The sun., 1890-01-12
MISS M,BRIDE, sHop GEL.

| PasSaEes in the Life OF an Interesting
Young Woman of Avenue A.
The first faint CLEANS Of dawn are show
ing among the sulky msts OF Avenue and
stealing through the Rrimy windows OF its
cheeress tenement houses as Miss Matte
Mcbride tosses a lot OF kinky hair out OF her
sleepy eyes and tumbles herself out of bed
with q weary sigh. There are two children and
sister In her bed In the tiny inside room
which has no window and 80 little space that
after they are all awake Miss Matte mounts
the bed again to dress herself and the baby
that is her special charge. In a small pitcher
without any handle is the generous allowance
OF water which must accomplish the ablutions
OF the quartet. which has been laboriously
carried up five flights OF stairs by the
same hands 1t now eleanses. She dashes
little OF 1t hurriedly over her face and the
fair full throat rising SO white from the faded
old pink gown. wipes OF tho childs face In
the same water. twists up tho pretty
wavy tresses into a coquettish little knot in
front OF the cracked mirror and then finishes
her toilet on the bed to give her sister a chance
at the glass Very few and shabby are the gar
ments donned inside the smart little gown for
that must be pleasing. though one SILVER with
cold for want of clothing beneath It, With
the child on her shoulder she flies into the pas
sage and through into the next room. where O
man lies heavily sleeping, moro children arc
lowering about q smoking fire. and a heavy
eyed woman moves about slowly in q dazed.
hopeless way. as she says:
Your pas been at 1t again, Mat. and the
baby cried most all night; we'll oil be late"
There is breakfast to cook, lunches to put up,
the children to be taken to the day nursery. for
oil the women OF the household are
wage earners. and it Is a long distance to
cover between this overfiowing nest
and her station behind the ribbon counter In
the big Sixth avenue store; and then there's
jack who will meet her at the corner II che
isn't late. who took her to the theatre last
week, whore the heroine was an east side wait
In the first act. and one OF the 400 In the last
and who is to take her to the ball tonight II
only they both get home in time. Jack is
sure to have rosebud or pink. an orange
smile that makes everything all right for the
day He sells trousers In a Bowery misft store.
Of his, stock In trade and a blazing scarlet tie,
but she likos him. He has a scraRgy little
generous proportions that one surmises he
must have stood at the head OF the row whom
noses and ireekles were served. but he Is big
lover you know.
50 sne ,estlrs up the sullen Goals, sets the
while. Rulps down the steaminG coffee at last.
while she ties up her little package OF luncheon
hire her sister who is a Grand street cash girl
10 60 this ono morning, even II it isn't her
turn, turn 70 the nursery with the children. for sh6
hSsnt any Jack to meet and At last gets start
Cd With her lannty little cap tshe made It her
the single gold eagles feather which makes Il |
so nRtty) surmounting face that would be |
dlmpled and pretty but for the indeRoribable |
shadows. which lack OF food. lack of bathing,
and lack OF rest invariably bring about. She |
rings the bell at the nursery, crowds the |
money due for the day into the hand OF one OF |
the older children and fiutters away before the |
oet Is snSNwsrSd. skins along the pavement.
through 4 quick mist ot teaEA. the BRIGHT |