The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-01
ACROSS THE RIVER.
A sketch from Life In q Great
City.


A--
swell, Mary Ann Mulligan, Is II YER
self2 Sure it's a cure tor sore eyes to
see ye. Ye're roster and fatter than
over We we're. Come right inlet me
take the things off this chair-now sit
We down. How's the good man and all
the childer2 All, hal Ye're putin
and BLOWN like a porpoise. Yesre not
the light footed gyurl that used to skip
up Rathfne hill in the good ould days"
maggie Bertelli. II pooh 1t nd
make inny wan-blow TO climb thin
stairs How have you been for the last
six months. since You came mp to Har-
lem 70 see us2"
We've all been dom Smelly. Now
take Of your bonnet and shawl, and
I'll pour We out a cup o tay that I'm
keepin' warm for Mary aninst she
comes home from the cloak shop"
..Iii be depafFiSin' the child" objected
the visitor.
..Sorra bit. There's enough In the
taypot for half a dozen, = and Mrs, Ber-
telli hurried Ia the stove on her hospit-
able mission, while Mrs. Mulligan took
of her bonnet 4~nA4hawl, smoothed
out the crcases In the kerchief that ov-
cred her ample shoulders, and surveyed
the tidy apartment with m experienced
housewives critical eye.
Maggie" she remarked to her host
esa, its beyant me TO know how you
can live down here In a double decker
In Sullivan street among all the dagos
-widout manin' offense TO your good
m~an-whin you might just as well be
livin' up in Harlem among your own
kind, where you could get a breath of
fresh air now and again"
Well Mary Ann, We see Tony's work
Is down here, and Name sews over in
q Broadway cloak house, and its con-
syanient 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
.stay" on the table, in front OF her guest.
you might a. gone furder and Jared
worse thar marryin' Tony" said Mrs.
Mnlligan. as she slipped the beverage,
"but in these barracks, crowded with
furriners Of all kinds you run q risk
Of catchin' some kind O. sickness.
"Thrue for We. There was two min
an a babe, sick wild smallpox. taken
out o. the big tinement next door on'y
q couple O weeks ago" replied the
hostess.
look at that, nowi Sure it's the
dirt Of the haythens, with their rooms
turned into ragshops.n
Mrs, Bertelli's Information about the
sickness seemed to have disturbed her
friend, for after d moments silence she
said in4a slightly hushed voice:
Il hope yon 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. i
hear me daughter Mamie's step on the
stairs Wait till We see what a fine big
gyurl she's grown. Good avenin' to
ye, miss" cried Mrs. Bertelii as the
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, ! wtouldn't know you
II | met you on the street." exclaimed
Mrs. Mnlligan. You've grown SO tall
and handsome. You've got your
fathers big black eyes and curly raven
locks, and the beautiful rosy checks
your mother brought wild her from the
ould dart"
'iShe's roster than usual this aven-
In" said Mrs. Bertilli. Amt ye
feelin' well, acushla2 Why, yer hand
Is burnin'."
.I'm not very well tonight, nanny.
I've had a 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 stihin' they do
give the girls the headache to be IN
thin all day." said the girls mother.
II couldn't eat or drink, nanny.
I'll rest awhile on the bed, I'll see you
again before you leave, Mrs. Multi
gan" and Mamie passed into the bed
room
"lt's Q fever she has, Maggie" wills.
PeIeu MrA MpillRant dnd as soon as
Tony comes in you'd betther sind for
the docthor. Now, it's gettin' late" she
continued, thinking about little Tim,
who wasn't as hardy as he might be-
and the possibilities of Mamie's fever
proving contagious. Its gettin' late,
and have a long journey afore me, Sc
I'll be goin'. Be sure now and come
up and see us soon"
"Ye've taken the heart out q me,
Mary Ann. wild Yer talk about fayer.
That gyurl's the apple 3, me eye, an II
innything was TO happen I oyher, God
help me. don't know what'ds become
q me- An her father. poor man. hi.
heart an souls wrapped up in her
There never vas a bettheF young won
an or . bctther daughter. Why. sh,
spint the best part Of her nights tindin