Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-01-27
Meg's story.

tired feet OF little girl. She walk
ed rapidly, for the evening was
growing dark and rainy, and a
keen March wind blew up from the
Lake in spiteful little gusts.
If it had been daylight, you
could have seen that the little shoes,
which made this noisy pattering,
were sizes too large for the small
feet inside; and the grimy little
toes, showing through holes in the
worn "uppers," were purple and
numb with cold. Meg was hungry,
too--had eaten nothing all day ex-
cept the dry crust and single water
logged potato that she called her
breakfast. She realized just how
hungry she really was, as the old
oyster man passed her, calling out
at the top of very shaky tenor,
"Fresh fish, oys-st-ee-ers - Meg's
eyes sparkled at the thought of
those impossible oysters, as the
long-drawn cry went up on the
street. Brave little woman as she
was, she had to gulp down q great
sob, as she wrapped the old water
proof about her, and went on her
way, stright 10 Miss Clem's board
ing place.
Meanwhile, Miss Gem, in her
cosy room above, had been indulg-
ing in a rare fit of "the blues."-
She had been thinking how hard it
was, after all her ambitious plans,
to feel that there was nothing on
earth she could do, for herself OF
any one else, except to lie there
day after day, on her invalid's
couch, and stitch beads into pin
cushions. 1t was too dark for that
now ; so, with little thrill of dis
gust she dropped the dainty work
into basket beside her, and gave
herself up to gloomy thoughts.
Martha had just lighted the gas
and brought in Miss Clem's supper
when Meg raped timidly at the
door.
"The washin', if you please
men," said she.
"Very WELL" answered Miss
Glenn. "Martha will get the clothe.
for you; she had them ready thi,
morning l think" Gcs
"Sorry l couldn't come for 'en
this mornin'," apoligized Meg
with a child's frankness, "but moth
er wouldn't let me go out on the
street in the day time, with such
ragged shoes on"
Martha, unlike her venerable
namesake, was not given to being
careful and troubled about any
thing. The clothes were not ready
so Meg curled down by the oper
CRATE to get warm. Something ir
the child's face attracted Miss
CIem's attention. She was not in
a mood for eating, herself, bu,
shrewdly guessed that Meg was.
"Are you hungry, little gypsy q
"Half starved" said the hungry
eyes and thin, pinched features
but the lips answered quietly, IA
little"
"Come here then. Now sit right
down here and let me see you eat
this" And she gave her plate
of nice toast, placing an orange
and a cluster Of purple grapes be-
side it.
"Does your mother get much
washing TO dol" she inquired
presently, thinking Of the many
destitute people In the city who
could find no employment.
"She amt well enough to do
much work IL she could get It," re-
Piled the girl. "She's been sick
ever since my sister died two years
ago"
"Is your father livingi" 0cp
The face that tnrned toward
Miss Glenn at this question looked
worn and tired and old, like the
face Of an old woman; and there
was bitter emphasis in her voice
as she answered. "My father Is q
drunkurd."
Little by little the lady drew
from her the wrctched story.
He didn't use to drink" plead