St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-06

Vi IlldldulcS, WHilO IIO CIiDplOu COib
panion and friend limped about OH her
crutches, and propped herself before
the tub to do bit o. WaShin'" that
must be finished before her street ven
derShip began.
Poverty of the most awful description
was visible in the one room which served
as bedroom. kitchen, dining-room and
parlor for three adult human beings.
The sick woman and the crippled
friend were both we'll past the half
century mark But Mary Bradley is an
optimist of the chserieSt description
despite her years, her poverty and
her crutches. She had no hope
less tale of woe ready to arouse my
sympathies and open my purse. In
Stead.sh assured me that she had given
the poor soul in the bed sup oil milk
and few clans that morning, and she
opened her poor little purse and showed
me whole unbroken dollar remaining.
and added, with smile. that the rent
was paid.
Its on the island | would be but for
her," said Margaret Sullivan from her
bed. "She's kept the wolf from the door
these many MONTHS" and she fell to
sobbng.
Nor is it any better yell be or the
lady either for yer tears" cried the lit
tie crippled friend, turning Oh the in
valid rather severely. Hush with yer
crying. Eve 81 in me purse and the
pension is promised to Pat"
''Who is Pat?" [ asked.
Then Mary leaned Oh her crutches
and told ME the story, which was EN-
phasiZed by broken EXPLANATIONS, tears
and blessings from the bed.
''Ye see, dear, it was this way: Mar
garet and me was servants LII the sa lie
house these thirty years ago. 1t was
nurse, she was, but | was just the cook.
Then Margaret married Pat Sullivan
and he got his s. day, for the good
mason he was. But the good days
didn't last with any of us. First took
a cold that went into a fever and set
tied in me legs. There'was three oper-
ationS performed OH me and was never
to walk agin. and all this time it was
Margaret Sullivan kept. me from the
hospital and wouldn't hear to my havin'
any roof but hers over me head. Then
her Pat fell sick and was out O. work.
He lad been soldier in the war and
was hurried in the hip an it all came
back on him in his ole age. SO we cum
down to this one room. Pat hasn't been
able to do stroke o. work for years,
he's that feeble, and no bigger IN me.
But for what they'd done for me in
| the times of me trouble. keepin' a roof
over me head, and for the sakes of the
| days we were SeyantS and friends
| thirty long years back, Pve stayed by
'em, glad the good heaven y Rather let
and only made me to beg twice
in all the time. And sure He is
Watchin' over us, for here comes a
| letter today from the mistress we used
| to work for asking news of us. and here
be letter that Pat Will get his pension
from the government before long and
here be you a-lookin' me up. as We SAID
We would, but as | never expected. A n
it's the truth, We see, | was tellin' YOU,
and We might follow Mary Bradley
from the years beginnin' to tie end
and ye'd catch her in no lIe."
read the kindly letter of inquiry
from the mistress and glanced over the
official document which seemed TO
promise a pension to Pat Sullivan at
some future day-mentaily praying that
it might not be pigeon-holed by an in
different congresSman's motion before
the money came to relieve the pressing
needs of this family.
''It is such pity" / sighed, "that
you and Margaret did not save money
lOl your ofu dSO NllOtI yOu WClO cdl Illiie7
good wages"
The little, crippled old woman looked
up at me with a smile.
Eyes, dear, but you see when we are
young we laugh at them as say we will
ever be old, and the young think to be
young forever. and them as is in good
health never thinks of sickness. So that
is the way it all came about. But the
good Lord is watchin' over Margaret,
and wild her pension she'll not come to
want"
And so ! came away and left the tiny
crippled creature beaming with happi-
ness at the thought of the approaching
good fortune of the friend for whom she
had hobbled about the streets and sold
her pencils all through the bitter, biting
days.
No thought of self seemed to enter
her mind-no fear of the bleak future
stretching away in the darkness of
crippled old age.
''The good Lord watches over me,
dear. and it's not for me to be doubtin'
Him." she says.