Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-30
CHAPTER LII

hluBSDrluBe-LeRcnu Oh Jne EldSJ illVer-OD-
servatons on Life in General-Hanging Out
for the Night-The Prune House-Story of
the Hucksters-We Go to Morrisania.
1t was a glorious morning, late spring
and early fall, just the time when the visit
ing country cousin takes on a deeper shade
of green, and the young year seems like a
Mott street maiden trembling on the brink
of six months sentence.
Harriet picked up morning paper and
read us the Legend of the East River.
1t was the sad, sad story of Sophia Lieb-
schitz, who tried to drown her doll baby
because her mother had spanked her for
bilking her baby brother out of his share
of the sauerkraut.
"She gazed longingly at the swishing
wavelets, and then pressed her infant
closer to her bosom.
'Great scalding tears welled from her
eyes, and splashed as they fell upon the in
nocent babes face.
"Ohl it was pitiful,
In this whole city full
Friends she had none
"Then, with a startled look up and down
the wharf, and out, far out upon the swell
ing bosom of the East river, heart broken,
miserable Sophia Leibschitz hurled the
sleeping infant
"With a smothered shrek of despair the
agonized mother turned and buried her
face in her hand Now it was her turn to
leap.
Restraining hands were near, however,
and Sophia found herself clasped in the
arms of two sturdy mechanics, William
Tuthill of 622 Water street, and Robert
Thomas, of 26S Delaney street, who were
passing by on a Belt line car"
The baby was fished out with boat
hook. But its little life was gone; 1.-THE saw
dust was shapeless mass in its little mus
din stomach. Montana said it was the saw
dust thing she had ever heard. You see
worse things in Punch than what Montana
says sometimes. Late in the day we re-
turned to Harlem and put up at the Prune
House. We had some trouble finding this
hotel. We arrived from Kingsbridge foot
sore after our long ride. We struck de-
serted part of the town. Georgiana said
she knew hotel, and we followed her.
We followed her for four hours Then she
confessed that the hotel she knew was in
Morrisiana. We came across solitary
loafer Harriet asked him if he could tell
us good place to hang out for night.
He said yes, there was butcher shop
around the corner; we could get up on the
hocSs in front and hang out all we wanted.
He was a coarse loafer
We found the Prune House at last. 1t
was building standing all alone at the
juncture of two of the main streets. We
retired early, but were awakened about
midnight by a dreadful squeallng of pigs
and the cackling of chickens We rushed
out into the hall and demanded to know
what it was. TITS only the hucksters
coming in; go back to bed, you idiots"
said the landlord.
We afterward learned that the Prune
House had several boarders who paid for
their keep by raising chickens-off other
peoples roosts These were the hucksters
he spoke Of The meals in the Prune House
are good in consequence.
We left the Prune House at an early hour
and started cross country for Morrisania.
Morrisania is quaint old town. Harriet
said she knew young man in Morrisania
He used to come to see her.
After this shock we decided to return to
the city on the IL" The ticket chopper OBJ
iected to the goat "No hanimiles his al
lowed" he said.
So we had to walk back.
when will we go to Harlem again?"
said Harriet when we were once more safe
in my room.
"Neverr said Montana. "You san count
me dead against Harlem as long as there is
a tail on a goose!"
And the goat, standing on his hind legs
before the window peering out into the
night, gave strong approval to the senti-
ment.
THE END.
--Navv York EveninU Sun