Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-09-19
A TENEMENT HOUSE STORY.

A TENEMENT HOUSE STORY.
It was not a romantic spot for love-
making, yet true love dwelt there, and
with its two constant companions, pov-
erty and hopelessness. He was a poet,
who earned scanty living by putting
his thoughts into sober prose, and out
of every dozen tales or sketches he
wrote, selling perhaps one. By name
Frank Goodrich, some thirty years of
age, tall and handsome.
She was seamstress, not yet twenty,
suddenly orphaned, and sent forth from
4 b happy home with every comfort, to
earn what bread she could by her nee-
die. Her name was Anna Shaw. The
spot where they met every morning
going to work, every evening coming
home, was a wide space-way upon the
upper floor of large tenement house
in the very heart of New York city.
There were no messy banks scented
by violets, no over .arching trees, no
running streams, nothing poetical or
Enchanting. A pile of battered old
trunks, roll of faded carpet, a stack
Df furniture too shabby even for that
poor place, were the objects around
them. -Four doors opened Oh the space
way. Anna Shaw occupied ballroom
front, Frank ballroom back, and the
large rooms held families, whose juve-
nile portion made the space-way riot
GUS playground.
Many times Frank had noted the
Large brown eyes, the pale, clear COM
= plexion, and glossy brown hair of his
heighbor; noted, too, the dainty neat
mess of the simple morning dress, the
delicacy of feature, the slender hands
and feet, and the modest grace of the
young seamstress, and had wondered
how a lady had come into the rude,
coarse throng who crowded the poor
dwelling-place. He had passed her
many times when she was going to her
work, and he seeking purchasers for
the pages of foolscap he had laborious-
ly covered.
Often he had longed to speak, in his
own bitter loneliness, and craving for
sympathy, but something in the quiet
maidenly dignity Of the girl held him
back. But one evening, climbing the
steep attic stairs, he saw her start to
come down toward him. One of
the stairs loosened in some way,
tipped forward as her light weight
pressed it, and she was thrown forward
heavily. Just in time Frank saw the
danger, and braced his own broad
shoulders, opening his arms to catch
her. He shuddered as he held her
safely, and looked back to the long
flights below him, leading directly to
the street.
If che had gone down The sicken.
ing throb Of his heart told him how
much of the brightness of his life
would have gone, if that sweet face
were all crushed and mangled, the life
beaten out of the slender form down
there on the sidewalk.
The little figure he held in his arms
was motionless, the fair face white as
death, the soft brown eyes closed.
Terror had deprived Anna of conscious
ness, and very gently Frank carried hel
up stairs again. On the landing 6
strong armed daughter of Erin was
driving four riotous youngsters to bed
"Whatever is the matter ?' she
screamed, seeing Frank and his lifelesl
burden"
"There is stair loose, and the ladv
was thrown down. You had better keel
the children off till L put in a nail O.
two. Cam you open the young lady
door? She has tainted"
Quickly the good woman found tn
key in Annals pocket and opened tn
door.
"Leave her to mep she said, o
Frank put the unconscious figure OF
the bed, land for the love of goodnes
mend them stairs before my old mai
comes in. You'll find hammer an,
some nails on my room mantel. Tom
my'll show you"
So Frank found Tommy and tn
tools, and set himself to mending tn
broken stairs. AS he pounded in tn
long nails till all was secure, he though
of the one feeting glimpse of the littl
room. 1t was narrow and meanly ful
nished as his own, but there were sue
white covers on the bureau and bed,
few dainty ornaments here and there
some pictures, row OF. plants in th
window, aud q canary hanging abov
them in q gilded cage. It was like
glimpse OF home compared to bis ow
bare belongings.
Before the last nail was driven