Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-12-25


the wet air. BY the aid of 5 candle
which our little one places uron the
bare table, We can look about. There is
no carpet upon the floor In one end
stands stove, poor tumble down affair.
into the CRATE Of which her numb fipg
ers are laying paper and splinters of
wood from an old barrel stave. There
is big basket of linen, smaller one
with co !, chair, wooden bench upon
which stands tub, soap box with
cover and an old chest, such as sailors
use. That is all.
JosephiDe-so our little one is baptised
takes from the box smallish piece of
bread, and eats, standing meanwhile by
the stove and warming her hands over
the now roaring Ere. As she stands
thus, We can see that she has a womanly
face The nose and chin are childish
enough, and the head is almost infantile
in form. But the eyes are old and large
and serious. The light from the broken
CRATE shines upon her bare feet. They
look far more comfortable than the old
wet ones.
Supper over, the girl opens the un-
couth bundle and sorts over its contents
swiftly, dumping them into the tub one
by one. Then cloth is spread upon
the table, and the work of ironing be-
gins. 1t will last until midnight. AS
she stands upon the chest, bending over
her labor, the yellow light framing her
baby head, let us leave her. She is well
used to solitude. She is twelve years
old, and has earned her bread as many
months alone.
In the room two stories below, there is
also solitary figure. A more CHEEKY
figure, stout and glowing with health, is
that Of Aaron Ashermayer, who sits by
a CRATE, reading. His book, a Hebrew
volume black with age, he holds far in
front of his eyes, which glisten through
his spectacles like cats.
Aaron face is pleasing one to study.
1t is a thoroughly Jewish face, broad,
short and forid. The nose is large, and
enjoys the traditional hawk-like bend
The forehead is that of scholsr--wide
and not high. Despite ford mustache
and long, frouzy beard, the mouth sug-
gests an easy-going temper, almost
placid. The pawnbroker was evidently
extracting solid enjoyment from his
pipe, his book and the fire, in the heat of
which his large slippered feet basked
contentedly, for he did not hear the
door open.
Good evening, Aaron" said young
voice from the gloom, followed second
later by the appearance within range of
the light of tall youth, with long black
hair like Romeo.
"Hello," answered Aaron. "Draw
up by the fire. 1t has grown cold since
shutdown" Then, after moments
pause" Well, how's the fiddler Has
it paid for lis meals too day. / heard it
up stairs while ago."
at has not been 30 very good day.
Too much hurry on the streets. No one
had time for the music. No, there was
not much money to-day-not much.
The holy days bring Paul Laboski luck
never. But who cares7" and the
young Pole snapped his long, thin
fingers at the CRATE good humoredly, and
showed his teeth in cheerful smile.
He pronounced his name Powl, and
wore a miniature of Kosciuszko in his
watch cover. Aaron regarded him rs
very superior young man.
The latter had poured out two glasses
of wine, slipped one slowly, and resumed
his reading. Paul sat studying the Goals.
The smile with which he had deied the
holidays frowns had vanished, and in
its place rested meditstive, almost
solemn look. ALI at once he turned to
Aaron
"The poor child up the stairs has luck
very much worse. No time Of the year
brings to her fortune"
"Drink your Sauterne. What do you
speak Off What poor child?"
"Why, The little Josephine, the lsun
dress. When l have returned from
parties at one--two o'clock in the morn
ing, have seen the light in her room
burning, and watched her shadow
working"
81 thought she had gone. Has sine
been in the house ever since her mother
died2 haven't seen her in months"
ever since. She has mace much
effort to keep her mothers business.
To me she said once: Some of the
ladies know not my mother is dead. If
do the work SO it shall please, am wrong
to tell them not9 They might think |
was OF size too small l told her she
did no wrong"
The old Jew said nothing. He kept
his eyes fixed upon the black characters
before him, but they saw nothing.
Aaron was a charitable man, and this
chilling glimpse of childish poverty
panied him.
Yes" continued Paul, chow should