tender coun.enan
lie Of that poor woman by the FIRE it "
nv upturned to ours As We enter'
.es and We learned of its n
he cry through its tears. Pt
,ly ertv had destroyed her comfort.
IA, happiness. her home; poverty had
IS. duced her to perjury and rags;
ew poverty had not robbed her of
,e. womanhood: it was there as bris
lrd and holy spark, burning still in
led midst of her despair all the m
me radiant because all things about it "
md so dark woman, mother in the bet
md DAYS of hers that are gone, woman I
mes mother will she always be in the S
one darker days sure to come
one She was not altogether destitute.
for was the house entirely without ft
me. but she said. family, raising her
cal hand and pointing rs If the teri
ION thing existed to her vision IN tang
Gus form,
s.ras w,srKR THE WINTER
"Have you any other children
. di- that little one." l asked
ling Without word the woman 'ir
was arose. and taking up the lamp. va
log. into an adjoining room. l followed