Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-06-13


ging when its for them"
And then the door shut behind her
and poor Nick limped after her, as though
10 stop her; then paused, and fairly flung
himself down upon the floor, wishing he
were under the ground beneath II.
'sGod forgive the man that marries q
woman to starve her. 7 he sobbed. why,
If I'd known it would have come to this,
I'd never have courted her. It's time
was dead
.Perhaps being strange, impulsive lit
tie fellow, there might have been tragic
end to this little scene. but that the chill
dren came in from school and began to
cry-partly at the sight Of their PROSTATE
father, partly because of hunger-and
Nick forgot himself to do what he could
for them.
He had no dinner, but he had great
deal of love TO give them and some pieces
of red KID Only the youngest chewed
the kid, and the fact that mother" and
the basket were gone together impressed
them with hone Of provisions.
Meanwhile Becky had gone a-begging.
1t would be horrible, no doubt, she
thought, to take food from strangers,
but she found there was one thing even
more terrible-not to take it.
Door after door was slammed In her
face. Once dog was set at her, or she
thought so. Professional beggars had
made themselves nuisances to many peo-
pie, and how were they to know real
poverty when it asked alms9 Men whom
they had pitied as paupers proved to be
s>A coI tot
blind men whom they had aided w,re
found to have bound up strong limbs ano
glued their eyes together-so they were
hard upon real distress and refused it
broken bread.
At that evening Becky stood at
street corner with one crust in her bas-
ket-no more.
Beyond lay pawnbroker's shop, and
Becky looked at its golden balls and at
her wedding ring. She had worn 1T
fifteen years and it. was thin and frail,
but pure gold. Through all she had kept
it until now. Must it go2 The thought
was worse than begging
Becky took a step forward, another
back. Then she began to cry little.
Nick's ring that he put on her hand so
long ago-oh, dear oh, dear!
But she grew brave again and walked
into the shop and pawned the ring. 1t
was not much they gave her for it, but it
would buy supper, and perhaps Nick
wouldn't notice; and perhaps she could
get it back. That was very faint per
haps," however.
A woman was in the pawnshop as she
waited bargaining with the proprietor
over suit of little girls clothing-costly
things, strangely out of place in her
hands. Becky noticed this, saying to
herself that they were never fairly come
by. But she had forgotten all about it
when, coming out of the bakers, little
voice fell on her ear, and looking down,
she saw a barefoot child of four in
wretched rags, sobbing piteously.
Becky was soft Of heart; but in poor
quarters crying children were common
enough, and her own were waiting for
the loaves in her basket. She walked on
hastily, and so upset the fodder. Then
Becky must needs stop and lex her up.
''Why don't you go home to your
mother this night time. " she said, land
not stand here to be knocked down"
And little silver thread of voice
answered:
81 can't find mamma / can't find my
home. Where is mamma? Oh, mamma =
Becky knelt down. A white head Of
crumpled curls and pair of blue eyes,
swimming in tears, she could just make
out.
But the child could tell nothing. 1t
was plainly lost. Becky took it In her
arms and made inquiries at the corner
grocery, where she bought a slice of
ham; but no one knew the child 1t was
growing late, too, and Becky could not
leave it to its fate.
sI'll take it home" said she, and to-
morrow find its folks"
So when the cobbler and his children
saw the door open at last, there entered
by it not only their mother and basket,
but a baby also.
A new baby came frequently to that
establishment and the children, in
their juvenile view of such matters,
opined that they had another little
sister"
'sIt's a poor lost child" said Becky.
'1'm going to keep it tonight. It's
parents are poorer than we are; you can
see that by its bare feet and only one
little frock, poor thing! Now hold her,
Nick, while cook supper. | didn't beg
it. Nick-so don't fretl'
And then, keeping her ring finger out
of sight, Becky fried the ham. and made
gravy, and cut bread, and sent for two
cents worth of m.lk-which, judiciousIy
diluted, made quart of milk and water
and tried to be very cheerful.
Tho IoSf child cr;od huf Paclrv fed 81