Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-12-20
and at Tatty's urgent request she was al

lowed to go, too.
What a scene Of destitution and suffer
ing met them as they entered the hovel to
which Rhoda had directed them. A rick
ETY. old bedstead stood in one corner, and
on it lay woman with baby in her
arms, covered by one thin, tattered quilt.
At the foot of the bed was window
whose broken panes let in the driving
sleet. There was an old stovein the room,
but no fire, and the woman was pinched
and blue with hunger and cold, and it
seemed as if they would both die very
soon unless active measures were taken.
Grandma covered them quickly with
the warm bedclothes she had brought
wishing in her heart she had more. Uncle
Charlie had thoughtfully thrown hatchet
into the cutter, and as he had some nails
In his pocket, he soon had folded the old
ragged quilt over the window, and nailed
it there, keeping out the worst of the
storm. Then he split up the old table
and built fire with the pieces and drove
home again for supply Of fuel, etc.
Grandma, it is getting warm here by
the fire. said Tatty. ''won't you wrap
the blanket around baby and let me hold
it, while you take care of its mammal"
"Poor little starved creature" said
grandma, as she laid the baby in Tatty's
lap. 'Charles will bring some milk
when he comes back, and then it shall be
fed"
It was but a little while before the
merry jingle of Uncle Charles sleigh
bells was heard, and OH he brought so
many comforts with him. First there
was glazier to set all the panes Of glass;
and then such big pieces Of dry, hard
wood, bedstead that was not rickety,
with a mattrass and pillows and more
blankets; table to replace the one he
had broken up; and Rhoda.
Rhoda was a good soul, who knew
what to do even better than grandma 1t
was good thing to have brought Rhoda.
There was carpet, too-an old Brussels
carpet with the colors all worn off, but it
was thick and would keep the floor
warm.
"There is man skulking around out
side" said Uncle Charlie II should not
be surprised if"
''Why, there he is at the windowl"
said Rhoda, ''that's her man.
~ thought so; but if he comes in here
he'll get thrown out, that's all I've got to
say" said Uncle Charlie, as he finished
putting together the bedstead he had
brought, and laid the mattrass on it.
"Now, you make up the bed, Rhoda, ..and
get the woman on to it, and I'll 60 order
this scamp off,"
"Oh, don't, Uncle Charliel" pleaded
Tatty, she's baby's papa; let him come
in and get warm"
"Why, Tatty, he's just out of jail"
Maybe if nobody is kind to him he'll
get shut up IN jail again.
''Sophronia is right, Charles. Bring
him in; perhaps we can help him." said
! grandma, whose heart had been growing
tender ever since Tatty had unrolled and
brought to sight her lost baby's blanket.
Uncle Charlie went out, and the two
women quickly prepared the bed for the
invalid, and Rhoda lifting the frail form
in her strong arms laid her down in the
most comfortable bed she had seen for
many weary months. Grandma gave her
=. a little tea and told her to try now and
sleep while she looked after the baby.
Looking up into the old lady's face, the
woman said:
''My faith was almost gone; it seemed
as if God had forgotten me, but was
trying to hold on.
\ ''No wonder you felt SO, you poor
child" said Rhoda; ''things was in an
awful snarl here, but you see He did not
forget you, and sent us to straighten
things out, and help you"
Just then Uncle Charley came in with
the man. "He is half frozen,n said the
former to Rhoda, and I'm afraid he
will go for drink the first thing unless
we can prevent him."
'Tll tell you what" replied Rhoda;
''you 60 and get some coffee; get the
best, and an egg to settle it, and I'll
make him such drink that he will for
get all about his beer and stuff" and
when the coffee was brought she kept
her word
''That goes to the spot" said the
grateful fellow, as he drained the last
drop of the fragrant beverage.
''Then why don't you drink that in
stead of drinking beer" asked Tatty,
who stood by her grandma's side, watch
ing her feed the baby.
II would, little lady, if I could get it."
'.You can always get it in my kitchen"
said grandma.
| A rap at the doori The landlord to
collect his rent. A hard-hearted man,
with no sympathy for children of pow
erty, who threatened to turn them all
out unless the SIS due for rent were paid
at once.
I Tatty whispered to her grandmother,
who smilingly nodded assent, then going
timidly up to the wretched ''head Of the
family" said:
4 will pay your rent if you will do
something for me-"
'I'll do what you ask of me, whether
you pay the rent or not.