Nebraska advertiser., 1881-08-18


one room in house let out in "tene.
ments" TO poor families, in a squalid
back slum The place was clean,
though bare of everything except mere
necessaries; every article of furniture
that could be dispensed with, as well as
the wearables of the inmates, having
gone TO the pawn-shop TO procure food.
Lying outside the bed, partly dressed,
was IA mantle wreck of fine, stall
wart, broad shouldered young fellow.
! He was a day-laborer, and had lately
left the hospital after long and heavy
| fit of illness. Two small children were
playing quietly in a corner; and the
| wifc-her apron thrown over her head
was sitting beside the iireless CRATE,
rocking herself backward and forward,
sobbing bitterly.
a. don't take on so, my girl" said
the man" don't now, Mary, honey.
Sure God is good, Maybe He rise up
something for us. I'll get strong and
able again perhaps. Didn't the doctor
say when was leaving the hospital,
that | hadn't n ha'porth the matter
with meP ! was cured; and he need do
no more"
cay; and didn't he say, too, that
you was TO have good food good
nourishment; = and that without it
you wouldn't doP And tits that
what's breaking my heart en-
tirely,' added Mary, with a
fresh burst of grief; "looking al you
there melting away before my eyes day
by day; wore to II skeleton with next to
starvation. and nothing on the living
earth TO give you. And now here $ the
man come for the rent, and haven't a
half-penny to give him-not one! Sure
and certain, We'll be turned out on the
world. Nothing for it at last but to go
to the workhOuse, and be all parted
asunder from one another-you and /
and the children. And we so comforta-
BILE, so happy in our little home before
you took III, with full and plenty of
everything! Oh, Jim, jewel, isn't it
hardP'
"Well, twas from no fault of ours,
aud couldn't be helped. The sickness
came from the Lord-glory be to His
holy name! How do we know but what
help will come from Him, tooP Any
way, darlint, there's no use in fret
ting"
"If / could get work, / wouldn't
fret" said the young woman. 1--WE
might struggle on, and keep the life in
us till such time as you were on your
feet again. But | can't. It's a poor
case to be able and willing to earn, and
not get it to do. The last job of nee
dlework Miss West got for me--she's a
good friend, Heaven bless her!-was
well paid for. She promised to try and
get me more amongst her ladies. I'll
go off to her now, and see has she
heard of anything. You'll be good,
avourneens, while I'm away, won't
yep said she, kissing the two half
starved mites in the corner; "and We
won't cry, or disturb the poor sick
daddy. I'll be back, Jim, my heart,
in less than no time"
-"'''' =" ci'Hn0 mop arr,' patIUuv ON
durance of suffering are traits well
known to those whose experience lies
among the lower orders. Poor jim
mad a full share of both; nevertheless.
when his wife had gone he broke down
miserably. God help herl" he said,
looking after her retreating figure;
'and God forgive me for deceiving her.
and making up stories about getting
strong and well, when | know
as sure as that Pm lying
stretched here, that the never a
STROKE of work I'll do again in this
world. IT'S dying | am--dying for the
want of everything; rs weak as water,
and not able to lift my head. If she
was to slave day and night, and work
her poor fingers to the bone, the cray
thur! she couldn't get me the nourish-
ment I'd want. Though 1 purtend to
her that I'm not one bit hungry or in
cllned to make use of victuals, 1 could
eat the world if / had it. I'm lust
ravenous! When | was sick at the
hospital, | wasn't able to look at evan
The cup o tea; but now the hunger is
and tearing ut me. NV heart
IS weak from fasting, and the longing
and the craving are killing me-"
Meantime poor Mary was hurrying
through the streets with anxious foot
steps, specializing on the possibility of
her friend having found her work
among her pupils.
Miss West was daily governess.
Though but Just nineteen, she was the
main prop and stay of widowed in
valid mother and young sisters; earning
by her daily toll that which eked out
he pittance left of better DAYS, and
made by frugal continuance the two
ends meet. But none are so Door as
lot to he able to help in some way those
worse OIL than themselves; and the /
'oung girl had pleaded successfully for
Mary, and had procured employment
hat had been the only support
If the poor family during jim illness.
She was going to breakfast when her
'rotege was shown in; just preparing !
o attack, with the healthy appetite of .
'outh and the knowledge that many
Iusy, hours would pass before she .
mould again see food, goodly slice of
hick bread and butter; the thickness,
De 1t observed, referable to the bread |