Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-02-19
ONE LITTLE GIRL.

| She was little girl, not more thaR
ten years old. A faded calico dHsss, not
ever clean, pair Of shoes with more
buttons missing than were present, made
up BY no means fashionable toilet.
Her eyes we're not "large and dark" in
fact. she was . very commonplace look
ing little girl. If you met her on the
street it is quits certain that you would
not leok at her twice, for In New York
there are many little girls not so clean
and with clothes more ragged than
Roses.
She came into court room In New York
one day, few weeks since, leading by
the hand little boy with bare feet, rag
ged clothes,and hat with a torn crown.
He was crying very hard, and once in a
while would say, between his sobs:
Il won't do it again, Rosie; won't do
it again."
But Rosie shut her lips tight and walk
ed through the the little iron gate, and
stood on the platform before the judge.
She was not afraid of the good natured
nan who was the judge that morning.
"Please, sir. will you please take care
of Johnny? He is too much for me. 1
can mind the baby ali right, but Johnny
runs away"
Il won't de it again." walled Johnny.
Where is your nother?" said the
judge.
A crimson wave flushed over the face
of the little woman, and with eyes look
ing on the ground, she said:
"On the island"
"WhyY"
"She got drunk
where's your fatherT
Il don't know; and, please, will you
take care Of JohnlyP"
After much questioning the story was
told.
Little Rose for eight weeks had been
taking care of a baby sister. eight months
old, and Johnny. 1s s--s -
Nov, Johnny would not stay at home,
and Rose heard that there was big
house up town where he could not run
away, and she came to the judge to have
him sent to that place.
Rose really took care Of Johnny and
the baby She earned money by selling
papers and "minding" the babies of two
or three mothers who lived ia the big
tenement house IA which she lived, who
had to 90 away from home to earn mon
ey. She paid the rent of the one room
she called home, and was father and
mother to her brother and sister
The judge did send Johnny to the
place up town where Rose wanted hiB
sent How he cried when the big POI
liceman took him away from Rose. And
Rose cried; the great tears rolled down
her cheeks as she went out on the street,
and she waited around the door, with
the baby in her arms, till it was almost
dark. to see Johnny go away. Perhaps
it was best that Johnny went out by
another door while she was waiting.
Now Johnny plays on big lawn with
q lot of other. little boys. His face and
clothes are clean, and when Rose gees
up to see him she viii be surprised to
see how fat and happy be is.
Some people went down to see Rose,
snd tried to persuade her to put the ba-
by in home and go to another home
herself. But Rose said ~no;" she must
keep the baby and the house until her
mother got back, and she could not be
separated from the baby. She was so
woDanly, so pOtherly, in her determine
tion, that she was permitted to do
what she wished.
To-day if you should go into one or
the tenement houses near that gloomy
bnilding called the Tombs, you will ind
Rose living with the baby, and if it was
in the afternoon you would End three
other babies with her, to whom she
proves good nurse.-Christian Union.