The daily critic., 1890-12-12
Only a negrnr OIL

What is the matlerf' l asked Of the
big policeman.
Only beggar girl 10 a fit. replied
be, as ne molioned the crowd back from
what seemed 10 be a struggling bundle
OF Tags thrown down on the rough stones
| Of the alley.
walked on a few steps. then turned
and approached the object about which
many men and boys were gathering. A
dark, pinehed little face with pain.
drawn features and a few leeks of foam
about the lips lay pilloWed on a dlngy
bag. A pair Of bony hands, grimed
with the contact Of all that was noisome
and vile, tiutteFed little aud grew stIll
Two eyes that were strangely blue and
sweet for such wan and discOlored face
stretched wide underneath the shining
OF the far OF sky that was Scarcely
more blue than they. A couple Of bare
and grimy feet lay Ia repose that was
new and strange at busy MONDAY. A
wasted and shFunkeu breast. under
which the heart Of a more desolate
childhood never beat. ] drew as near
as / could TO the miserable Uttle
creature, says a writer ia the CHICAGO
HeFaEa' then stopped as though a wall
OF stone had inteTvened between
u.s. for what could such delicate eFea-
lures as you on do with this heap Of
YeImin- infested humanity, my dear?
Could We stoOp 10 gather that tangled.
dirty little head TO the fresh cOrsage Of
cur best suit and bestoW the sacrament
oi kind and caTessing touch on that
brow that perhaps never felt the
warmth Cf pure mothers kissg Could
We SIT down on the stones and chafe
those gTimy hands. or, for decency's
sake, throw our own costly wrap over
those distorted llmbsg Why not2 /
have no answer; / can only return
dumbly glance for glance and agree
With you that We could never afford %
do this thing. We have not the moral |
courage 10 live up 10 our own ideas.
30, with shudder, / stood aside and |
watched the indifferent, yet not IN |
kindly, policeman bear away that mita /
OF wrecked childhood and cast fl lightly /
into the patrol wagon as one might care /
for a bruised kitten. l saw the liulg /
BalI carried away c0mfortless aud des-
olaie 20 a pauper's cot. and perhaps bF
tod mercy 10 paupeF's grave For 4
v bat Is better boon 10 such little out.
casts Than an early recall from the life
hat yields them naught but bitterness.
Why should We nurse back The /
lame n vitality in the breast
)t such a misery burdeued child as
hisf Could but some kindly and dis
hand descend from the skg
!nd pull up the sunless. root. bIiahtsI
seeds that crowd The great kings
gardens. Could only all these
loisome piiiful RToWths be cast aside
be problem would be solved forever
only bright heads and clean faces
we're IN our way 10 be caressed and I
aTed for We should i4d il easier To do /
ur duty and EucGoF The helpless But
las Tor our delicate seusibiilies. Our
eE quits, and cur conceptions 81 the
TopTieiies the mighty hand that weeds
be gardens of earth Is no discriminate
lg one.
il plucks tie "Rce white rose Of al
Pc world full magy q time aud spares
De uellle and lhe LaTe. IL viii revive to
60 more years af misery and sdu4I1r
l1 zia dis little Waif 0f the streets.
ld bear away into the pale realms 81
-4lE Le ld9lI4G1 l1d tha love guarded
We would 5- l9iaE heavens work
g must sioop % the loHly places b / /
-ls % suEe3r. and % save. Next tIme
e see o dying begEars HaXt time sc
& an overload b. suffering horse, or .
uellg beaten cbild q
Next time Injustice. o. cruelty or !
any p llalh11ue Euize coufTauts us +
4ai VII Wc do ! HondeFf Just {
bad we have always done. n WAGER [ +
u co Eg Pas b. Qn The other
n WItL LHa white faafherE M ru1r5I
8aIdiee flying Afraid Of q jest. ,