Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-10-07
ACROSS THE RIVER.
A Sketch from Life in a Great
 City.

Well, Mary Ann Mulligan, is it yer self? Sure it's cure tor sore eyes to see ye. We're rosier and fatter than take the things off this chair-now sit ye down. How's the good man and all the childer? An, ha! We're puffin' and blowin' like porpoise. We're not the light-footed gyurl that used to skip up Rathfine hill in the good ould days"
 Maggie Bertelli, it - pooh - it ud make inny wan-blow to climb thim stairs. How have you been for the last six months, since you came up to liar lem to see us?"
 We've all been doin' finely. Now take off your bonnet and shawl, and I'll pour ye out cup O tay that I'm keepin' warm for Mary aninst she comes home from the cloak shop"
 "I'll be deprivin' the child" objected the visitor.
 "Sorra bit. There's enough in the taypot for half dozen," and Mrs. Der telli hurried to the stove on her hospit- able mission, while Mrs. Mulligan took off her bonnet and shawl, smoothed out the creases in the kerchief that cov- cred her ample shoulders, and surveyed the tidy apartment with an experienced housewife's critical eye.
 Maggie" she remarked to her host ess, its beyant me to know how you can live down here in double decker in Sullivan street among all the dagos -widout manin' offense to your good man-whin you might just as well be Twin up in Harlem among your own kind, where you could get breath of fresh air now and again."
 Well, Mary Ann,ye see Tony's work is down here, and Name sewS over in | a Broadway cloak house, and its con vanient for thim. The neighbors is l quiet, harmless folks, and l, not know in their talk, have little to do wid | thin. As for Tony, he's the best hus- | band and father that ever lived. Now here, take this sup O tay while it's hot" and Mrs. Bertilli put the cup of ''tay" on the table, in front of her guest
 You might a gone furder and fared ] worse than marvin Tony" said Mrs. Mulligan, as she slipped the beverage, "but in these barracks, crowded with furriners of all kinds, you run risk of catchin' some kind O sickness"
 "Thrue for ye. There was two min an a babe, sick wid smallpox, taken out O the big tinement next door on'y a couple O weeks ago." replied the hostess
 Look at that, now! Sure it's the dirt of the haythens, with their rooms turned into ragshops."
 !, Mrs. BertellTs information about the sickness seemed to have disturbed hel
 friend, for after moments silence she
 said in slightly hushed voice:
 "I hope you have no smallpox in this
 house. Me little Tim ain't as hardy as he might be, and l wouldn't want tc
 carry the disease home to him." Make yer mind easy" replied Mrs Berteli. There's none av it here. hear me daughter Mamie's step on the stairs. Wait till ye see what a fine biz gyurl she's grown. Good avenin' t'
 ye, miss," cried Mrs. Bertelli as th'
 girl entered. Do ye see who's here; Me old friend Mrs. Mulligan, iron
 Harlem," and the mother beame' = proudly on the tall, pretty young wom an who kissed her, and gave welcom' to her mothers friend.
 "Arrah, Mamie, l wouldn't know yo, if met you on the street," exclaime'
 Mrs. Mulligan. "You've grown so tai
 and han'some. You've got you s Efather's big black eyes and curly ravel locks, and the beautiful rosy cheek e your mother brought wid her from tn
 ould dart"
 8 She's rosier than usual this aver '- in'," said Mrs. Bertili "Ain't y = feelin' well, acushla? Why, yer han
 is burnin'."
 q "I'm not very well tonight, nanny e I've had headache all day long," n "Give her a hot cup O tay, Mar a Ann. It'll do her good. Thim cloa - shops is so crowded and stiflin' they d '- give the girls the head9che to be @ thim all day." said the girls mother. "I couldn't eat or drink, mamm, Q I'll rest awhile on the bed. I'll see yo l. again before you leave, Mrs. Null tt gan," and Mamie passed into the be-
 room.
 Its fever she has, Maggie" whi d pered Mrs. Mulligan, land as soon | @ Tony comes in you'd betther sind f' a the docthor Now. it's gettin' late" sf 70 continued, thinking about little Tir 10 "who wasn't as hardy as he might be ,e and the possibilities of Mamie's few s, proving contagious. Its gettin' lat 1t and have long journey afore me, ," I'll be goin'. Be sure now and con g up and see us soon."
 We've taken the heart out O m le Mary Ann, wid yer talk about fave m m That gyurl's the apple O me eye, an O 0o innything was to happen to her, G. ,a help me, don't know what'd becon l. O me. An her father, poor man, | te heart an souls wrapped up in he
 There never was a betther young vol
 an or a -betther daughter. Why, 8
 spint the best part of her. nights tindi
 EOCIABLE .....-.