Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-01-18
ssreamed upon them from neighboring

ssreamed upon them from neighboring
lamp, ..she amt reg lar"
Then letting her sink back until she
rested against the stone coping. ne took
her hand and looked at the fingers.
mo wedding ring" he said. thinking
aloud. s'Ah the old story
! The woman, whose eyes had closed in
momentary faintness. opened them again.
She had heard the mans remark.
Il am better now" she said. IL
will 90 home. Nellie where's Nellie?'
The woman looked about as if in search
| 1some one.
"Got some one with you, eh ?" said the
policeman. ''Who is il ?'
MY little girl answered the woman.
'.She was here just now. She will see me
home.''
The policeman looked about. He could
see no one. The bridge was deserted. IL
was Christmas night. and only policemen
and outcasts were wandering the streets.
| The policeman shaded his eyes and
looked along the bridge. He was inst
| making up his mind that the woman WAS
| light healed and prey to delusion when
/ he caught sight of something coming
along swiftly from the Su rey side.
| In a moment the something was by the
womlns side, and ciutching her by her
SIS eagerly.
The something was little girl of five. Il
| small white faced little thing. ina thread
| bare .Ack with, oh. such terrible bnots.
! The policeman looked at the boots and
| frock, and then he looked at the child :
! face.
| lie was in for surprises that nicht. II
! he had been astonshcd al t e mother. he
was pelriiied ut the appearance nj the
child. IL was the face of IN angel in :,
/ Christmas picture-a face surrounded by
Il wealth of auburn hair-hair blown
about by the night wind, but loyeler still
| in the picturesque confusion in which 1t
| fell about the child's shoulders.
Look, nanny. look !" cried the child
eagerly. "See what kind gentleman $
given me-"
The child held something up in her
| fingers. II was 2 shilling.
The woman looked at it 4 moment. then
burst into tears.
God ha. been merciiul,n she sot bed.
I'VE shall not die in the streets tonight"
die in the streets !" exclaimed the po-
liceman Here, that isn't allowed, you
know"
| The child crept up to where her mother
sat, and. putting her little arms round her
neck, drew the white face down to hers
and kissed it.
Come along, nanny" she said.
Now we've got some money, p'r'aps
| they'll let us in again
Yes, come Nellie I'm stronger now
murmured the woman, ''let us 60"
Sh.l and fax por tho abilHfs hand
moved slowly along the bridge toward
the Strand.
The policeman stood and watched them
a moment. Poor critters!' he said to
himself, changed if can let EN- 90 with
out knowing more about 'em There 5
something out of the common. or don't
know virtue when see it. iii, missus!' -
The woman turned, and the policeman
came up to her.
I'm family man, missus," he said.
gently, land I've got wife and kids O
my own, so p'r'aps you won't mind me
askin' We where We live. and 'ow We come
to talk about dyin' in the streets on Christ
mas night ?'
The woman hesitated a moment; then
some thing in the policeman kindly face
treasured her.
I've been very i'll, lately. | have
earned nothing. This morning we were
turned out OF the poor little room where
we live. We hadn't the money TO pay the
rent. They would have turned us out last
| night, but the man was merciiul."
She might with more truth have said
the deputy was drunk, ard forgot his
duties
Where do You live ~
The woman told him. 1t was COM
| mon lodging house in . West End slum-
a wrelched one, where the poorest of the
poor lodge by the day, and where the
rents are collected on the fixed principle
of-No money, out you 90.
Continued Tomorrow