The Baltimore County union., 1883-06-16
THE BLACK MANS BLESSING.

"Oh dear !" exclaimed Nettie Ashley,
as she put on her bonnet and shawl pre-
paratory to going home. al wish we
were to have some kind of a real good
time tonight"
"My sentiments exactly" returned
Bessie Amcs, rs she tied her hood
strings in 4 bcwitching bow and sur
veyed herself in the mirror. al move
that we three, here and now, plan a
frolic."
"Second the notion" chimed in
Gertic Wood. "What shall il be, n
candy daub9"
"No, no." laughed Bessie "traces of
our last candy escapade are yet visible
in my hair, although comb and brush
have been vigorously applied"
"Lis,en, girls" cried Ncttie, al
have an idea"
"For PHYS sake don't lose it, Net"
said Gertie, 'but quick, let's hear IT,"
"It's something novel; Let's go
begging"
"Go what 2" asked Bess.
"Go out begging" explained Gertie.
"We'll disguise, and go from house
to house; asking for food. 1t will be
real fun"
"You are agcnius, Net, "cried Bessie,
"you'll be famous, yet"
"Probably," said Neitie. "Behold
the future idol of fame working in a
box-shop for six dollars a weeki"
"1'hat has nothing to do with our
proposed excursion" interrupted Ger
tie. "Shall We go or not ?"
$50 by all means," said Bess, whose
eyes were just sparkling with mischief.
"But let's be going home; we can
plan il on the way"
The three girls started off in high
glcc, and Judging by the frequent laugh.
ter and suggestive mods of their heads,
everything was perfected ere they sepa.
rated At the door OF Nettie Ashley
house.
"Now, girls, be here at seven, sharp,
and in costume, mind" called out
Nettic rs she ran toward the door.
Had you been on hand at seven
sharp, you would have seen two very
forlorn looking damsels ringing the bell
Of the Ashley cottage. Nettie answer.
ed the call and the visitors were usher.
cd in with much laughter, and few
moments later, you might have seen
emerging from the same house three
miscrably clad girls, each bearing .
basket.
"whcre shall we go firstl" inquired
Bessie.
"We'll take Evans avenue neither
of us is acquainted there" responded
Nettic. "Thcy are all rich folks on
the avenue. Then we'll go over to Lee
sereet among the poor people, and SCI
what we can beg for our sick mother. 4"
al can never tell the story with q
grave face" said Gcrtie.
"But you must. See here - said
Bessie, as they passed under the stree,
light. "Look, you must draw your
face down so." And the rosy little
face assumed such serio-comic eXpres
sion that her companions burst into
laughter. "Girls," she exclaimed, ir
a tragic voice, how can you laugh in
that manner when your poor mother j:
so i'll with consumption, and you hav,
little brothers and sisters depending OF
you for support, and are obliged to bel
from door to door ?-how can you dc
it1"
"Bess, you are incorrigiblc, returned
Nettic. "Such dolcful expression a
that would be a fortune to any beggar
You actually looked worse than Aun
Melissa when she is giving her visitor
an extended account OF her 'neuralig,
and rumatiz."
"Here we are on Evans avenue,
called Gertie. "Now, girls, compos
yourselves. Net, you are to 60 first. I"
"All right" responded Nettie, "'l
stop at this big brown house. Yo'
two walk on few steps, and wait il
the shadow Of that big elm"
They did as directed, while Nelli
made her way to the back door of th,
mansion. A trembling knock brough
Maggie, the servant girl.
"Please, ma 'am," Nettic faltered
"I've a sick mother, we're very poor
there's no one but me to depend on
and won't you please give me a littl
something to eat 2"
"You'rc the sivinteenth beggar that
after being here to-day. You all hav
dyin' mithers an dead fathers, an,
havin only knows how many childer 4
support. II we'd be givin' to all o'yees
the master nd be poorer than a churc