Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-03-10
BENEVOLENT CUssEDNESs.

a o.
thirds womon and these women are OF all
nationalitics, all ages. They huddle about
the doors, sileutand pit!ul, \ policeman
or two stand adjacent to see that they do
not commit any violence. BY or 10
o'clock the assemblage sweNs SO that
some Of the groups stand in the slush be-
yond the curb and attract the attention OF
the pooplo in the horse cars that pass con-
tiuually. by this time the policemen are
trying to marshal them into line SO that
they can enter the brick building in single
6le 1t is hard work. Tho elements are
heterogeneous. The only thing in common
| is desire. Some Of them are mothers with
starving families. Some Of thom are
"rounders," too lazy towork. Here and
there women have babies in their arms
The intautilc cry sounds strangely there
on the lively avenue. Some of the mon
look like we'll to-do mechanics, and their
shameIAoeduess is hud to conceal, It is
a difficult matter to converse with these
people. They come Eoro to get specific
aid officially provided, not to be stared at
orpilicd. Sympathiziug women stop and
exhibit their commiseomtion, whereupon
the victim says MS plainly rs shruC and
scowl and answering stare can say Go
ON and mind your business and enjoy
yourself. What are you looking at mo
for? | am poor I'm cold, hungry and
desperate what's that to you ?" But
! there is always one circumstance that
bridges the chasm between. 1t is the
| baby Women understand this. So they
sometimes stop and pass their sympathy
oil upon thoVlctim In the shape of admir-.
alton for the infant. 1t is u fact, but the
victim always accepts il in that shape
wjlhouta protest Good natured old pur-
tic. pause ON the sidewalk and pinch the
cheeks of homely littlo innoceuts and call
them darlings. There is no moro ice to
break after that.
On Tuesday morning thoro was an un-
usually large crowd about the place. 1t
huddled on the Third avenue side because
the wind came down Eleventh street full
OF needles.
Ono woman bravod the side street be-
cause she wanted to be alone. SHE kept
pacing up and down, ms if in keeping her
own blood in circulation she could keep
the bundle warm that she carried in her
arms. Doubtless this WINS her first at
tempt at the official trough. She was
young and she probably thought that She
could keep her humiliation to herself il
she selected the coolest place to wait So
she turned up the collar Of her thin jacket
set her teeth and braved it, When any.
body came down Eleventh street she
turned short about. Now and then she
| gave the bundle shake-up in her arms
as if it were heavy. But it was comfort
not to be noticed
Bat she was noticed. The reporter IN
this case was OF her own sex, and alter
watching hor for few moments crossed
the street to speak to her
"Why don't you go round in the ave
nuo2 You'l freeze you baby to dcatl
here"
She said nothing, but deftly pulled tn,
covering aside and looked in. There wa
"A rustic OF paper. She had got an nue
layer Of newspapers for tho sake o
warmth. Quick as she was, she was no
so quicl, thot the reporter feiled 10 see th,
pnSacc and note the tasty laco and lin
en-.
"Stop n moment. It's beauty. lie
mo look at il. Como into tins shelte
out Of the wind"
Probably the reporter, anxious to oh
tain a bit Of history, would have succeed
cd in warming the mother into afiabilit,
had 1t not been for an unforeseen interup
tiou.
Inll. she would not, except by nod
and shrugs But nature, which disre
CARDS language with a sublime oloquenc
said she was in dire necessity and sh
made sort OF mute summary Of lie
wants by lifting up the pink face aud al
lowing the reporter to catch hold Of on
Of the little purple hands.
Just then quartet Of roistering blade
came down Eleventh street. They look
ed like young politicians or politicians
sons. They ran over in tho sharp al
with mingled vitality and cussednesi
They flung snow at each other. The
pushed each other down upon The sno,
heap. They filled the street with thei
loud laughter and jocund defiance. The
came like a burst OF skaters and all q
once the two Shrinking persons staudin
there were enyoloped.
"IIallo !" said one, "there's baby !!
''lf it amt a cherub hope may die,
said another. "Where's Santa Claus ?
There was another peal oflaughter, ain
one Of them a rubicuud wretch, sprea
out his ulster coat into wings and droppe
upon the infant vampire-lke. "Cooch'
cooche," said he, chucking it under tn
chin with a gloved finger. "LooK u
here, sonny. Beg your pardon, min
sonny, isntit? ?" Without needing th
mother, who made no ans wer, but seem
ell to be making up her mind to cry io
help, he went on i: "Come here, Gus
Here's red-hot baby. Smarter tha
lightning, and brighter than the mornin
star. You needn't laugh. | can te
genius before it's six months old. Loo
here, sonny, which win you have ?" II
held up silver half-dollar, fumblcd
moment and brough out with his othe
hand a gold piece.
} Hold on, cried one Of his compan