The Iola register., 1881-09-30
THE T" LUCKY SIXPENCE."

The great steamer had just discharged
her living freight at Castle Garden, and
the throng of weary travelers-home-
sick, alas! many of them already
pushed their way through the Battery
Park toward the great city, the roar of
whose streets sounded around them like
the rumbling threatenings of the sea
they had just left.
One little group stood apart from the
crowd, waiting till the hurry and loud
voiced excitement should be over. A
woman with baby in her arms, and
two little boys clinging to her skirts,
and man pushing before him a small
two-wheeled cart, In which sat little
pale-faced girl, whose thin hands gath
cred closely about her~the faded red
shawl in which she was wrapped.
"Wel, Lisbeth?' said the man, pres
emily. ~
"Wait a bit, John," Lisbeth said.
quietly, shifting the baby to her other
arm.
just then a dapper little man ap-
preached them, notebook and pencil
in hand.
'.Ah! my fine fellow! good morning!
Fine morning this?'
"Ay, sur, vary, thank ye kindly,
sur" and the man pulled his forelock
in token of respect.
\ "Pm a reporter" went on the dap
per little man, land I'm going round
to get statistics for my article on immi-
grafton" )"
"a wotg' calculated the man. "Beg
pardon, sur, l see. You're gOin' round
wi a paper. 1t does yer heart credit,
sur; an I'd give willin'ly so bein' I'd
anythin' to give. They called 'em
'scriptions, sur, at home; an wen I've
q shillin' for them as is poorer than me,
why yer welcome to it, but now"
"No, no, man! don't want money;
it's information want about yourself
and your family. What's your name?"
"My names John Dixon, sur, an
my family wos allus respectable, my
grand ther wos-"
90! there, there" said the reporter,
waving his pencil impatiently, II didn't
mean that. Is this your wife?"
''Deed she is, sur; our banns wos
cried three times this month twelve
year ago. an
"Yes, yes, my good fellow. and these
are your children, all of 'em, ehg'
LAY, sur, all on 'em mine, amt so
rich 1. could start h'orphan asylum,
SUR
The reporter grinned.
"Well, why did you leave England?
You are English?''
cay sur, I'm English; well, left
cos l couldn't stay, times was that
bad"
"And YOU are going 1where?'' and
the reporter paused pencil in hand.
"That's wot I'd like some un to tell
me-" and John Dixon scratched his
head obviously. IF could get q
roof to put them little heads under to-
night, I'd be thankful man.
80! can find you roof. Now let's
see. four children, one cripple"
Gay, sur, one q cripple and John
Dixon bent fondly over the little girl in
the cart, smoothing the wavy hair away
from her blue eyes; "an' our eldest,
and we wouldn't part wi her. no, not
fur all the gold sovereigns we could
carry, would we?" and he looked round
the little group sure of his answer.
mo, no, my blessing" And the
mother stroked the little head softly,
while the boys flung themselves on her
with eager embraces.
The reporter bit the top of his pencil
meditatively. ''Hum! yes, very proper;;"
then he beckoned to friendly-looking
policeman who was strolling towards
them. 20
.Here, my friend, can you direct this
man to some place near. where he can
find a lodgingP"
..Just q couple o. rooms where we
can bide, till look round bit," ex-
plained John Dixon, ducking his head
respectfully.
aAll right, come along" and the
friendly policeman smiled to little Janey
aittinn male and quiet in her cart.