The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-05-21
w. G. T. U.
For God and Home and Native Land"
ONE EASTER EVE.
ANGELO CRIPPEN DAVIS.

were unfolding their leaves. In the city
parks the grass was beginning to look
green, and boxes of plants in the win
dows of houses were all i'm blossom.
This was right, because tomorrow
would be Easter Day.
But down i'm the river streets there
was no grass, no flowers; only dirt and
foul smells, and heaps of garbage and
ash piles; only tall tenement houses that
were almost ready to fall down, and that
were crowded with the refuse of human
ity.
Alta corner of one of the narrow
streets that ran down hill to the water,
stood two or three men, red-faced, un-
clean, unkempt, with the smell of stale
tobacco-smoke and beer hanging around
their clothes. Across the street was a
dirty little saloon, with cigar hanging
| over it that read, italian Joe;" some
strings of withered bananas hung out
side the door, and made feeble pre-
tense of the places being something be-
sides Il saloon-a pretense, however, that
deceived no one-and the men across
the way looked over and longed.
Presently little girl came out of one
of the dingy old hives THAT were called
houses, and started up the streets
pretty little girl, if only her eyes had
not been so hollow, and if she had not
looked as though she had never enough
to eat. An old shawl was thrown over
her head. and she carried small tin
bucket in her hand.
"Look, Bill" said one of the men
"here comes your kid"
Bill turned and saw her, and called
Come here, Mary"
The little thing approached with re-
luctant feet. Her father took her rough
ly by the shoulder, when she came near
and asked:
| where you going"'
"To bny some milk for the baby" sht
answered tImidly.
| GLOW much money you got?" said he
"Only Il Nickel" she replied, will
her voice trembling.
Give it to me-" he said Grossly, tax
ing it out of her hands at the same time
"Oh father, please give it to me! sail
she, beginning to cry bitterly. at al
the money mother had, and baby Is 81
sick"
ole don't need any milk if he is sick
he'd better drink water" Then turn
ing to the other men he said ''I'm il
luck; Pm off for Il schooner of beer
and he started across the street. Thu
child ran after him, and caught hold O
him, begging him for the money.
Gather, don't do it! it's such wick
ed thing to rob sick baby"
Becoming wcaried ut her importantly
the man pushed her roughly from him
She fell, and struck her face on n rougl
stone, making the blood trickle dOwI
ashamed of his violence, then helpet
her to arise.
81 didn't mean to hurt you, Mary,
he said; "but / must have drink o
something. Run along to your mother
now, and let me alone"
The child turned and went down tn,
street, sobbing, with tears and bloc,
streaming down her face. She entere,
the door of one of the tall houses, ant
climbed the stairs, one, two, tire,
flights, before she reached "home.
This "home" (heaven save the mark
was dingy room, fireless, carpetless
curtainless, with two or three chairs,
bed, II trundle-bed and IN old cracke,
cooking stove, for furniture. This wa
the ''home" that the exercise of tn,
right of personal liberty" enabled
man to furnish his family.
| A pale, sickly woman sat near win
dow, holding baby in her lap. A bab,
with a wien, withered face, wan witt
sickness and emaciated almost DeyOnI
belief. Now and then it gave a low
feeble wall, but it was too sick to cry
The mother looked up, and exclaimed
i'm dismay when she saw the child, VIII,
cried out:
at amt the hurt! don't mind that
But il was such mean thing to dOp
and she sobbed out the story to he
mother.
The woman leaned back her hea,
YEARLY, and closed her eyes.
"Never mind, daughter" she sait
with her voice shaking, perhaps
would not have done him any good, hi
il SO sick" Then she smoOthed thu
child's hair, and comforted her. BY
and by the little thing grew calmer, ant
went about doing the few pitiful house
hold duties that poverty rendered nee
essary.
The room grew dusky after awhile bu
they had no lamp. 'The moon will b,
up soon," said the mother, "and thel
| we can see"
And the child drew her seat close I,
her mother, and sat waiting. The bab,
seemed TO be sleeping, it lay SO quietly
mother, amt you glad Italian JO
won't be in heaven when We go there?'
dSkcu MARY, pTeSclitS.
81 would not speak that way, dear,
her mother replied.
"Well, | am, anyway" said the child
"I've had enough of him down here OIL
the earth. If was going in the door o
heaven, and I'd see him there, I'd turf
round and come back"
"Don't you remember Christ forgav,
the thief on the cross, Mary?" said he
mother.
eyes, mother, but he was only thief
He wasn't saloon keeper" Here TIN
tears began to come. 'I'm tired of be
ing hungry and of not having an,
clothes, and going without fires, anC
having children throw mud ut me anC
call me names because Pm just nobody
but drunkard's little girl. And, moth
er, tomorrow is Easter Sunday" (sht
was crying violently now, "and
thought-may bet would bring
something gOod-to yOu-or the baby
But it won't! and she knelt down at he
mothers knee, and hid her face. "W,
amt any account, and the baby is no
body but just poor little baby, and
don't believe God cares!" And the
child shook with uncomfortable sobs
Her mother made no reply to this, bu
smoothed the bowed head with tender
touch. BY and by she said: "See dear
| the moon is rising"
For all along the river, through the
smoke and fog, across the blackeneC
moonlight.
1t was like benediction to the weary
restless world.
| The child turned her tear-stained
face toward the light, and watched il
silently. Then she drew her mothers
hand under her cheek and fell asleep
leaning against her mothers knee.
The moonlight came brighter and
brighter. 1t fell across the face of the
sleeping child, and then it crepi nearer
| the baby's face. 1t showed the shrunk.
| en- outlines, the pinched features, the
blue shadows under the eyes. More
than that, it discovered to the startled
mother that the baby slept indeed. lie
| would never awaken again on earth
She gave smothered, startled cry, but
that was all. She did not even with
draw her hand from the face of the
sleeping child. She did not weep, all
her tears had been shed long ago.
Time passed. Out in the night came
the noise of the bells striking midnight.
The sound awakened the little girl. She
sleepily rubbed her eyes and asked:
sis that for twelve o'clock, mother?''
eyes, it is midnight?'
"Then it's Easter morning." said she,
raising her head from her mothers
knee. "And, mother, | dreamed the
most beautiful dream. | thought saw
baby dressed i'm white. He was all well,
too, mother, and just as happy, like the
| rich little children I've seen I'm the park
with their nurses. He looked at me and
smiled, and then he just seemed to rise
i'm the air. couldn't look after him
very far, because there was such Il bright
light, it ,lazzlcd my eyes. Wasn't il u