Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-08
Life In New York.

In the great picture of the scenes of New
York life there is wide contrast between
the lower half" with its untold misery and
want, and the "upper half" with its daz-
zling brilliancy of fashion and wealth.
l had heard much of the lowliness and
degradation of the -Four Corners and my Gu
riosity led me to visit some parts of the
shaded vicinity and bid goodbye to the sun
shiny portions for awhile. After long but
brisk walk | soon reached the place. The
surroundings might have given evidence of
my approach to the desired spot if | had
not known the way and had got there by
mistake.
The first thing that arrested my attention
was groups of ragged urchins, some of them
busily engaged in making mud cakes in the
street, probably imagining them rich cakes
fit to eat, similar to those seen in the baker
shop windows, and as ! stood there few
moments studying each emotional mind, |
heard from the corner of the street the fol-
lowing conversation. / drew nearer 80 that
the words so thickly said might be more
audible
"Marm is crying orfully, Dick and she
told me to cum out here, fur she wanted ter
be lone"
What ails yer marin eny way, Rob, yer pa
been beatin' her ? | heard him last night
making Cherry street howl with my old pas
help, till the policeman came up and col
Jared them off to the station house, reckon"
He hasn't been beating her she wouldn't
take on so if 'twere here, but it's the bebby
he's been telling he would kill it fur long
time, but mas kept him away, and many's
the bruise she's got by it. Pas good 'nuf
when he amt drunk, but that's mighty
seldom"
Oh thought I, here's intemperance in its
worst features / must investigate the
father. l may lend aid to that mother. My
inclinations led me to speak to this Bob,
and few minutes after found myself be-
ing led by this little ragged speck of hui
mainly down dirty streets aud alleys, by
novels of filth, where the bright sunshine of
the afternoon seemed lost in the gloomy
winds Never minding these gloomy scenes
to us, we still sped on, nearer approaching
an old battered street door, worn and dis
figured by time, but not dirty. No, it was
clean: here was an exception among dozens
OF others covered with grim and dirt. Even
in this viciniey-the vicinity of the Four
Cornerstone pair of hands had secured and
scrubbed the well-worn door, but this was
Bob's hum" as he expressed it.
He lifted the latch and cautioned me to
be careful in ascending the stairs, for they
were old and rickety. We opened the door
and walked in together of course she was
somewhat startled at my appearance until l
told her how | overheard Bob conversing
with his friend, and feeling interested in her
thought would call and perhaps offer as
sistance. Kindly thanking me she passed
me little stool from the corner of the
room and babe me sit down. l soon found
by her talk, although broken by emotion and
trying hard to SUPPRESS her tears, that she
had not always been thus. "Oh no
ma'am," said she, at was not always as
you find it now with us. | have seen
brighter days, but you know what strong
drink does for man and his family, ma am.
You see what it has done for us. 1t has
placed us in low scale in life it has
brought us to hunger, want and misery; it
is running that son of mine, once the hope
and pride of my life, but l can't keep him
at home. He gets led off in the wickedness
around here, though he is naturally very
honest, but ! am afraid, ma am, rum will set
his brain on fire one of these days.
"Look at that poor babe" she said, the
life is almost gone there, and l should not
call it back again, she will soon be better off
than she ever could be here"
Oh that was sad story; it caused tears
to fall. | grasped that woman's hand and
told her she should not suffer while was
there. She gave way to a flood of tears.
After awhile, when she had dried her tears
and we had long talk, | babe her goodbye
and returned home, but not alone. Oh no
Bob went with me, and before the sun had
sunk beneath the horizon, painting the west
ern sky with a gorgeous red, my little Bob
was returning home with a large, well-flled
basket of provisions while load of coal
was sent down Immediately after. Before
laid my head to rest on my pillow that
night l thanked him above for that glorious
rain storm which detained me from return
ing home and had given me some chance to
do one little grain of good in that great
busy city.
What had seen that day was only one
among hundreds of Just such dark scenes of
New York life which belong to the shaded
side of the picture. 1t was true that had
given them something that might do them
good for little while, but this was no salts
faction. was interested in this woman her
husband was good when sober. Bob said so,
although that was seldom. felt if | could
but talk with him in his sober moments per.
haps | might persuade him to turn his steps
back and escape the iron chains of this de-
mon, drink. ! certainly would not feel
reconciled to go home and leave things as
they were, and before had closed my eyes
in sleep had decided TO stop week longer
in that city. The next day dawned bright
and clear again, and Immediately after
breakfast hurried down to the groceries
where found Bob at the door with his
hands in his pockets and his eager blue eyes
glistening with expectation. lie gave me a
hearty good morning, and found he was
~ s,,x \ szll 4
night before to be there early in the morn
ing and help me take some bundles down to
his mother. | asked him if his father had
been at home since was there, and he re-
piled that he had, but" said he, "pa was
just as drunk as ever, and this time he wuz
mad because ma had no coppers to give
him. She goes out round here TO work and
gets penny once in while, but she can
keep 'um away from him when he kums
home drunk she hid what you gave us last
night, for ii he ha seen it he would ha' took
it and pawned it fur hot stuff. We would
have gone to bed without any supper last
night, as we always do, if it hadn't been for
you, and marin and | sat over those Goals
last night (Which warmed us as we never
had been warmed fur long time) and talked
how good you wuz to u.s."
When Bob had finished speaking we
found ourselves facing once more the we'll
scrubbed street door, and | was only toe
glad, for the bundles were quite heavy
Lifting the same old rusty latch of the in
side door we hastily assembled. Bob's mother
hearing our approach met us half way, and
greeting me with warm welcome, tool
some of the bundles out of my hand anc
opened the door which led into the one small
and only room. Still she appeared in grea
distress of mind: She went up and stood
by the bedside, motioning me to come tina
way. ] went up and saw that the child wa
still alive.
We must have DOCTOR" said, " th
child may be saved"
Bob, you know where am stopping, d.
you not 2"
eyes, marm."
&c believe there is doctor there; go an,
see, and ii he is in tell him TO come bom
with you, for | am here and want TO SO
him. Tell him your sister is sick and b
come quickly"
Bob WAS soon on HIS wav and altar a ia,