The record-union., 1893-02-03
LIIF'LA-I2A.

She had been christened sEliza Emily
Idversuch." But, except, for the fact
that she was made an inheritor of the
Kingdom of Heaven-a very important
fact for one who was destined to possess
nothing on earth-her christening had
been in vain. No one ever called her by
her baptismal name. She was only
Little Liza, y or rs more commonly pro-
nounced by those about her, Lit la-iza." "
She was fortunate in receiving the priv
ilege of a christening at all. In that re-
spect she was better off than the babies
that came after; in all other respects they
had the advantage. But at the same time
that her mother took her to the font she
was the only child, and Mrs. Liversuch
was proud of her new dignity, and pre-
pared to let Eliza Emily start fair in the
race of life. However, before very long
it became clear that, through somebody's
fault, certainly not her own, Lift la-iza
was handicapped. 1t was not only that
she was not able to run the course; IL be-
came doubtful if she could walk it,
When Tommy was born she could only
crawl, and when Billy arrived she was
crawling still. When Tommy was capa-
bic of maintaining the perpendicular for
q considerable length of time without en-
dangering his nose, Mrs. Liversuch be-
gan to wonder seriously at Lift la-iza' S
lack OF ambition. one day she carried
her to the London Hospital. When she
returned it was with the knowledge that
Litrla-iza could never be expected to
walk. Her legs were paralyzed.
Perhaps Litpla-iZa had suspected it all
along, and that was why her efforts to
feel her legs had been so feeble, and
why when she had toppled over directly
she started TO obtain the lump of sugar
held at distance of three-quarters of a
yard. she graveIy abandoned all efforts at
locomotion save that which made the dam
ger of a fall impossible. Perhaps, too,
that was why she was of such serious
disposition. Mrs. Liversuch thought it
was only because girls were quieter than
boys by nature, that while the latter cried
and quarreled and scratched each other,
and clamored to be taken up at all sorts OF
inconvenient minutes. their sister was
content to sit on the floor and play with
the Goals, and would remain Tor hours
where she had been placed, staring before
her with wide, pensive eyes. When she
discovered the truth the mother was very
disappointed. She was fonder of girls
than boys, and she had been proud OF her
first born. She hated having to tell her
neighbors, when they remarked on the
child's backwardness, that Littla-iza
NOA4b liGNCI bS al AllllIS Dub ii DAilN6ll W
her. If she had had another daughter
she might have forgiven Litt'la-iza for
not being credit to her, but all the sub
sequent children were boys. She was not
unkind to Littla-iZa, but she seemed to
have lost interest in her. Besides, the
others asserted their claims on her atten-
ton, whereas the cripple child had an in
stinct for patient submission.
AS time went on, and the children grew
plentiful in proportion as work and food
grew scarce, 1t was generally understood
that if anyone had less to eat than the
others 1t must be Litt'la-iza. The boys
would have to be strong and go TO school
and earn their livings; it didn't matter so
much about poor Lift la-lZa, who was no
credit to her food even when she had it,
but remained pale and thin and tiny.
From the day that her mother brought
her back from the hospital Litt'la-iZa did
not go out of doors. The baby was too
heavy to carry, so when anyone went in
the perambulator it was he, and as long
as there was perambulator there was al
ways baby to occupy it. At last the
perambulator was sold. Mrs. Liversuch
was IN want OF money, ana moreover,
she never found time now to go out and
wheel the children. They had to take the
air in the gutter. Littla-iza would sit in
doors, and hold the latest baby in her
weak arms while the mother worked. At
family to move. On this occasion LittIa-
iza's father carried her (and the kitchen
tender) through the streets OF White
chapel. 1t being winter and rainy
weather she was cold and wretched. If
she had had any desires before to be
sometimes i'll the open air this checked
them. The next move they made was
effected without the necessity of going
out OF doors. The family went flight
higher and so saved half a crown a week.
Mr.. LiVersuch was tailor by trade.
For an insignificant wage he ran up the
legs of several pairs OF trousers daily
But whether because there was a decrease
III the number OF those gentlemen who
purchase ready-made clothing, or for
some other reason, Mr.. Liversuch began
to complain that work was slack. Some
times even, when he brought home the
trousers, they were flung, till wanted. over
shivering, barelegged children who had
neither food nor clothing. There were
times, too, when the trousers were not
forthcoming. Then Mr.. Liversuch, un-
able to contemplate the miseries of his
family, or TO bear the complaining of his
vile, would 60 out and walk the streets
till night.
1t was thus he fell into bad habits. He
used to say he was looking for work, but
apparently work was an accomplished
player at the game of hide and seek
When by any chance he found it, his wife
and children had cause to regret it. The
money went III drink. Mrs. Liversuch
managed to earn little, and the eldest
boy was sent out to work. So they sub
sisted somehow.
Litrla-iza was now u years old, a sur
prising age for her to have attained to un-
der the circumstances. She was queer,
wlzened, ugly little creature, with eyes at
once shrewd and gentle and a shock OF
unkempt yellow hair. She could not read
or write, and she had seen nothing OF the
world; yet her brain had developed in
some sort OF way, and she had ideas
There was one thing of which Litt'l 'la-iZa
was capable by nature, and that was love.
she had probably never heard this word
and she could certainly not have defined
the sentiment, and yet she loved in a
deep, silent, undemonStrarive way She
loved and pitied her drunken father. she
loved the mother who neglected her. she
loved the dirty, quarrelsome little bows,
her brothers, and she loved God.
do not know how she managed to do
this, for no one had ever told her anv-
thing about Him; there was little enouGh
i'll her squalid nome to suggest Him to
her; and she could seldom obtain even a
peep at the sky. But He can reveal Him
self without the aid of His feeble instrn
ments, and many hold the hem of His
garment ignorant of whom it is against
whom they press. At any rate Litt'la-iza
was conscious that she had Friend. and
she talked to Him and told Him tho
thoughts of her heart, though she did not
call Him by any name. And her religion
took the form of sacrifice. The crown
ing act of her silent life was heroic: that
is why it is chronicled here.
1t was on Litt tla-iza's birthday that the
family again moved. That is to say. thev
gave up the back room and all went into
the front one. The furniture OF the sit
ting-room, consisting of chair and