Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-08-23

passionate embraces. Then periods of ex-
cess of grief would seize her. and she would
encourage the little ones to weep, and re-
tail to them endless tales of the family woe.
Then, again, she would rise in the darkness
of night and dance in weird frenzy by the
hour, while the children covered III corners
in abject terror, deaf to Sarah's efforts to
comfort them. Such household did the
little heroine have upon her hands. She
watched the mother day and night and
bravcd her frenzy cared for the little ones;
cooked their food and kept their scant
clothing together and clean. She toiled
end rested not she planned and
sewed, and turned every penny
twice to account; her little heart,
ever OVERLOOKING with woe. never beat once
to the suggestion Of failure or abandon
ment. Here was duty doer for dutys
sake, whose example should inspire the
despairing and lift up the weary-hearted.
Who shall attempt to estimate the weight
of care and woe upon this young soul?
We can only conceive of it by the heroism
with which she bore it. Finally, in the
second year, the mother was sent to the in
sane asylum Then the elder brother
failed of employment. Money became
very scarce with the little self. ordained
guardian. \ benevolent society, learning
of her devotion, sent to her 50 month
toward payment of rent of SO. She
struggled on another year, keeping her
household pure and from vice. a younger
brother peddled matches on the streets,
and thus aided her scanty purse. But, as
the children grew their needs enlarged, and
the little heroine found herself at her
wits end. She was all in rags her
self that the others might be kept
well clad. The boys supplied food
enough, hut that was all Finally, the
pinch became frightful, and the little wom-
an resolved to do brave thing, and de-
mand of society that it do its share. Ac-
curdingly She went boldly to benevolent
board, saying, in effect Here | have
done my best, and | will continue to do so.
/ can support myself and help these little
ones perhaps, after a fashion; bat they
must have other care now. They are grow
ing beyond my strength Will society help
me i'll my unequal struggle? l donot pro-
pose to beg. ! have never asked charity
before. can work, want to go To school
for year, and learn, that l may be useful
in the word. | can do this and do the
for the boys besides but what
will do with these others" The charita-
bic board answered the question by taking
and the Baxter-Strcct heroine went back TO |
her bare rooms to fight the battle for her
self for IN education and a decent place |
in the ranks She walked back to |
her rooms in a gown ragged with |
-cn months wear, shoes that barely held |
together, and with clothing about her frail |
limbs of Scanted amount and texture. She |
has never been in a public park; she never
went out ON holiday; she never had |
lime for associates. or acquaintance; not 4 |
moment for rest or pleasure in all the
weary years. New York has heard of the |
brave little woman who has set such an
aAd she will no longer be UNI
cared for. Unquestionably there are other
Just rs heroic little hearts; other children
teaching the world Just as emphatically the
heroisn Of seli-sacrificc other households, !
whore the rod and staff is weak |
but devoted boy or girl with cour-
iseouS, scli-denying souls. But they
suffer on and the world seldom hears of |
them. The charitable, who do not let the |
one hand know the deeds of the other, |
seek them out now and then, and know |
the depths and bounds of their heroic dis |
charge of duty. Men blow out their brains |
to escape Guty doing; women plunge into |
the cold flood oflheriver, unable to hear the |
load put upon them; but the little child |
in many a case suffers on and does duty. |
with heroism that puts maturity to the |
blush for shane.