The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-08-18
SELECT STORY.
THE FORsAKEN.
TWO FAIR VICTIMS.

VI m nail dead, ma am.
whats the matter? You look tired
out"
"That | am, maam, wild watchin all
night. Indade / couldn't get here be
fore to commence me washin, ma am"
as your little giil ill.,
mo, ma'am; ye know live on Sulli-
van street. Well, t'other day | heard
some of 'em say as how poor crathur
was very i'll in the back basement. Me
friend, Mrs. McCioud, spdlye to me
yesterday about the woman being lady,
and that she was a dreadful sufferer,
and was without the comforts of life.
So jist made up me mind | would go
in and do what l could for the poor
thing"
"You have good heart, Bridget"
"I'm glad that I'm not heather,
ma, am, if do live in this God for SAX
en- city. Well, l found Mrs. Lowell
Chats the lady's name, ma'am) very
sick and awful poor. She don't spake
much; she means all the time. / do
behave she'll die
81 am glad, Bridget, that you have
told me about this poor woman. l am
impressed that | can make her comfort
able"
"God bless you, Mrs. Currier," quick
ly exclaimed the warm. hearted washer
woman.
Mrs. Currier FASTENED up stairs to
make her street toilet Her sweet face
wore n sad. tbouoh,ful EXPRESSION. She
somehow felt as though she must 90
and see this Mrs. Lowell she seemed to
he forced onward bv n power far
stronger than her generosity of heart,
than her charitable inclinations. Mrs
Cnrrier was very benevolent lady.
and took a pleasure in administering to
the poor Il was only one wear since
she had graduated from a fashionable
boarding school and became the wife
of Henry Currier. a millionaire. who
took his lovely and accomplished bride
10 his elegant home in the METROPOLIS.
Mrs CUrrier soon became a society
favorite. and vet she sought out the
| poor and distressed, irving to alleviate
their trials and wants with so much
| earnestness and deep feeling that one
would almost imagine that she had
some time in the course of her short
| life dwelt in the midst of poverty and
| wretchedness. But it was only her
| natural innate goodness that made her
| remember her duty to the unfortunate
| while she enioyed all the luxuries that
| wealth could secure.
II was a bright. lovely morning in
| April. 1872. Nature had donncd her
rich garments of tinted greens. and
some of Floras offerings had come to
| gladden. the eye and perfume the air.
The shade trees that were scattered
here and there impaired to the crowded
citv an air of almost rural freshness.
and the beauty of the little parks re-
called to the passers.by the charm of
rnsticatinp country rambles, rippling
brooks. aud the sweet seclusion of
groves musical with the love notes of a
thousand feathered songsters.
1t was not long before the fashiona.
ble lady and favorite child of fortune
was picking her way through one of
the dirtiest streets in all Gotham
Bridget led the way upon arriving
at the dinoy abode. The steps were
broken, and the basement room con.
tanned only one small window. The
soft spring never entered this wretched
place-wbere filth reigned supreme. In
a corner of the room, living upon an old
straw bed, was woman, who looked
so pale, so ethereal with her bright
golden hair falling over her alabaster
like shoulders, that Mrs. Currier gazed
in wonderment upon the beautiful sleep
inc invalid.
Bridget crossed herself and softly
whispered. "The poor creatur, she's
dead, for sure"
A few rays of sunlight now stole in
to the dingy cellar through the door
that the visitors had left partly opened,
and seemed to timidly creep along the
stone floor up to the sufferer and expos
ed more vividly her pallid face.
Mrs Currier wiped her eyes, but the
tears would come. She gazed around
the room-no sign of comfort was
there The place had the appearance
of cave, and the dimly heard noises
of the great city seemed like the dis
tant roar of the ocean.
The invalid moved and opened her
great blue eyes. Mis-. Currier stepped
a little back and motioned for Bridget
to advance to the bed
"How do ye fale now?" asked the
washerwoman, in pitiful tone of voice.
"The same answered Mrs. Lowell,
again opening her eyes.
"Ive brought somebody who'll be a
friend to wees" said Bridget.
II need no friends" answered Mrs.
Lowell, sighing.
Mrs. Curricr now approached the sick
woman, and taking her thin hand into
her soft palm, said, in a gentle, sistorly
manner.
"You are very i'll, and | have come
here to befriend you, to have you re.
moved, if possible, to a comforta' lie
place"
1