Middletown transcript., 1892-03-17
.'Do you think baby's hungry :"

W. SS~J
81 don't know. Do you p replied
Katy.
81 don't know" Mary answered.
slowly. She and Katy were both
hungry, but they did not say this.
They had lived SO long in their few
years, and had been hungry so much,
that they could accept it uncomplain-
ingly as a part of life. But the baby,
that was different they could con-
done his crying from hunger. for he
had it all to learn.
By-and-by Mary spoke again: II
wish mother would come"
II do too, said Katy. I was lone
some. The room was darkening fast,
and the snow, creeping over and past
their feet, was so pitilessly cold !, and
it made such strange shapes whirling
in the half.light. The mother would
have taken no notice of them had she
been there, but they would have
found an appreciable comfort in her
mere presence. They knew the 7alue
of small joys; large ones did not enter
their sphere. They would have well.
coined any animate thing, big warm
dog to lie against; anything but the
fearful cold insiduous snow.
Finally Mary slipped out Of the
room. "I'll fetch mother" she said.
and was gone. She knew very we'll
where to look, just at the corner where
the windows were warm with yellow
light, and hot draught of air at the
door. Mary pushed the swinging
door and stood inside. There to her
eyes appeared men standing at a long
table down one side of the room,
drinking out Of glasses yellow and red
end white liquids. They called for
more, and talked among themselves !;
they were engrossed in their comfort.
No one saw Mary as she crept down
the room, and at the end. at q table.
found ner mother. The woman was
sodden. Her hair hung in strings
about her shoulders, her shawl lay on
the floor, among the crusts and rinds
of a free lunch, and she mumbled to
herself inarticulately. Yet she recog-
nized Mary, and drove her away by
look and gesture. And the little girl
crept out again, and returned to her
sister and the baby.
Brave little girl It was not neces-
sary to explain to Katy why she came
alone. She said nothing of the
momentary warmth Of the saloon that
had set her chilled little frame to
trembling all over. Katy herself was
numb and blue but that was not
worth mentioning. The baby was
crying so querulously, SO weakly, in
little quick.drawn breaths. Mary
took him into her own arms, but moth.
ing she did could still his cries.
"I guess he's just cold," said she,
at last. "I don't believe he's hun
CRY. I brought mothers shawl, and
I'll wrap him up in it"
She gave the baby the benefit of
every square inch of the worn old
shawl, and held him close. She
reached one hand out in the darkness
and felt towaros Katy.
GIVE got something to eat," said
she.
The refuse of the free lunch made
such a supper as Mary and Katy had
not eaten for many days. And when
it was swallowed to the last crumb,
Mary proposed that they lay down,
one on each side of the baby, to keep
him warm. Katy assented, and TIE
three little bits OF humanity lay SO
close together that one human arm
might have embraced them all. But
there was no arm; even the other
dwellers in the house seemed to have
forgotten them. And the very tears
shed by angels weeping over their
misery turned to snow-Aakes that Aut
tered through the room, and lay cold
against the sisters cheeks.
By-and,by Mary stirred. She had
been asleep. She awoke Katy. The
baby was quiet. 81 guess he's cried
himself OUT said Mary.
eyes, he's asleep" said Katy.
Then they lay down and slept
again. 1t was morning when they
next awoke. They jumped up and
the snow fell from their thin little
dresses and thin little legs on the
floor. They looked at the baby, lyins
there half-covered with snow.
"How sound he sleeps!" said.
But Mary said, j." I'm going 10 fetcf
somebody" And directly she brought
in a woman of the house. The baby
cried till he cried himself OUT" sale
Mary, "and then he slept. But he
sleeps SO still !"
The woman was a good creature
and possessed an unfortunate SYM