St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-02-18
WHAT IT MEANS TO De POOR

WHAT " MEANS TO De POOR.
The LltsIe Girl Who Wanesa - Kn0W
What It Was - Bs Cold aaA uunsry.
Nurse. can't you find any thing to
amuse me? l do feel 30 dull"
We'll. Miss Alice. you ought not to
be. with 50 many beautiful dolls and
toys"
.'Oh! I'm tired Of them all I want
to go ou,!"
Dear mer' said tho nurse; ''h0w
people differ. to bo sure Thousands
Of poor children would be glad to como
in hero and warm themselves ut this
nice fire. and play with your pretty
things"
.'Yes; but want to 60 out nursie.
10 wish was poor child. then l
could do any thing Ilikedr'
ID, you think all poor children can
do just as they please. Miss Alics9"
'.Why, Of course" Miss Alice re-
piled. opening her blue eyes very wide.
Just look at that little girl out in the
snow; II she had papa and nurse
they would not lot her be out; and do
love tho snow!'
"Ah. yes. Miss Alice. dear. Tho
snow is one Of the most beautiful
things in the world. but to be oat in il.
dcarie. that's different-in thin frock
and torn boots. very cold. and cer-
tainly very hungry. trying to sell
matches. Try that. and just sec how
you like ii. Miss Alice"
Il should not mind bit being cold
and hungry, nursier'
II AM thankful. my pet. You don't
know what cold and hunger mean;
and hope you never may!'
'.But / s0ant to know. nurse" Alice
persisted. when I'm a big girl. I'll
be cold and hungry. and 60 out in the
snow. Iwant to know every thing in
the world. and how every body feels /"
"You will know enough soon
enough. my pet" nurse replied; but
! hope you will never know what il
means to be cold and hungry!'
DO you know. nursie9'
"Yes. my pet do. Como and sii
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 a poor woman liv-
ing in tho country; she hal two chill
dren. boy and girl and her hus-
band was miner. and worked all day
digging up the Goals. that make such
a warm. bright fire. But one day there
was . dreadful accident in the mine;
first an explosion of gas then food.
and all the poor fellows who were
not burned to death were drowned.
and there were thirty-seven oi
them. men and boys down there.
Father and brother were there; and
mother stood SO patiently waiting iol
perhaps for days Il was win.
ter time. and the ground covered with
snow-Snd l. being q thOughtless
child. could not help thinking how
beautiful it was
AT last l dropped down fast asleeI
Il was SO cold and hungry! Some
one carried me hOms and put me Il
bed. and soon mother came home.
looking 10 tired and i'll and changed
that l hardly knew her. She told me
father and Mark were dead. killed il
the mine. and that should mover sec
them again. Mother sat quite still
and SILENT and I sat still. too. Just
holding her hand; then / think W
were both very i'll for y long time
But one day. Miss Alice. we seemed {,
get better together. and wake up fol
man came to turn us out Of our lit
tie cottage. because we had not paid
the rent. Then some kind friend
helped mother and gave her work; bu
she was not very strong. and the cot
ta"c seemed % empty without fathe
and Mark.
but dear mothsr's troubles did no,
last very long. and then I was LEI
alone. n poor. homeless. helpless littl
girl. do you think. dcarie. II wa
any comfort to me then that coul
do as liked7 I WAS the most unhar
py little creature in the world, till
kind lady took compassion. and sen
me to school After . time / was q
lowed to wait on the young ladies
and when I grew older I was engage
By the eldest 70 be her own maid"
who waa aha nnrsiaH-whv al
yOu not stay with her alwaysr'
':Because Some Ono who loved be
6n0e1V took hne frnm - darling.