The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-01-28
went a fight higher, and so saved half

legs of several pairs of trousers daily. But
whether because there was a decrease in
the number of those gentlemen who rur-
chase ready-made clothing, or for some
other reason, Mr.. Liversuch began to COM
plain that work was slack. Sometimes
even, when he brought home the trousers,
they were flung, till wanted, over shiver-
ing barelegged children who had neither
food nor clothing. There were times, too.
when the trousers were not forthcoming.
Then Mr.. Liversuch, unable to contem-
plate the miseries of his family, or to bear
the complaining of his wife, would go 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 in drink Mrs. Liversuch
managed to earn little, and the eldest
boy was sent out to work. So they sub
sisted somehow.
Litt'la-iza was now twelve years old, a
surprising age for her to have attained to
under the circumstances. She was a
queer, wizened, 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 moth
ing of the world; yet her brain had deve!-
oped in some sort of way, and she had
ideas. There was one thing OF which
Littla-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 Deep silent, uudemonstratiye
way. She loved and pitied her drunken
father, she loved the mother who neg
lected her, she loved the dirty, quarrel
some little boys, her brothers, and she
loved God.
| do not know how she managed to do
this, for no one had ever told her anything
about Him; there was little enough in her
squalid home to suggest Him to her; and
she could seldom obtain even peep at the
sky. But He can reveal Himself without
the aid of His feeble instruments, and
many hold the hem of His garment igno-
rant of whom it is against whom they
press. At any rate Litt'la-iza was con-
scious that she had Friend, and she
talked to him and told Him the thoughts
of her heart, though she did not call Him
by any name. And her religion took the
form of sacrifice. The crowning act of
her silent life was heroic that is why it
is chronicled here.
1t was on Lit la-iza's birthday that the
family again moved. That is to say, they
gave up the back room and all went into
the front one. The furniture of the sit
ing-room, consisting of chair and three
legged table, was carried in by Mrs. Liver
such Sundry children followed bearing
the cooking utensils saucepan and a
frying pan. the family teapot, the spout of
which got knocked off in the the transit,
two cups and plate.
Litt'la-iza took no part in this fitting.
She was in the bedroom already. She
had grown too feeble of late to help herself
much, and her mother being too busy to
attend to her toilet every day, and having
nothing but shawl to dress her in when
she was up, frequently let her remain in
bed. Sometimes Littla-iza slept then. At
night the snores and kicking of her young
brothers, who shared the bed with her,
made slumber difficult matter.
"Is that alp she inquired in her shrill
little voice when the articles from the next
room had been satisfactorily disposed.
Mrs. Liversuch nodded. She had seat
ed herself on the rickety chair The chill
dren had swarmed up on the bed.
''There amt nothink more" said Mrs.
Liversuch.
'Lor'r' said Litt'la-iza. But the eiac-
ulation was expressive.
sThe sofy?" she asked presently.
'tPut away"
"Wherell you sleep y"
Mrs. Liversuch shrugged her shoulders.
eWell have to manage somehow" she
said. She had reached that pitch of de-
spair that nothing seemed to disturb her
very much. HThere's the floor. And
s'poso you can git another child in that
bed"
Litt'la-iza pulled her sharp chin.
eyes," she said "Ben Id curl up com.
Portable"
She was philosophic person, Litt'la-
liza. She had no conception that there
was such thing as luxury. Hunger and
cold and pain and WEAKNESS seemed to her
as essential to human existence as breath
ing. Though she was neglected no one
was actively unkind to her. Perhaps if
she had reasoned about such things she
would have said she vas not unhappy. AS
for happiness, Littla-isa looked not for it
in this life, for the simple reason that she
knew nothing whatever about it. She
took things as they came. As the bed
was always crowded it was not worth while
to exclude Ben, because he would make
one more. eyes" she repeated Ben Id
curl up comfortable" And she added,
pensIyely, but not in any way complain
ingly, and rather as If she we're speaking