The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-01-07
WHAT 1T MEANS TO BE POOR

The Little Girl Who Wanted to Know
What 1t Was to Be Cold and Hungry.
Nurse. can't you find any thing to
amuse meP do feel so dull"
''Well, Miss Alice, you ought not to
be- with so many beautiful dolls and
toys"
'Oh! I'm tired of them all. I want
to go outr'
Dear me?' said the nurse; chow
people differ. to be sure. Thousands
of poor children would be glad to come
in here and warm themselves at this
nice fire, and play with your pretty
things"
yes; but l want to go out, nursie
do wish was q poor child, then 1
could do any thing l likedr'
'D) you think all poor children can
do just as they please. Miss Alice?"
"Why. of course" Miss Alice re-
piled, opening her blue eyes very wide
just look at that little girl out in the
snow; if she had papa and nurse
they would not let her be out; and l do
love the snowr'
'Ah, yes. Miss Alice, dear The
snow is one of the most beautiful
things in the world, but to be out in it,
dearie, that's different-in q thin frock
and torn boots, very cold, and GER
tainly very hungry trying to sell
matches. Try that, and just see how
you like it, Miss Alice"
Il should not mind a bit being cold
and hungry, nursier'
Il am thankful, my pet, you dom t
know what cold and hunger mean;
and | hope you never mayp'
but l rant to know, nurse" Alice
persisted. 'When I'm big girl, I'll
be cold and hungry, and go out in the
snow. want to know every thing in
the world, and how every body feels {"
You will know enough soon
enough, my pet" nurse replied; but
l hope you will never know what it
means to be cold and hungrym
do you know, nursic?'
Yes, my pet, I do. Come and sit
here, near the fire, and I'll tell you a
story"
"a true story?-do let it be quite
true"
Yes, Miss Alice. a true story"
"Once on time, long ago" nurse
began, 'there was poor woman Nv
ing in the country; she had two chill
dren. boy and girl, and her hus-
band was miner, and worked all day
digging up the Goals, that make such
warm, bright fire. But one day there
was dreadful accident in the mine;
first an explosion of gas, then Il flood,
and all the poor fellows who were
not burned to death were drowned,
and there were thirty-seven of
them, men and boys. down there.
Father and brother were there; and
mother stood so patiently waiting tor
hours-perhaps for days. 1t was WIN
ter time, and the ground covered with
snow-and |, being thoughtless
child, could not help thinking how
beautiful it was.
'At last dropped down fast asleep
I was so cold and hungry! Some
one carried me home and put me to
bed, and soon mother came home,
looking so tired and ill and changed
that hardly knew her. She told me
father and Mark were dead, killed in
the mine, and that l should never see
Them again. Mother sat quite still
and silent, and [ sat still, too, Just
holding her hand; then l think we
were both very i'll for q long time.
But one day, Miss Alice, we seemed to
get he ter together. and wake up, Cor
q man came to turn us out of our lit
tie cottage, because we had not paid
the rent. Then some kind friends
helped mother aud gave her work; but
she was not very strong, and the cot
tage seemed SO empty without father
and Mark.
"But dear mothers troubles did not
last very long. and then l was left
alone, poor, homeless, helpless little
girl. Do you think, dearie, it was
any comfort TO me then that / could
do as likedp was tho most unhap-
py little creature in the world, till n
kind lady took compassion, and sent
me to school. After time l was al
lowed to wait on the young ladies,
and when grew older 1 was engaged
by the eldest to be her own maid"
WHO was she. nursieP-why did
Won not stay with her alwaysP"
because Some Ono who loved her
dearly took her from us, darling She
was your own dear mamma, and she
left you to my care, and / promised
her faithfully that l would never leave