The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-02-28
The Little M other.

She was only Il little girl, living in
Il small attic room in tall building
in the poverty stricken portion of
great city. She had had no particu-
lar ability. She was not even good
looking, hut she was neat, indus
trious and unsclfsh. She was
child of the people. The poor little
girl never thought Of herself, or Of
her own comfort. She was beauti-
full flower growing in the mire, a
pearl of the purcst water in cheap
setting. Her mother had died early,
worn out by the cares and struggles
of Il hard life. The little daughter
filled her place. There were two
smaller children whose care, togcth-
er with that of the entire household,
devolved on little Mary, or "thc lit
tie mother" as she was called by the
neighbors. 1t was her title of honor,
and well did she deserve it, for She
filled mothers place. And her
father. What about him do ask ?
lie was common workman, with
hundreds Of others in Il large fac
tory, no better and no worse than
many others. He was not absolute
ly heartlrsS, but he had no apprccia-
ton of the treasure that he had in
the Woodworking, sclf-sacriiicing lit
tie creature He was Il strong, gray
haired man. lie had undergone
much in his struggle with want.
Not only grinding poverty, but
strong drink, had left their traces in
his face Although comparatively
young in years. He was an old
man, inside and out, so to speak
When he married, he hoped for
great things in the future, but all
that had vanished as the transient
hrilliancy of II meteor vanishcs in
nothingncss. He hated the rich, and
he sought to drown his troubles in
drink.
Little Mary had Il hard time
meeting the daily expenses OF the
household from the scanty portion
of her fathers weekly wages and
what she could earn with her needle
1t was II task that might have tested
the courage; skill and endurance of
an older person. When her father
came home mt night, and saw the
neat little room and little Mary's
tidy figure bending over her needle
work by the dim light Of lamp,
that still voice of conscience
troubled him. 1t told him that he
should lead better life, and do
more to brighten the daily life of
the child, for she was nothing but a
child in years and form. And yet
"the little mother" had her bright
moments, such as they We're. When
she got paid for her needle work,
small as the sum was, she almost
felt rich. She put aside as much of
the small sum as possible, not for
herself, but for "thc little ones" rs
she called her younger brothers,
Moreover, she had a canary bird,
and few flowers, which were a
great source of comfort to her.
And so they lived on. Ii was once
more Saturday night. Her father
would not be home early. He never
did come home early on Saturday
night, for that was the night he went
to the tavern and spent most of his
money on drink. She leaned out of
the window. There was not much
to be seen except chimneys, attic
windows and tin roofs, but above all
wero the maryelously glorious stars
and consultations. The small chill
dren were asleep in their uundle
bed, She was dreaming of the fu-
ture, hoping perhaps, that it would
be brighter and happier than her
past had been.
Suddenly she started. She heard
door close, and a well-known foot.
step was ON the stairs. Her fnther