Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-26
ON THE BIG BRIDGE.
THE PEDDLERS AND BEGGARS WHO
 TRADE BETWEEN TWO CITIES.
The Old Woman Who Grinds the Organ and Trusts in Providence-Apples, Matches and Newspapers-A Kind Hearted, Indu1Gent Policeman.

1HeQ or browsing aOOOG the approaches to the big bridge they have now taken to the promenade itself, and even the cars and carriage ways at certain hours of the day and night are infested with these persevering people. Here and there can be seen the vendor of the far famed Egyptian pure bone collar button, the rosy checked apple woman, the decrepit blind man with his faithful dog, and the scamp with the nearly obsolete double sign, one side describ- ing him as paralyzed and the other notifying the public that on occasions he is blind.
 The little old woman with the squeaky, asthmatic hand organ may be stumbled over at night as she sits crouching in the shadow of the big towers. Far off are the lights of the two great cities, and the patient little woman grinds away at her organ, charitably unobserved by a kind hearted policeman.
 As the poor organ responds to her shriveled touch with broken bars of Martha" 0 pair of pretty working girls stop and one of them hesitatingly examines Q shabby, worn pocket book. As she dropped penny that gave out a cavernous echo from the bottom of the little tin cup, her companion asked in a kindly voice and with a cheery smile:
 "How is it tonight, maher?"
 "Oh, much the same, deary. It's hard life, bub, sure, but God is good, and as long as get the bit and the sup and place to lie in, why should l complaint I kave taken five cents so far, and the people are good people, so they are"
 'Sooner than grind that wheezy old thing for such pittance I'd jump into the river" said the other little damsel, with flashing eyes.
 "Ah, my dear" said the poor woman, as from her upraised eyes beamed the faith that she felt, that would be very wrong. You must never forget that the good God has a C., | low. I can look up in the clear sky and from beyond the stars can see him watching me. He is good, kind God, my child, and he has treated me better than my deserts. I have only few short years to finger till I'm with him"
 The old woman had forgotten her organ and a beautiful smile illumined the wrinkled features. The girls passed on, but the sublime faith that shone from the aged eyes and the resignation of her tones left their impress, for she, too, was in her way an humble missionary.
 RAISING HIS HAT TO THE FUNERAL.
 The night wore on and the morrow came with it's changes The great thoroughfare is alive with humanity going and coming. The trains whisk by, crowded to their utmost capacity. The carriage ways are crowded with trucks and vehicles of every description. Here comes a funeral, and Q gray haired policeman reverently removes his helmet as the dead goes by. It is an unwonted salute, but this particular policeman is said to have always shown that humble respect whenever funeral crosses the bridge.
 Now is the time when the merry little ap- pie woman gets in her fine work. She does not occupy one of the benches for the exhi- ! bition of her wares, for the simple reason i that the bridge officers are too numerous. Perhaps she was not compelled to part with the customary penny to gain access to the bridge pathway. She had loitered about the entrance until the officer had accommodate ! ingly turned his back, when she slyly walked in through Exit here," and is soon jogging along with the crowd. Perhaps the police man did see her, but he wouldn't call her back. "Shure the pinny won't make any body any the richer" said he to himself. Give the woman show"
 And what a harvest the apple woman reapsl The officers can't arrest her for car rying her uncovered basket on her arm while on tho bridge, and if some pedestrian helps himself to nice rosy apple and drops penny or two into her palm, why it's no fault of hers. And, when she walks across to one entrance, isn't she at liberty to retrace her steps and walk back to the other en- trancei Of course she is, and she keeps this up until her stock is disposed of ! Then, too, there is the old newspaper dealer. He formerly caught his trade at the i Brooklyn entrance, until he ingratiated him self into the good graces of some of the con ductors on the cars, and although he has to produce the necessary bridge car ticket, he enjoys monopoly fin tho sale of papers on the trains and rides back and forth every i evening and morning, as often as he chooses. i The old man has only one arm, and carries iy1o hor cS~ &,1 side. He has suffered some injury to his neck, which compels him to carry his head drawn to one side and bent over on his chest. He has an aged wife to support, and he says he would rather be selling papers than doing any other kind of work.
 THE WRESTLING NEGRO. At about 10 o'clock on any pleasant day 8 1 whistling negro dressed in gaudy uniform, with large knapsack strapped to his back, can be seen and heard on the bridge prom enade. He is an advertising novelty and carries a big supply of handbtlls and illum- mated cards, which he distributes to the crowds which gather around him. He is a clever dancer and amuses his bridge audi ences with characteristic 'sole" stirring breakdown, accompanying himself on a mouth harmonica.
 When crowd large enough to suit him has gathered, he at once pulls out handful of his advertisements from the knapsack and distributes them among the crowd. This fellow manages to cease his little side show just before the arrival of bridge police mSn.
 The Italian match boy, with 8 stock of matches that are guaranteed not ito blow out" is also to be seen on the bridge prome- made. He can always count on selling a number of boxes of matches during the day and evening. While walking across the bridge a smoker always is taken with q de- sire to light cigar or cigarette, and if not provided with matches he must either borrow light from some one else or patronize the match boy, which latter he generally does.- | New York Star.
 1 Education in Greece.