Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-01-11
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE POOR.

WHAT IT 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
a1nuse ne? do feel so DUH
Well, Miss Alice, yen ought not to
be, with so many beautiful dolls and
toys
%. I'm tired of them all I want
10 20 ou1:''
Dear nle.' 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 1 want to 60 out, nursie
do wish l was q poor child, then l
could do any thing likedr'
ID, you think ali poor children can
do just as they please, Mss Alice?''
Why. of coarse Miss Alice re-
piled, opening her blue eyes very wide
just look at that little girl out in the
snow; # she had a papa and a nurse
they would not let her be out; and do
love the snow.''
All, yes, Miss Alice. dear. The
snow is one Of the most beautiful
things in the world. but to be ont in it,
dearie, that's diferent-ia a thin fro OK
and torn boots, very cold. and GER
1ainly very hungry, trying to sell
matches. Try that, and just see how
You like ii. Miss AGc7.''
Il should not mind a bit being cold
and hungry. nursier'
Il am thankful, my pet, you dom
know what cold and hunger mean:
and | hope You never may!'
But I wdsat to know, nurse Alice
persisted. when Tn a big girl, II
be cold and hungry, and go out in the
snow. Iwant to know every thing in
the world, and how erybody feels .
You will know enough soon
enough, mF pet nurse replied; but
I hope You will never know what il
means to be cold and hungry?'
Do You know. nursie?''
Yes, my pet, do. Come and 81
here, near the fire, and TIL tell YOU q
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 the country; she had two chill.
dren. q boy and a girl, and her hus.
band Was miner, and worked all day
digging up the Goals. that make suct
warm, bright fire. But one day there
was a dreadful accident in the mine
frs an explosion Of gas, then food
and all the poor fellows who were
not burned to death were drowned
and there were thirty-seyen O
them, men and boys. down there
Fa1her aud brother were there; ant
mother stood so patiently waitlng to-
hours-perhaps for days. It was win
ter time, and the ground covered witt
snow-and l. being a thoughtles.
Child, could not help thinking how
beautiful it was
''At last dropped down fast aslee,
Il was so cold and hungry! Some
one carried NE home and put me Il
bed. and soon mother came home
looking SO tired and i'll and changed
tina, hardly knew her. She told he
father and Mark were dead. killed il
the mine, and that ! should never see
them again. Mother sat quite still
and silent, and 1 sat still, too, JUS
holding her hand: then I think WI
were both very i'll for a long time
But one day, Mss Alice. we seemed t.
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
tage seemed SO empty without fathe
and Mark.
But dear mothers troubles did moi
last very long. and then I was lief
alone, poor, homeless. helpless littl
girl Do you think, dearie, it wa
any comfort to HE then that I coul.
do as liked? was the most unhap
Pr little creature in the world, till ;
kind lady took compassion, and sen
HE to school After a time was al
lowed 20 wait On the young ladies'
and when / grew older was engage
by the eldest to be her own maid"
Who was she. nlrsie?-why di,
yoEl not stay with her always?'
Because Some One who loved he
dearly took her from Us, darling SD
was your OWE dear mamma, and sh
left you to my care, and l promise.
her faithfully that | would never leav,