Telegram-herald., 1889-12-15

ks1t - WALL - gl1erlnG ewes ~ E1s rFa-Sc
tr.a1 s..lllg ul 49, al oFeE lhs Eac3y
sllest both - Gae gir-s - ho caulsl tls
hao1=s we're b4refooteo and bareheAded-
The vls. ole GesA - zs Drowned from con-
s-aug ca p1>lrs 60 TIE sun. By The time The
corteze Lad zone = distance u so ysras
fro.l tae starting point. the sidewalks o'
B4zLef street had become impossible on
account u tie crowd. The procession
went around tAe blocA bounded ~ PARK.
BAXTER. M1lusrry snd B4yard streets.
AL tie time the advance guard of little
children trAmped along Just N front Of
tie ulusilians, the TWO caEeJakers Stag
geilne along alaaost under the nose q
tie c9lueg PLAYER.
The narrow escapes u these children
from being crushed under the bOofs u
truck horses and vegetable wagon wheels
which filled the streets were alarmingly
frequent Mean while, one Of the babies
had fallen asleep IA its juvenile guard
ian's arms. Not even the blare of tie
bls bass horn could keep II awake. The
baby wobbled about in IT'S sisters arms
Ike a small sack Ot meal She shifted
il from shoulder 10 shoulder % obtain
rest To- h~r aching arms. for by this
time the baby had become very heavy.
The procession emerged from Baxter
street lnto PARK row II did not eyi-
IDENTIFY occur 10 the children that they
were straviug far away from home. The
child who carried the sleeping baby was
perspiring freely when the cortege en-
tered Roosevelt street. Her feet slipped
en- the coobie stones, and several times
on the Journey down the street she was
l0stleu by clumsy boys into the gutter.
With a frightened glance over her
shoulder she resumed her journey. She
was satisfied 70 endure any contumely
50 long as she was near 10 the blissful
music which filled her palpitating heart
with delight.
There were groups Of little girls in the
ragged advance guard who held tightly
10 each others hands All were bare
headed and bore that mature womanly
appearance peculiar to Italian children.
They clustered together like frightened
partridges whenever q truck horse came
near. Several times the little girl with
the sleeping baby tired TO keep step with
the pulsery music, but her burden was
too great for any such rhythmic cayety.
1t was IL o'clock when the ragged and
unkempt advance guard, the blaring
band and the shining coaches emerged
into South street The band now stop
ped playing. The hearse and coaches
were driven on board the ferryboat.
The cheering influence Of the music be-
ing gone, the sleeping child weighed like
lead on the arms of her sister. She
looked around at the buildings and real
lied that she was lost. Then she began
10 cry. The band dispersed and each
man went home by different route.
The advance guard vanished like the
morning mist. The two children were
left alone. The baby slept as peacefully
as If it had been in its cradle at home.
While standing in the middle of the
street the mingled tears and perspiration
ran down her face, and her feeble knees
bent under her heavy burden like those
of a baby learning 10 walk. Her home
was half mile away, and she did not
know how to reach it. Down Roosevelt
street a brawny Italian came running,
her loosened hair flying out behind her.
She looked wildly here and there, and at
last caught sight of the disconsolate
child CRYING in the square near the ferry.
One minute later the baby lay securely
in the haven of its mothers arms, and
the tired child was hanging to her
mother skirt with the grip of a drowning
man. ERNEST JARROLD.