The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-04-22
SUNSHINY TuDA.

G0k!kS.
SUNSHINY TILDA.
The cold winter wind blew fercely,
and rocked the crazy old house in the
miserable quarters where the city's
poor were crowded in houses long since
condemned as unsafe.
"Oh, I'm so cold!'' said Tilda Rv-
man, as she lay in her low bed of
straw; shaking with cold, in the freless
and carpetless room
The wind through the crevices in the
| wall chilled the weak little body, and
there was no warm covering upon Til
da's bed.
Tilda was hungry; though twas aft
| or noon, she had not tasted food, and
her supper the evening before had been
cold boiled potatoes without salt or
pepper. But Tilda expected nothing;
it was no new experience for this ten
year-old to be alone, cold and hungry.
"Oh, l wonder if mothers drinkin'
again. I'm so afeared she'll freeze to
death, such cold days as this! If l could
only watch after her bit Pears as
if I shouldn't want to be in this world
without mammy!" and tears stole down
the thin cheeks of half-starved Tilda.
Are you awake, Tilda? and don't
you want to take care of Polly Pipkin
while I'm gone to the school?' And
larger girl pushed open the door and
seated herself in the one shaky chair in
the room.
''Oh, Martha Jane, please hand me
Polly this very minute!' and Tilda sat
up in bed, eagerly reaching out for a
battered, soilei dolly, so ugly that few
little girls would have wanted to look
at it,
Tilda couldn't move her lower limbs.
A drunken papa had struck her cruel.
heavy blows when wee grille, ana
ever after something was the trouble
with Tilda's back, her rosy checks
grew thin and mamma sObbed all the
time.
Tilda didn't mind much then that
she had to sit still and could never
again run or play. for mamma was so
loving and tender with her crippled
grille; but she had not learned to drink
then.
Tilda Rugged Polly P:pkin close to
her breast. The tumbled t1axen hair
had not been combed for several DAYS.
and the thin cotton dress was tattcred
and dirty; no loving mother had looked
after Tilda S comfort
''Yes; but then the sun'll melt the
snow and
II am afraid you haven't had any
dinner, Tilda. Well, mine wasn't
enough for even one; tried to get YOU
a corn cake. My daddy is drinAin';
pears like every time he gets paid for
work he j.>: drinks it up. 7 Ida. do
you suppose we shall ever Ike the
| stuff whisky. beer and brandy, |
mean. and Martha James black eve,
| snapped aud spanked.
Tilda opened wide her blue ones.
She VIZ, = 10y! al soul to mammy. but
She hated viii, all her young might
the curse Which hid wrecked their
HON: and made & drunken sot of her
mother.
II know you hate it now, Tilda: 50
40 !, aud once Your NANNY did. Old
Granny Marks says your NANNY was
ouce the prcttie>t and sweetest woman
she ever knew, and now look at her.
ali purple and Ll;,atcd. Hush: ldilnr
! mean to make !"u cry. Here. Tllda,
, let me warm you III, Bit aud Mar
tia Jane held til, cripple in her arms
until she had w.,T;i,cd little the be-
nrmbcd body u Tilda.
IL must be -c;u' TO school. We
iealu to mcni aHd sew thugs there.
, I'm going to bring you something: it'll
be company 70: you to try and guess
what it will be.
"Murt',a, if yuu--S should
=, n'-lying-in =; he-streets, will vou--
will you jest
'Tll try to bring her home. Tilda.
Ib" boys shall not throw snowbalIs at
her while m around. and I'll try to
soh.r her up with Il cup OF hot soup
With a bang Martha Jane closed the
door. IiI:l Struggled up into heap
and cud.!h q Polly clo.. to her, and
then Went TO Sleep
''ll' ask the ladies' to help her. I'm
strong and csn work, but 'rilda never
can. Nhv-if h,rc isn't old Mag,
drunk. a;d almost showed over! III
have to miss the school, but promised
Tilda to look after her mother, and I
think sued rather d bring her mann
my than anything, though wanted to
get her som: rrtAd and meat and a bit
% sugar.
Down upon her knees Martha Jane
k'r't, and with he fingers began to dig
out the woman. stupid with drink, not
mind:ng the approach of q beautifully
dressed lady.
The drunken Woman mUttered in her
sleep, as Martha tried to arouse her,
when the l,.ly. too, knelt. saying. Let
NE assist vox. A.d before Martha
could think, the lady had called help
and her carriage. and they wcro all
driven 10 Tiila'>.
AirS Manning tears blinded her
eyes as :-llc looked upon Tilda and Pip
kin.
With Marha's help she soon had
Ii,da in ~a:ln bed, wearing a flan-
nci w1ai'lrr. i'll home especially for
weak. poor children.
Iitda's mother was cared for by
ladies who work earnestly TO help men
and wom:r break OIL the habit of in
Temperance aid become respected.
pure, good souls again; and Tiida
prays daily for '.mammy.
My but you're fine! spose you
wouldn't look at Polly Pipkin now
said Martha, as she visited Tilda in her
warm room. ju>t after she had eaten
a breakfast of warm oatmeal and
milk. and rink-cheeked dolly in
pink dress lay in Tilda's arms.
mo, don't mean word of that,
you dear sun>hiny Tilda! You'll al
ways stick to hcmely old friends. and
I'm glad You have new doll. Good
news! Daddy's taken the pledge, and
maybe Ill have a new dolly. too.
know You re glad, Tilda dear
A Veto That Wives Have.
Pail Mall Gazette: No Russian laGT