River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-12-28


Gottlieb turued away. Curious freak
of destiny AS Gottlieb, a poor GeIss
man, was thus dismissed, the attache,
also German. was received with eX-
cessive urbanity in the house he con-
descended to honor. The trim servant,
Maria, ran out ON the step after admit.
ting the visitors, fumbling in her
pocket for pennies. Gottlieb lad dis
appeared. 49,. rrgrr
Half an hour later he found the
bureau, having twice Numbered and
missed his way. The place was closed
fer the night. He wandered on with
out purpose to the corner. The bit
| ter wind had lulled; the sombre clouds,
| gathering in denseT masses. overhead,
promised the first snow of the year.
Mr.. Gildwell, adjusting hisnapkin and
| presiding over a table glittering with
| silver and gorgeous with flowers and
| light. was observing
| elf truf1les are not indigenous in the
country, count, they may be cultivat-
/ ed"
| Gottlieb observed a church, massive
| and dark, with slender shaft tower
| ing above the surrounding roofs. The
church meant cool darkness, silence,
purity, after the reeking streets, if
one could gain entrance. He tried the
door mechanically it was locked.
What would you have We can not
keep our churches always open, even
should fainting soul perish by the
way.
Next he was caught in an eddy Of
desperats humanity-the abiect poor,
the sodden, brutal, poor, all seeking
the station-house, eager to receive
that last stamp of degeneration on the
coinage of their own AMUSEMENT, if
sleep might only bring forgetfulness
of misery. Gottlieb shuddered and
drew back from the crowded entrance
of building which seemed to eXhale
painful familiarity with crime from
every stone. He could not throw him.
self into that stream of pollution
Afterward he wandered on, without
purpose, past rows of fine dwellings,
past hurrying people all intent on
reaching home. Sometimes he held
out his hand for aims, but it was done
so awkwardly and hesitatingly that
few noticed the movement. The way
grew narrow and crooked he had
quilted the spacious thoroughfaTe I'M
COlioClONSiys Slutl NOW Jdll HOuStSs Illllc-
stained and dilapidated, lined the
street. Gottlieb sat down on wooden
doorstep to rest. Nobody disputed
his right of possession. Laborers came
and went work-women trudged along;
children played in the gutter.
Suddenly a light form darted around
the corner, tripped, and fell almost at
Gottlieb's feet. Was it the CLEAN of
golden hair escaping from little
scarlet mood, that made Gottlieb start
with the exclamation, "Gretchen e.
Color had dawned in his pale face he
knew his mistake even before the
young girl rose, nursing a bruised
wrist; Gretchen was in her grave.
The girl regarded him sullenly, almost
wildly, and when he laid 4 hand on
her arm she darted away again rs if
fearing capture. Her rapid flight was
impeded by an old woman carrying a
basket of apples and oranges, which
were spilled by the shock of contact.
saint yer ashamed now, an for an
old body too O. said the woman, whose
name was Mother Bates. The girl
hesitated, then stopped to gather up
the fruit.
Don't let her CO. implored Got
tlieb.
The girl looked from one to the other
suspiciously.
''Ie wants me to be taken,' she
cried, with a sob.
"You are like my Gretchen, and |
wish to help you" he replied, quietly.
Mother Bates planted her cane before
her energetieally.
"Where are you going !" to Gottlieb.
81 don't know" YEARLY.
"Where are you going :" to the girl.
s'Away from the police" with a
shudder and fearful glance around.
SCENE along, then"
They followed the old woman, these
two waits, scarcely knowing why, and
the young girl whispered to GOttlieb,
81 am Christine Carlen don't know
Gretchen. And what makes you SO
pale p
Mother Bates lived at the top of a
tenement-house, and she conducted
her guests into a small room with
cheerful hospitality. Already were
five children gathered here, sharp
featured, sh~ill-voiced, and bearing
that aspect of precocity peculiar to
boys and girls of the city streets.
They might have been trained in a
worse school, certainly, and the little
room made a sort of democracy, of
which Mother Bates was ruler, with
limited authority. The addition Of
two strangers to their circle was taken
as matter of course by these small
citizens of the world; only the baby
stared at Christine CaTleu, attracted
by the beauty of gold hair, blue eyes,
and red lips. With tact Mr.. Gildwell
could have initiated, this ignorant old
woman, taught by the goodness Of her
own heart-the only instructor, in
deed, in politeness--asked no questions
while serving the frugal supper. Few
| manifestations of affection were eX-
changed in the household, although
shrewd Mother Bates cherished dry
pride in the success of some of her
charges.
81 used toliye here alone, but pick
ed 'em up one by one a-starving. |
| taught them their trades, too. Billy
sells newspapers Molly sweeps cross
ings and Mike gets cinders from the
barrels for our fire. They save my old
bones lots of work.
Christine Carlen had grown quiet;
she was ready to tell her story. Two
years ago she had come from Sweden
| with her mother. They we're to join
their family in the West. Instead the
foreigners stranded in the city; the
mother had sickened, been taken away
to a hospital, and, alive or dead,
Christine could never find her again.
They told her the mother lad gone to
one of the islands, and there she had
been put in @ pauper's grave. That
was all. Afterward woman took the
child. and placed her as cash-girl in
the house of Dibbler Co. What
| hn.,1,s of crliffnrino frerr feetnnns of