The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-12-23
HARVEST OF THE POOR
POVEETY-STRlCKEN PEOPLE WIG
HAUNT THE RAILWAY TRACKS.
hungry Women and Children Waiting
Their Chances at ths Milk Wagons
The One Who Stands Nearest
Gathering the Fragments.
IChiCarO News

[Chicago News
The railway tracks in every direction
bout Chicago are daily traverssd by many
let. Every inch Of them is scrutinizoi by
.Fatchful eyes, from which not so much as
+" bit of coal, a splinter Of pine, or kand-
n Of corn can escape notice. There are
Iildren of each sex and all ages from mere
OTIS; girls, young women, and women SO
I'D that they tremble beneath the burden of
small weight They all carry baskets,
and the girls and women also carry tin pals.
into which they put nothing that they pick
Up.
Many OF these people who have been sc
ortunate as TO secure pieces OF timber too
long to he placed in their baskets are half
bent over with the loads on their backs.
Some of the girls whose baskets are filed
make receptacle for whatever they find
by turning up thu one skirt they wear.
One small urchiu mas his basket nearly
filed with pieces of show bills which he has
torn of before coming to the tracks. He
waves triumphantly over his bare head a
long piece of the thick paper from which
the rain has washed nearly all the tawdry
red. He talks little TO himself as he care
lessly stumbles along. stopping mechani-
cally now AMI then to pick up some bit Of
coal he sometimes sings a tuneless little
song so cheerily that it is almost music.
SUFFERING AND PRIVATION.
Without exception the women and girls
wear kerchiefS on their heads. On theiI
feet are whatever kind of shoes they may
have CHANGED to find thrown out in the
alleyways and on ASH heaps There are nc
dry-shod feet among them. Not many OF
them know tbs meaning OF good shoes and
stockings They ara spattered with mud to
the knees. This gives them no concern.
Never in their lives. perhaps, have they
known the blessedna55 OF cleanliness
They dodge in and out between passing
trains, seemingly to escape injury but by a
miracle. They talk but little together.
Thor faces baar marks handed down to
them by generations Of cruelesb want and
Ignorance. Those whose heritage is long
suffering and nrivation have bat slow con-
vocational Instincts.
During the early part of the day they do
net wanier far from the milk depots
When milk wagons begin to gather about
the trains for fresh supplies the women and
children leave the tracks and cluster around
tho wagons. Sometimes one, more venture
some than the rest, will climb into wagon
while the driver is on the platform, to in.
Spect the cans and report whether or not
any milk remains in them. The rest stand
patiently, stolidly, each watching her
chance.
BOTTOM OF THE CANS.
They come here every morning of the
week but Sunday winter and summer
explained q man in charge OF one of tho
depots. 81 have never seen a woman or girl
attempt to steal drop Of milk. They wait
around to see if some will not be given
them.
There are fow milkmen who do not have
soms milk left when a route is completed.
This must be thrown out. These poor souls
who would have none if they did not get
it herc-hold up their pals to receive it. in
stead OF allowing it to be spilled on the
ground The one who stands nearest the
milkman who has milk to give away is the
ono who gets it."
as the milk good that they get, or is it
settIing,f'
1T is not sattlings 1t IS the milk from
the bottom Of the cans. Sometimes some
boly will have a quantity Of skinned milk
on hanl when there has been an extra
amount of cream sold. This is generally
given to them.
Look at that old woman now" he ex-
claimed, pointing to sturdy looking Old
person with tan-colored face "See how
det9rmineily she pushes that sickly looking
girl asile."
GATHERING THE FRAGMENTS.
L he OA1 "OuldII b5 ltlAACdGSA utSiJ
made her way to the sile OF q milkman
who had opaned can, looked into it, and
glanced about for q pail into which to turn
its contents Hers was the ono outstretched
nearest He emptied the can and her pail
was filled quito full. Then the old woman
climbed on the viaduct and trudged away.
The sicky girl she had thrust aside picked
q cabbage leaf out of the mud, brushed the
dirt from it as we'll as she could, and placed
1t in her basket.
"Thcy never miss cabbage leaf or
stray potato" continued the depot man.
man. "Taey gather up every bit Of spilled
grain left by the sparrows along the tracks
and use it to help thicken the soup. On
Sundays they never come for milk. At the
hours when they could obtain it they are in
church "
Il the milk good that you get hcre27 was
asked ittle btus-eyod girl.
1T IS sour sometimes, but then it makes
SHap with -four" she answered in broken
EIg!ish.
DO you ever give money for milk"
Give cur money for milkl' replied the
caAl in establishment. ave have, oh,
I-tla noney, and we save-save it to get
iGAl. Why should We buy milk when we
can get it here FOR waiting! One hour two,
three is not long for 5 cent cent worth"
No Tropical Territory.
Detroit Post.l