Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-04-15
SLUNI SISTERS.

ton lasses- The following is the re-
port:
MY friends were not clad in their
coal-scuttle bonnets and blue serge
Jackets, for these would be feathers far
too line for the slum brigade. Long eX-
pcricncc in the huts and novels of out
cast London has taught them wisdom;
the slurn dwcllcr, if he sees fine fcath-
crs-and even the salvation bonnet is a
fine feather to him-sccnts coppcrs, and
thinks of making up stunning story
and the lasses, the sisters want truth
and nothing but the truth. Therefore
they don hidcouS hats and other ugly
garments, and if you go with them you
do the same.
They turn into n back lane, down in
griIny Shadwel, and knock at door
which looks battered and i'll used. The
windows arc mostly broken but neatly
mendcd with brown paper, for the army
money Il wanted for other things than
home comforts in weather such as this,
and this house with the ricllcty stairs
and the clean, poor-loolling back kitch-
en- is the slum brigadc'S fortress. Thence
The girls sally forth early and late, and
make their way through the crowd of
poor that stand around their door when
they have said cheering word to- each
of the hungry women and children and
taken the addresses of strangers, for
each single case where help is given is
first investigated. The crowd then dis
pcrsc, knowing that before nightfall
they will at all events have some soup,
some bread and cheese, and haply also
some coal. On that hope they can en-
Gurc starvation Il few hours longer, and
chcerfully they go home.
The girls dive into the alleys brisllly
and in buSinesS-lilc manner. Sister
the little ones in the gutter say, and
smile, and sister the hob bling Croncs
salute them as they pass
'Thcy think nothing Of q three-mile
walk to a hovcl in some yard whence
tiding3 OF distress have reached them,
and when they enter some filthy door
way the women from dozen nciGhbor-
ing houses rush out to bcseech them not
to pass them over. Wherever they en-
ter it is the same; want and starvation
in their cruclcst form stare no longer in
at the doors and windows, but are in
possession and look as if they meant to
stay.
Three old women live in this cellar
like hole. If I had three half-pcnce,'
ThinpGrS the least infirm, who crouchcs
on deal box near the tiny fire, 4 could
buy stock and sell some oranges. But
we hain't 4 farthing. 1t was so cold /
used the stock money, and now owe
Ter three weeks rent And she points
to ragged bed in the corner, whence
como uncarthly groans. Thick dark
ness rci;Ens around that bed, on which
the l&nGfady,' the woman to whom the
ruins Of furniture belong, has lain for
weeks. NO, nobody comes TO sec the
three; neither Of them can work, and
since yesterday they have had nothing
70 cat. The third mas gone out to- pic!;
up what she can in the cutters; the
others wait and starve on, light-hcadcd
for want Of food.
UP the back stairs large family
men, women and children-stand about
the cnptT room. Everything is pawncd
and one is i'll. They shivcr with hunger
;%nd cola, and the sight of ticket for
food Of the value Of four renee Light
MP tIuir faces into brilliant hopeful
less.
ITO the garnet the parish doctor has
refused to go. But the lasses go. A
cloud Of smoke meets them as they
cntcr. Every pane of the small win
COW Is broken and mcndcd with dirty
TaG5; heap Of rags-a very small heap
Ties il tho corner, and 10y the fire
there Is Il small deal box. On it sits a
cr>aturc that may have been a woman
once, but to look at whom now is to
t.t"n away with q Shuddcr. She ic
ovIlcd, with only rag around her; her
L;.lr hangs over her face, the hands arc
Like c!GwS, and as you put your hand on
tl2 thia covering round her shoulders
You can feel hard bones only, and the
shivcring creature grins and holds out
@cr claw-hlle hands. Look at mo
tNTc nothing TO wear, nothing to cat
lave you Thought nc something to cut?
l.ar sister, who shares this home /,
L4t or. J'pG only GRAND which drive: