The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-08
Where The Roses, the Lilies, the
LiIaCs, and PansieS Go.
IN THE WARDS OF THE HOSPITAL,
In the Tenement Homes Of the
Poor, Making all Brighter.
FLOWER DISTRIBUTING ANGELS.

Fragrant Moroy-Tho New York F1owe
NissIon-whnt II Was and what II L
and What It Does Through This City.
"dr mo flower. lAdyi Pleased Just onol'
Such q deplorably dirty freckled face: sucl
hopelesslT tattered trousers, fastened with {
rope knotted into o fragment OF an old sus
pender, and drawn over one shoulder: suot
smutty. pleading little hands; such anXiou:
usefulness In the shrill voice. sounding above
the roar OF the thoroughfare; such a smile al
the posy he received. 1t WAS down on the east
side, where half q dozen narrow streets radi.
ate from one centre. with a saloon on every
corner. Carts, drays. and vans were wedged
% hopelessly In together there seemed
to be nothing for any driver to dc
but curse. which he did with an
energy worthy OF q better cause. A
huge covered wagon suddenly toppled tipped
and overturned. crushing down on the horse
behind 1t. and an elevated train rum bling over
head added Its roar to the deafening noise In
and out among the struggling horses frantic
drivers. and curious loafers woman In long
peasants cloak OF sombre hue and close
black bonnet with u silver cross flashing on
her breast. picked her way fearessly with q
basket OF flowers. fragrant. fresh and dewy on
her arm. Pure white lilies smiled softly into
the eyes OF dusky pansies, roses tainted on
beds OF lilac bloom and round about 1t all cool
grasses hung in frlnRes. In one corner was n
bunch OF the mint that old ladies love, hidden
safe beneath the flowers were little cups Of
Jelly and eggs fresh from the country. and
half dozen magazines were tied to
the handle. 1t was no wonder the
squalid little children followed her down the
dark alleyway. Baby boys with hardened
faces. baby girls. old before their time Juggling
smaller baby girls on their scrawny little
nI.k han
ness. degradation. Out OF the dirty alley into
q dirtler court whore workmen were digging
up tho paving stones out OF the thick black
ooze, reeking with nosomeness. Up flight
after flight Of rickety stairs. where garbage
barrels and sinks on every landing fought for
the championship in foul odors. On to a door
way at the end OF a darkened passage. which
opened quickly to her rap. And how Is
Jamie this morning. Mrs. Mahoney2 See, l
have brought more flowers for him.
Why bless your sweet face lady. Jamio's
gone to school. You see the way of 1t was
this. maam: The lady you was sindin', the
trained nurse, you call her, she came and she
said thore was no need for Jamie to be always
In bed with a hip like that. and she did him up
clever like. 80 l could get him down to the hos
pital. and the doctors they just put him up In
some kind OF q machlne-the likes Of it you
never saw-and jamie can hop about Us chip
per as tho best on en- It's three weeks gone
since the nurse came. and yesterday Jamie
whit to school. Oh. t's lucky day since you
brought this bit Of II bouquet. TO U.S."
And your husband?'
"Oh. he's better. too. ma'am. The posy
made tho old candlesticks and tin platters look
that dirty that | secured EN- and tdied tho
floor to 70 wild ON, and whin no came he was
sober. Yes. I'm thinkin' you're right 1t was
ho hIaaaed ord NntI;inp huTn n poulI eynr
sober up Jim Mahoney. ana he was after
nolicin It ali and liiin' 1t, and thin We got the
care OF the house. SO We don't have so much
rint to pay, and Jamie gettn' betther and all.
Loartened him NJ ST.. things are Goin'
smoother. God bless you, lady, and indude
will save the flowers for Jamie. ami thank you,
ma'am. what's that? It was God that put it
in o tho Heart of some ono to sind me tho flow
ers from way out in the country to make jamie
well | don't know but you'ro right. ma am.
nut it seems as if la Forg the tiniment houses
when Hos givin' HIS good things. Yes will
try 10 trust Him. Its eusier now when | have
bit o'tay to sup wild mo bread, and don't have
~ hear Jamie worritin' in the cot. and i'm
ism GU, sin drunk all the time. Tho top o the
NJ, min. 10 OIL, and bless your kind heart"
Cut again through the passage. down one
fight II creakinI stairs hating on "A landing
whore Mt M open dnorway pale. haggard girl
looks un n the flowers with hollow, desperate
eyes. woek old child is frotting fccblv on
har kueo. and the fair. youthful breast from
which its weak lips hive slipped is bare and
beautiful. moment more and she catches
fash OF a silver cross the ilutt+r of tho purple
ribbon, and snowy. fragrant lilies LIT w 10 her
tha,r pure faces from tho bAby'S dirty s!ip.
SAc SILVER IL little and shrnks from the ilow-
srs. saying Utterly: Flowers for the likes o
me2 OH no indy. take 'cm AWAY"
Yes; flowers sent Ivy Gods love straight to
you 70 tell you of His mercy"
Love? Mercy" Such n hard. scorn:ul
laugh, such hopeless curve to the handsome
mouth. There's nothing left to me but hate
and shame. heard fair words once before. l
listened and here am. Don't talk OF love"
But hand Is on hor shoulder; such firm
Geut!o hand: soft voice il telling the old old
story OF pardon and redemption, and the half
forgotten fragrance Of flowers fills the air
Before tho sermon on the stairs Is finished
halt dozen doors are opened. Frowsy
women. with squalid babies on their
shoulders are listening with n little interest
in their gray dreary faces. and when
it is ended. the girl is hushing the babes |
moan ng against her breast, hor defiant head !
Is bowed over the little face. and there are tear |
drops on the lilies. On again through the mar
row streets to another tenement dngier than Z
the others, back to tho roar court, and up the !
stairs, There was no need to rap on the broken |
door, for It stood aJar. with its latch gono, Bed.
tubs, chats. wood. ami coal are dumped pro-
mscnousy about the one little room that Is |
called home: some stockings. tattered shoes
bread crusts and rotate parings litter the
floor; filthy garments clutter the chairs. The
woman herself Is two-thIrds out tho window
watching quarrel In tho court below
GOOD morning, MIRA Smith and how do vou
do to day.
Worse than ever. miss l can't live with my
husband. Iust as l told You before. and there's
no use trying The childer can't go to school.
for they've nothing to wear; most everything
is sold and it's only beatinGs aud babies all
the while. over and over again"
Don't you think II you swept up tho floor a |
little and made things "a BIT pleasanter for your
husband he might be less unkind p
"Oh. that's what the minister says and every |
one, but tell you there's no use, It's easy to |
talk. but you don't know what a hell upon |
earth 1t Is TO live with man you hate"
Cant you trust in God To help your
NO not unless he takes my husband away /
Won't you put on your bonnet AMI shawl, !
WaAh the babYS face, and come around To our !