Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-04-21
The Angel on the Rickety Staircase.
BY PAUL CoBDEN.

"Wiil you give 1t to me? Say, woman, VIII
you give 1t TO NE, or shall I"-
"4 ou shall nothing" interrupted poor,
pinched-looking woman, as she rocked an
old cradle, that creaked and squeaked with
every motion, as if il was about to fall to
pieces.
"What do you say? DO you mean to tell
me that you're not afraid of me?" answered
Peter Pike, AS he suddenly rose up from
under piie of bedclothes that covered an
old tedsteadi and, raising his shaggy eye
brows, looked ont of heavy dull eyes at the
woman who had hidden away in her pocket
the small sum oftwo shilings.
"lIaven't you word to say 10 me, Han
nah Pike'' persisted the man.
"The less l say to you the better IT. II be
| for me; and the longer you lie where you
| are, the better it'll be- Tor me and the Gull
| dren," replied Hannah in discouraged
tone.
Now, whine, woman; whine, will you?
No matter. In let you know who's the
| master OF this house,
"This house." muttered Hannah. Two
| dingy rooms, with the Old, greasy paper
halt torn oil the walls. It's just tit for such
a master ~ you. Aud look at kitty and
Teddy shivering over that green wood fire,
1 aud this poor, iorlorn baby. lying its cradle
and tarlng at me as II lad anything for
1t. 1es. Peler Pike, l should think you
were master OF this house. It's good
| match for you, no mistake, Peter Pike.
mo more OF your impudence, woman. You
| think Pm about half drunk yet because 1 lie
| here In bed, but when L set out To show you
who's master you II sing different tuue. Give
me that two shilllngs now, before get up aud
| try! my hand on you.
you won't get the two shi hines shall keen
| it for bread
| "Bread, bread" repeated Peter Pike rI.l-
quors better than bread, aud That's what I'm
gong 10 nave, Gave mo the money woman.
| Good God, said Hannah III an underto ne
l"He'll get 1t away from me, I'm afraid and
then wnere shall We get the next loaf OF Dread
aud ltls ody comes home tonight without n
cent, as lie o. en- does, what VIII neeome OF rs.
Poor boy he'd work hard all day To get little
money Tor us.n
| "Nhat are you dreaming about - CALI oui
Peter flke, from he old beisteaI, on ich lle
| had once more raised himself.
Are 5ou going to give mo that money!"
he asked, In a scl canning voice
"No, not penny OF II; and ii you tnuci
mo III have you locked up. | know where
To go ~ complain tyou.''
"Eou shan't have mamna's money. u
cried out Kitty.
"Shan't. shan't," added the little boy
Ted ly. on as high a key p, he could roaoh
"MasteI! master!' growled Peter PIKE
I'm show these young ones and theii
mother who's MASTER"
Thirstlng for another glass and deter.
} mined To got the money 10 pay Tor 1t, he
loaped out OF bed. But tho money had
lsuddenly found lis way out OF the pock Ut
| whore 1t had beon hidden aud into kitty.
hand and kitty had as suddenly disappear
cd. Maudened by his failure, the furious
man kicked Teddy into one corner OF tn.
n room and his mother into another; and
e plunging his hand into tho cradle, seize.
tho baby hnd rushed In tho do 1r, exciainl
ing: There goes your baby, woman, dow
he rckely staircase
| Faint from the kick she had received. and nor
ror struck by what had been dore, Hannah "a
lcrouching IN the corner, aud making no effort [,
lstir.
"Dead, dead" she said To herself. aud in ,
momeuf making an etiort 10 rise, she repeated
) "Dead, dead But must 20 TO her, On, God
, once had IA good home. ia never seen tina
man. had no baby TO be murdered. How caI
| how can /? But | must 20 and take up my
dead child. OIL Peter Peter, where is he =
Gone for another drink. No there he is now
. buried up a. in IN the bedclothes"
Not sound on tie staircase, added Hannah
a I"Dead, dead"
Aud she erept along as we'll as she could to tn,
door but she had hardly reached it when il
opened, and she saw her babys thin, pale fac,
pressed to check as fresh aud bright As Jun,
rose.
don't be frightened dont DO frightened !,
said the young grl. For it WAS a young girl o
sixteen who held Hannah Pixies baby IN he
you But she is not hurt at oil. was half WA,
up the stairs, and caught her"
"oiood Godl" exclaimed iiarnah Pike. "lol
are the first angel that has ever been on thai
rickety staircase"
al sm not an angel said the young l.rl .bu
III was coming mp these stairs, eud oh I'm S,
glad was there just IN time to save your baby
How saved her hardly know, didn't thins
that could, but put out lay arms and caush
her."
1 Not dead not dead!' said Hannah, as SHIT
Ipressed the child to her heart. ~ thought
was almost glad to say dead, dead: for | was
thinking just for minute, that She had better
be dead.'
| When Hannah had almost smothcrcd the baby
with kisses, and called Teddy 10 come and Hiss
tho little sister "Nony." as he named her, she
turned an inquirng look upon the young girls
black clothes, aud asked:
"Have you had trouble in your houses
.Oh yes" replied the young girl, Lucy Tray
ers with a smile sweet Us IL she had never
felt the touch OF sorrow. My brother went away
last summer. But mamma said he went up the
shining way, with happy, singing angels all
Iaround him; aud that we too must sing praises
And so We did for awhile; but now / have to
sing alone, for
The smile was gone from Lucy's face and tears
1 flied her eyes; but IN moment the smile was
back again, and she said:
| Mamma went up the same shining way; and
SO sffen sing alone, Just as We used to sing to-
gether."
..Aud how did you happen TO be coming hers "
asked Hannah Pike.
~ heard loud talking, and so though mi Oh
that hnAl hate