The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-10
ACROSS THE RIVER.
A Sketch from Life in q Great
City.

see We Ye'rc roster and fatter than
ever We were. Come right inlet me
take the things Off this chair-now sit
We down. How's the good man and all
the childerP All, hal Ye're putin
and blown like porpoisc. Yc're not
the light-footed gyurl that used to skip
up Rathhne hin in the good ould days"
maggie Berteli. it = pooh it nd
make inny wan-blow to climb thin
stairs. How have you been for the last
six months, since you came up to llar-
lem 70 see usP"
We've all been dom finely. Now
take off your bonnet and shawl, and
IN pour We out cup o tay that I'm
keepin' warm for Mary aninst she
comes home from the cloak shop"
I'm be deprivin' the child" objected
the visitor.
"Sorra bit. There's enough in the
taypot for half Dozen" and Mrs. Ber-
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 kerchef that COW
cred her ample shoulders, and surveyed
the tidy apartment with an experienced
housewives critical eye.
maggie" she remarked to her host
ess, tits 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 Mamie sews over In
Broadway cloak house, and it's con-
vanient for thin. The neighbors is
quiet harmless folks, and |, not know
in their talk, have little to do wild
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 Jared
worse than marryin' Tony" said Mrs.
Mulligan. us 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 We. There was two min
an babe, sick wild smallpox, taken
out O the big tinement next door on'y
couple o weeks ago" replied the
hostess.
Look at that nowl Sure it's the
dirt of the haythens, with their rooms
turned into ragshops."
Mrs. Bertellis information about the
sickness seemed to have disturbed her
friend, for after a moments silence she
said in slightly hushed voice:
II hope you have no smallpox in this
house. Me little Tim amt as hardy as
he might be. and wouldn't want to
carry the disease home to him"
make yer mind easy" replied Mrs.
Bertelli. "There's none av it here /
hear me daughter Nantes step on the
stairs. Wait till we see what a fine big
gyurl she's grown. Good avenin' to
girl entered. do ye see who's here2
Me old friend Mrs. Mulligan. from
Harlem" and the mother beamed
proudly on the tall, pretty young wom-
an who kissed her, and gave welcome
to her mothers friend
"Arrah, Mamie, wouldn't know You
If met you on the street." exclaimed
Mrs. Mulligan. You've grown SO tall
and handsome. You've got your
fathers big black eyes and curly raven
locks, and the beautiful rosy cheeks
your mother brought wild her from the
ould dart.
''Shes roster than usual this aven-
in" said Mrs. Bertilli "Ain't ye
feelin' well. acushla? Why, yer hand
is bnrnin'."
I'm not very well tonight, nanny.
I've had headache all day long"
"Give her a hot cup o. tay. Mary
Ann It'll do her good. Thin cloak
shops is so crowded and stifin' they do
give the girls the headache to be in
thin all day." said the girls mother
II couldn't eat or drink, nanny
III rest awhile on the bed. I'll see you
again before you leave, Mrs. Multi
gan" and Mamie passed into the bed
room.
Its fever she has, Maggie" whis-
pered Mrs Mulligan, land as soon as
lOuy COlDcS III you u Dtbtilci Sihti lCi
the docthor- Now, it's gettin' late" she
continued. thinking about little Tim,
"who wasn't as hardy as he might be, y
and the possibilities of Mamie's fever
proving contagious. Its gettin late,
and ] have long journey afore me, so
I'll be goin'. Be sure now and come
up and see us soon"
we've taken the heart out o me,
Mary Ann, wild yer talk about faver.
That gyurl's the apple O. me eye. an if
ianything was to happen to her, God
help me, | don't know whatd become
O. me. An her father, poor man, his
heart an souls wrapped up in her.
There never was a Bother young wom-
an or betther daughter. Why, she
spint the best part of her nights tindin'