The Globe-republican., 1890-09-03

is absolutely worse than the shop. The
conversation between them gives al
idea of the financial condition OF the
family and the rooms in which they are
compelled to live, and incidentally intro
duces some other characters, ending
with the resolution on the part OF Ed
wards and his family to go west.
Edwards-Why don't you open the
door?
Mrs. Ell can't stand the noise and
smell might, my head aches. Some
times it seems s if / couldn't bear it,
but 1 think O. people who don't have as
much as we do. and so keep a-goin'
Edwards walking about)-Thats
about the only way. t be patient. IL
makes me wild sometimes. tGoes to
lounge and drops heavily upon it. alice
takes fan from the wall and fans him,
stoops and kisses him.
! Alice-Poor papa-its dreadful to see
you come home so tired. brushes the
hair back from his forehead.)
Edwards (bitterly)-It's just onn
eternal grind. not day of. I'm glad L
don't believe in another world would
mt be sure o rest after got there.
Mrs. E. (shocked) why. Jason, what
are you sayin'? You must've he'd a hard
day in the shop. It's dretful hot fr the
| first week in June.
Edwards (ra;sing to his elbOw)-First
week in June! Why. mother. it's just
thirty-two years next week since we
was married. ID you remember how old
Derry looked that day? Flowers and
| berries. and daisies. an birds (rising)-
why, mother, that was Heaven an we
alley we don't know any thing about
June, only it makes our tenements hot
ter and sicklier. l s'pose the COWS up
there are knee deep in the grass. and
the wind smellin' like the front door o
Heaven. We didn't look FIR this kind O
thing when we left Derry, did we? We
didn't look forward to tenement?
Mrs. E.-No, Jason-but set up an eat
sumpthin'.
Linnie-Poppa, 1 wish we could 60 up
in the real country this summer-you
know you promised
Alice-Sh, Linnie; papa will do his
best.
Edwards (going to the table)-Tll try,
little one, but I'm afraid there amt no
vacation for us. The fight gets harder
every year. Oh. I'm too tired to eat.
Jennie. Well. Allie, how'd v come out
with your recital t'day?
Alice quitting her hand in his)-Eery
well. father; only l wished you were
there.
Edwards-I wisht I could. but can't.
/ got o keep goin'. Rent an taxes go
on when | picnic. but wages don't.
(Shoves back from the table and sits de-
jectedly.)
Linnie Starting up)-O poppa, man
put bill under our door that said rent
on it. I'll get it. brings it from the
corner. reads it slowly
Linnie (reading):
Dear Sir: At the expiration Of your lease.
July ], your rent will be increased five dollars
per month Please notify us if you intend 70
remain. JOHN NORCROSS. Agent.
Edwards God. and my wages
cut down last week. Amt they got no
mercy. these human wolves? Hain't I
got all can stand now? Look at il!
docking at the walls.) Look at this
tenement. Hotter, rottener, shabbier.
but rent must go up Jennie! Children!
don't know what | am going to do. l
don't see any way out; l can see we're
bein' crushed
Linnie (going to him,-Don't cry,
poppa, don't mind him.
(As Edwards sits thus with bowed
head, Julian Berg, a pale, student-like
German. enters at the door. He is &C
companied by full-bearded. sinister
looking man, who stands in the door
way, stolidly smoking long pipe. Berg
holds rent bill
III,