Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-12-11
NELLIE'S NOBLE DEEDS.
by ABBIE C. M'KEEyER.

"Thimble Alley! Oh, what a dreadful
place; but there's no one can mend my
laces equal to Mrs. Smith. Little boy, does
Mrs. Rachel Smith live here?"
"Yes'm, fifth story, first door to your
right" and the ragged urchin eyed the fine
lady with wide, open eyes.
"Lor, amt she some?" he said, to near
companion, "all shiny-like and soft.
Whoopee! if nanny had some O her
finery we'd have a holiday dinner we'll as
Biddy O'Brien."
He! he! hi! Tim," roared the other,
"the ilee of dinner out O finery."
81 meant to sell it, you know well enough.
l wonder who she is?'
But in the meantime Nellie Strong had
reached the fifth floor and stood, almost
out of breath, gazing about the wretched
hallway where poverty held sway.
How can they live SOP" she thought.
"What horrid odors. and there's half
dozen babies crying below. Poor little
things!" then she knocked on the door be-
fore her.
Come in," called out woman's voice.
Nellie pushed the creaking door open
and entered the small, bare chamber
At its one window woman sat mending
some costly lace. In corner on cot re-
clined pale, young girl. There was no
and frosty.
"Good morning, Mrs. Smith, l called
with some work; | wanted this lace mended
particularly before the bali, and SO l sought
you ont myself"
Yes, Miss Strong; be seated, pray. Let
me look at the lace, please?"
Nellie took the one vccant chair and
turned her bright eyes upon the pale youn J,
girl on the cot.
care you an invalid?" she gently in
quired.
"Oh, yes; 1 have been one always.
never could walk, but do not suffer much
now"
"You don't mean to tell me that you have
lain here all your life" cried Nellie, and
never saw anything but these bare walls?"
almost all my life. 1t isn't SO bad for
me as you would think. The neighbors arc
kind, and mother brings me flower now
and then, and we talk Of what might be ii
could grow stronger. Talk is cheap"
smiled the invalid.
81 don't think I could do this before
Wednesday. Will that answer, Miss
Strong?"
"Oh, yes" said Nellie, carelessly, "it
does not matter at all. But tell me, Mrs.
Smith, have you ever consulted good ply
Il have often wished to do so, but could
not afford it."
Just then little tow headed, dirty faced
girl of five or six years thrust her head iu
the doorway.
please, Miss Smith, the baby's worser.
Mother thinks it's dyin'."
"Oh!" exclaimed Nellie, "whose baby"
IAN Irish womans down stairs. An at
tack of Group; the weather has been cool,
and the little fellow caught cold
Yes, Mary, I'll come. You'll excuse
me moment, Miss Strong"
Yes; but may not go, too--poor little
baby"
And timidly drawing her silken skirts
about her, she followed Mrs. Smith int
the room of the Irish washerwoman, where
upon straw bed lay a little six months
old baby dying. as was evident at a glance.
Hes the third one," sobbed the poor
mother. 1--WE only four left, and his father
couldn't stop work long enough to see him
die, his boss is that hard on him. My
baby! oh, my baby"
Nellie drew out bill from her purse
and placed it in the poor mothers hand.
"Youllneed things for--for the funeral"
she said, softly; take it. I'll come and
see you again."
Lord love your sweet face" cried the
woman, with q wild fit of weeping. you're
that kind, mum, don't know how to thank
you. I'LL be the tilst dead child that
could ever pay for its coffin. Oh, how
sweet he'll look all in white"
AS they passed out of the room of death
party of men came up the stairs bearing
limp form between them.
What is it," asked Nellie, of Mrs.
Smith, drawing closer to her.
"SOrnn accident evidently What h,c
happened, Pcte:" she inquired of one of
the men.
Mr.. Swasher fell from the building. a
mafter . lE"ntv feet and We thi.S both
his legs are broken. There comes the doo-
tor"
Poor man." sighed Mrs. Smith. II
don't know what will become of his family;
he was their only support. You look mex
pressibly panied. These things are COM
mon enough to all large tenements. We
see sorrow and suffering around us con-
tinually."
And she wondered why the lady followed
her up to her room again.
Il wish, said Nellie to the invalid girl,
you would allow me to send you our fami-
ly physician; he is one of tile best in the
city. think he can help YOU"
"Oh, if you only would" exclaimed the
mother; Lulu might be helped, have
always believed"
Yes; and, Mrs. Smith, you need not
hurry about the lace. I don't think I'll
need it, but I'll pay you for the work now.
And-you ought 10 have fire-good- day. :"
Before Mrs. Smith could get her glasses
on to examine the bill in her lap, her visitor
had gone.
"Oh, Lulu" she exclaimed, "it's TWEEN
ty-dollar bill; she's made a mistake"
But Lulu wiped away a tear from her
wan cheek, and smiled up in her mothers
face.
NO mistake, mother; the beautiful lady
meant it for us. ! saw her eyes we're full
OF tears. Heaven bless her tender heart!"
u presume the birthday party and
so on is being rushed along,' said Mr..