The evening world., 1891-07-21

ounce or so OF nesh on tho tiny skeleton, ana
you could see by the pulse-beat in the temple
that the heart was still on dutyr
Betty said Bhe was nine years old, thlt
Jackie was cuttiE' his teeth" that Tom
was two and Billy uas three goin' on four,
and that she lived in sixticth street.
She was a pretty little thing, delic1tcly
modelled, grcy-eycd, with raven black lashes
and brows, small, miii-whlte teeth and wavy
hair. In pink muslin dress, with big hat
trimmed with n wrcat III Of wild roses, she
would have been radiant beauty. hut here
she was, II miniature drudge, struggling to
keep two baby brothers out Of danger and
burdcncd with an infant anchored very near
deaths door
The Kings Daughter found another twenty
| lvc-cent coin, tcld her to PIT Biliy and Tom
| in n chariot and get on grey horse herself
and she would mind "Jacio'
Betty didn't need a second bidding. She
took the money, fairly gaspai her thanks
| grabbed n youngster IN each hand ana fairly
| new to the ticket Office.
Jackie lay in the girls arm, fcchly sucking
his thumb, which, assure you, was not as
thick as slate p"nci. lie was 10 thin tlat
every bone In his body protrudcd.
when he cried, for fear he would so to pieces
| lie was dressed In coarse whit" clothing,
almost blnck with neglect and 50 dirty that
the nics Swarmed about him.
The littIc face was 50 wasted, the eyes
were 50 sunkcn and bright, the cheeks were
so hollow and the veins in the temples were
| so prominent that the people az they passed
were horrined at the ghastly spectacle and
hurried away.
"Say misses, that babys a-dying," sud
burly lmc-Staincd fellow, on his way home.
why don't you get 1t in the hnspltal?"
The girl explained her position, the 11an
raised his eyes, said " God help u.s." and went
away, probably thinking Of his own litile
ones.
Betty was in no hurry to return.
The horses with the war paint IN their nos
trlls made several circuits Of the air line and
when II began TO look like case OF adoption
for the circle OF Kings Daughters lozenge
merchant was lurcl to look up the small
nurse with the shadOwy grey eyes.
"shc's all right" was the message returned;
" she's got nnothernlcKlo 10 ride out" and the
nurse pro ten. sadly pattcd and vaiply tried
to quiet the poor gricving babe.
Tho sour smell OF the clothing, the disorder
or the cheap null bonnet the disagrreable
touch Or the damp shoes, the Old, almost hide
Gus expression OF tn" ghastly face, the wasted
body or the child and the resignation OF The
tiny sister as She opened her arms 10 receive
II, made a picture sad enough to have moved
stones = rity
The father OF this family IS n0-but never
mind. Wen leave him out. II God made him,
no ,fr a
sunclcnt rs well as inferior.
The mother goes out to work by the day
and hcr hard earnings keep roof over her
children and enables some Of them to live.
Poor jackie has lost his hold, and unless
some Of the good people OF New York come to
the rescue he will take his ride, his last ride,
IN few days.
Can't you do something kind onec
Couldn't you postpone the ride?
Would It be impossible for you to send n
dollar to the Fund or inconvenient for you
ana you and you TO contribute ten CcntsT
Gould you spare bundle OF clothing-any
clean, servlceablc articles that babies be-
tween the ages Of nine years and nine months
could wear?
Can't you look over your field OF gold, over
your harvest or into your savings banks, and
help this poor dying boy to hang on little
lOnger7
There's no use mincing matters or quibbing
issues. This child is being starved to death,
stined, murdered In tencment-housc.
Think the matter over and do something
Please do, for humanity's sake, for the childs
sake.
For the week ending July Is there were
1,074 deaths, OF which 666 were children un-
der five years OF age-more than half were
babies.
Now say who needs your help?
NELL NELSON.