The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-01-07

care OF yourself
Il don't think that's a very nice
story at all, nurse" Alice said. dis
contentedly. ut does not tell bit
what it's like to be poor"
Nurse went to the window and
looked out. The snow had ceased fall
ing, and the sun was trying to smile
through the gray clouds. Men were
busy sweeping the streets and door
steps. and after good long look
nurse thought it was fine enough to
venture out for few minutes.
Nurse told Miss Alice top ut on her
thick boots; and then she ran down to
the library. where Mr.. Ellacome, little
Alice's papa. was busy reading. and
told him all the child had said to her.
Wants to be poor. does she? Well,
it's strange fancy for child. but
take her with you. by all means. l
know l can trust you" And SO nurse
and Alice went for walk that sunny,
snowy afternoon.
Very soon they left the square where
Mr.. Ellacome lived, and turned up a
street, and then entered a court at the
farther end.
This is not a pretty place to be
poor in, nurse" Alice whispered. ut 8
80 dark and grimy."
Most places where poor people
live are dark and grimy, DEAR" nurse
said, sadly. But come on. and see
Mrs HILL"
Must we go up those stairs with
out any carpet9" Alice asked, won
deriugly. "And. see, the windows
are broken. and the floors have holes,
and It's so cold! Oh, nurse, I'm so
frightened! Come home! Come home! /
don like thisr'
''ln q few minutes, dearie. I want
to show you what being poor really
means; then you will see howyou like
it.n
Alice followed her nurse up the dis
NAL stairs to the very top. and they
entered room that seemed almost
dark and very cold. Round the fire.
place sat three little children, all cry
ing, and near the window sat pale,
tired-looking woman embrodcring q
muslin pinafore. She could scarcely
see, and her hands could hardly hold
the needle-they were so cold; still,
there would be no food or fire till the
work was taken home and paid for.
"Oh, nurse, I'm so sorry" she said,
rising. 81 did not think you wanted
the pinafores so soon. I've worked as
hard as possible"
"Too hard, I'm afraid" nurse said,
pleasantly. I'm not at all in haste.
but Miss Alice wanted a walk, and l
thought l would Just step round and
see how you are getting on
'Work is scarce, and times are
bad" Mrs. Hill said. YEARLY; ''but l
have the children, so l suppose ought
not to complain.
Il see you have two of the piana-
fores done, so l may as well take them
with me, and pay you for them now;
it may be Il little help Mary"
at will save us from starvation,
nurse" Mrs Hill cried. bursting into
tears. MY poor little babies have not
had morsel of food to-day"
Then I'll go and get them some
this very moment Come, Miss
Alice "
The child was sobbing quietly. Tho
gsunt little children. with their eager,
hungry faces, frightened her. and with
the true instinct of childish uns ,lfish-
ness she longed to ask them to go home
with her to her warm nursery.
Had they 40 breakfast. nursie?"
she asked, when they got outside.
mo, darling; and very likely no tea
last night"
is that what being poor means.
nurso?"
Yes, my child, that is true, real
poverty"
Then ! don't like it. l think it's
dreadful! Papa often says l ought to be
a generous little girl. because I'll be
rich one day, and wlk'n am l will
not allow any one in the world to be
poor 1t is so cold, and miserable and
unhappy"
Yes, my pct; and if every rich little
girl only would remember that she
could make some poor little girl happy
ever so easily, just by little self-do-
NAL, think how much more pleasant
the world would be for every one"
IN never wish to be poor again,
nursie; and when papa gives me some
silver moneys I'll not spend them on
toys or taffce, but send them to the
poor little children we saw to-day"
That's right, Miss Alice. and when
ever you want to be poor and have
your own way, think of Mrs. Hills lit
tie girls in Dark Court. and see how
you like it, Brooke DaviS, in
Little Folks