Middletown transcript., 1877-01-20
Nothing to Eat.

Nothing to Eat.
The snow has been falling slowly and
serenely, writes New York correspon-
dent 1t used to make me gleeful and
rosy. but it cannot do that any more in
this city | suppose the change is Of
time upon myself as we'll as cireumstan-
ces upon the proud island. No, it is
not all because of the individual differ
ence between the now and the then
which is within, because to-day, when
l opened my door to look up and down
the beautiful white street when the
glamor of the snow should have made
it seem pure and enchanting, | saw
rothiug that did not make me heavy
hearted | tried to turn my face up
ward to meet the melting stars that
were falling from the gray clouds, just
for the sake of that childish habit which
clings to the most of US, no matter how
severely dignity scorns and tramples
upon such petty tricks of simplicity,
but the clamor before my vestibule was
too sorrowful and imploring for such
sentiment.
"For Gods sake let me shovel away
the snow" said a strong man; 81 have
wife and little children, and they are
very hungry and very cold"
"My mother can get no work at all
can't I do it, please ?" piped shiVer-
ing little boy.
IF l only had a shovel or a broom
may be yc would let me have the job to
do, said low voiced old woman, whose
features were not those of one who had
spent almost an entire life in struggling
for bread
"Why do come out in the storm ?" l
asked of her
Because I must" she said. Last
winter hoped 1 might be dead before
the winter came again, but when the
summer was here, somewhat liked to
live, but | don't want to be here very
long, even if if I was 10 be be #aFfa4 I dent
seem to be wanted much anywhere, or
perhaps I might get to die and be COM
Portable" she added, after pausing to
reflect between the last sentence and
what she had said before Come in
and get warm" 1 said to her
Il don't go to no soup houses, nor
to no charity committees. ma am, and
don't want anything I don't earn, if you
please If you give NE the sweeping to
do and lend me broom I might be
thankful for the taste of a warm stove,
ma am, for I've been starving with the
cold"
Three imploring faces, and but one
sidewalk to sweep
To feed the child, and send loaf to
the other children is not much in this
great hungry city, but the humiliating
influences of the unearned bread Who |
may know but that never a snowflake
shall fall again upon either the child's
or the mans forehead to melt upon a
glow of self-respect." :"
Never did a Christmas week pass in
New York when the rich and the poor
were SO far apart either in sympathy or
circumstances The shops are filled
with the rarest of beautiful things from
the geniuses of both the artist and the
artisan. Philadelphia has drifted up to
New York The beautiful array of
things sent by all the civilized nations
of the earth, which could be purchased
only at fabulous prices when on exhibi-
ton, can be bought at less expense than
anything that is beautiful of our own
country's handiwork. 1t is claimed that
the merchants in the various parts of
the world, notably in China and Japan,
France and England, procured dupli-
Gates, or close copies of the articles that
were rewarded with medals or parch-
ment approvals, and they are now max
ing fortunes out of the late enthusiasm
of our citizens. A tiny cup and saucer,
daintily painted, and as frail as it is
beautiful, was sold at auction for $40,
while the pale faced woman at my door
says: Pray lend me broom, that
may earn scanty bit of bread, and
respect myself"