The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-16
AoLow WITH THE FrRELToHT.
The Inst OF n Poor Lsttie Coat Picner whose
Face was Familiar In Broadway.

Face was Familiar In Broadway.
Last winter, while walking down Broad
way, MIR. Magufin used to meet child gather
Ing coal from the ash boxes and cans on the
curbstone she was quaint solemn faced little
creature not more than ten years old, add poor
" clad. Others might pick up paper, klndling
wood, and bottles. but she never Uttered her
bag with these her quest was always Tor coal.
She wore a cloth twisted turbln-Hke around her
head, and In the short iournevs between the
ash heaps abe bent under the weight OF the bng,
just like the wrinkIed, hard-featurod women
whom she resem bied IN miniiture; except that
they picked savageiy as though they thought IL
a very bitter world when left lltle In its ash
boxes, while she, though serious and intent,
picked almost t'nderly, and seemed pleased
with every promising cinder. and almost smiled
when she found a piece Of bright new coal. In
the early sprnR the child disappeared, and day
after day Mseuhin met the same swarth7, hard
featured women, but the solemn-faced little
girl didn't come back.
About a month ago, while crossing Wash
lngton square, before losing himself In arid
broadway. Mr.. MaaufIn saw at South Wash.
ington square and Wooster street wo-
man and a little girl The woman was very
thin, she stood up very straight. her lips
we're set very CLOSE together, and her dress
hand tightly clutched in a fold OF the woman's
dress, was Darefooted and oareheaded, her skin
was scrupulousIy clean, and her hair WAS done
up In about hfty preposterous hitls curls, ~
Passinx very near to them on the corner, Ma
quinn looked Ittyn1y down Into the child's
face, and saw the missing coal picker. He saw,
too, that the cheap brown dress that chung so
close to ner body was the only gtrment abe
wore; aud her wan face told why the coal was
left for others to gather she was sick. The
wuinan's life was written on ner IN an open
book and az they kent on down Wooster street.
Maeunin read story tnat has beeu often told {;
and he saw that tho child WAS sick and fading
Tor want of proper nourishment and care.
they stopped st cheap grocery, aud the
widow bought a loaf Of bread and the end OF
dry and siaewy furelex OF mutton. While
store n DO I'd covered with vegetables.
"Ob. mOtherl what beautiful radishcsl The
roots were duh and wttheted, and the tops were
radisher, with bright pink bulbs and fresh green
leaves, sprinkled wlth cool wafer.
DO you want some. nv childT'
She twisted her hand deeper IN the fold Of the
dress aud looked ~istiully up into nor mofher's
price OF loaf OF bread but her hesitation was
very briei. In her eieetness sine almost pounced
upon the bunch. rhey went back up Wooster
street. toward the park, the woman carrying the
parcel az inst her bosom, and the child still
chnSing 10 ner mothers dress vita one hand,
.nd with the other ciutching the radishes, mold
Ing them ny the wiltcd tops that looked so ircsh
70 her; nd when tnev e1ched the corner W here
MtRuiiia first met them. she almost skipped az
she stepped cross the gutter, and holding 40
tine radi shes befure her motner's eves she a o.
fully said Mother we n have these All TO our
selvesV They parsed alonx the park aud duNn
thompson street, 10 n tall tenement with an
| nfch under it, Thel turned under the arch a I'd
| picked t1cir way along the rough cobhle stones,
| and disappeared round corner of the court
| yard.
Yesterday morning, while walking over the
| familiar route, haeuhn met hurrying along
south Washington square the woman. without
the cnhu; Sne was -tll erect sun stern faced +,
nut the Ips that had been so arm we're now
quivcrlns. Maguitn shlvered when he s1w the
man that was Win her. tie was Young &c
| tor whose comiuun sense, tinged with human
nv, % ia aDs I'd led INN ur the etrlier wears u
| nls Practice 10 one OF tho lowe wards. where he
might make a much money ~ ~ wal lag up vn
ana nave mol, over the oerefit of Il Tar wider tx
| pcrience. M,gu1in fullowe 0gain. and when lie
tlrued IN behind them over the rough cos lie
stones under the area he felt ~ Though il would
be a rolef to him II the stones would tear his
! feet. Round the corner Of tue court ylr,. where
thrg had disappeared before he Jaw a staircase.
| ihey all climbed up INT } small room that was
| very Glenn, out very wretched, and not with
\ glance at the child showed that the doctors
| professional hun.nery was made only TO IN
| tnc To eIse the GLOW to thc mother. lie felt Of
ner pulls laid his hand on her brow. and took
| mo het ri.ched fac, walle the mother lowered
ant ~aitcd Al iast she broke the silence:
"Nelf' and the doctor answered, with OK
ceeding tenderness " r. wott Oc long" nni
even while he spoke the chill moaned and
| there's tig ugly boy steaiin nv coal" and
| tears what al, sad t.. r. stole from her eyes
| but 10 another moment the embers II her NE
| rcd no, her arms Ten b ok In clad rsllcf aud
| sne touched her mothers c4rcssing Land and
| smiled UIt heres nice old gentleman his
| made him pat It III back. and-why, IN ther i.'s
| I'll NV cou and he's tlled tho bag 40 fun tnat
! can hardly carry III what n hre We WIN
with the ure.ight.
When Nj amgunln told this story In the
boatdlns house, Lass night, they al cried; aud
when no added that the mother WAS tlO poor
To bury her child, every one wanted to nut his
name Oh the subscription ii-t before the others
ana oven tao Arsum,ut FIend handed over his
dollar without word.