St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-10
M|NAIE'S MOTHER.
The Question Is, Was ninnie to
Blame? =

corner of Seventh and Chestnut. NV work
compelled me to stay downtown till nearly
twelve every night, and when it was not
storming always walked home for the sake
OF the exercise, and to enjoy the quiet of the
streets, for despite popular rumor to the
contrary, some Philadelphia streets are as
much crowded in the daytime as those Of
New York
Three nights every week. and USUALLY about
half-past eleven, ! always saw tail. shabbiy
dressed girl of fifteen or sixteen standing
near Spruce and Broad streets. with her
hand extended for aims, though she never
spoke unless spoken to.
The first time saw this girl there was a
cold wind blowing, and her pinched face and
thin, frayed cotton dress attracted nv atten-
uon and touched my heart, and though had
vowed that would never help street beggars.
as nearly all of them are impostors, I de-
cided to help this poor girl, but before doing
So asked:
"What is your name?"
Minnie, sir,'' she replied, in a weak. tren-
ulous voice.
"But why do you beg on the streets at this
time of night?" asked, as 1 took a coin from
my pocket. and held it over her thin. trem-
bling hand.
My mothers got consumption said the
girl, and she coughed as if she had the awful
disease herself, and added, "and have to-
nurse her in the daytime, and then don't
want her to know how get money!
But why do you not make your case known
to the doctors or clergy, or other kind peo-i
pie; there are many ready to assist you if
you go to them and tell them the TRUTH"
IL don't know, sir" she stammered.
gave the girl the coin, blaming myself the
next minute for having violated my vow and
almost certain that the girl had not told me-
the truth.
The weather having moderated, wore a
lighter coat a few nights after this, and Min
ME came across my path with the same thin
hand extended, and forgetting that she had
told me her story, she varied it by adding
two little sisters to her list of dependents.
gave her nothing, and after that Iwatched
out for her and avoided her. OnceI thought
seriously of calling an officer and having her
arrested, but am very glad now that did
not do SO.
About four months after my first meeting
Minnie, was startled by seeing her before
me, with the same thin hand extended. and
the same faded calico dress hanging limp
over her attenuated form. But there was a
great change in her. 1t was the same face.
the sad, pleading gray eyes, and thesdehcate
blue lips were the same but instead of being
tall, she had shrunk into a girl of twelve, and
not very well grown at that
"Why, Minnie" asked in surprise. "what
has changed you so.''
"Please, Sill" responded the lew, tremulouS
voice, 81 amt Minnie -
mo mot s Minnis'" exclaimed. q.
'sThen you are her ghost"
"No, sir, I'm her sister, said the chffd;
"but we all look like ghosts at times. T
guess"
She then went on to tell me that her father
died many years before, and that her mother.
died six months ago, and that Minnie, on
whom depended the support OF Alice-the
girl talking to me--and a younger brother,
was in bed sick, and she did not think she
could live.
I gave Alice some money and took her adj
dress. The next morning told my aunt-a
most philanthropic woman-of the case and
she said she would look it up at once, and if
the people were worthy she would see that
all their wants were relieved.
The next day I met my aunt and she
said
cit is as I feared about that girl" -,
"What do you mean?" asked.
"Why, went to the address you gave me
and found no such people, nor could learn
anything about Them
I was puzzled and mortified, but my good
aunt solved my doubts by saying:
81 will call at your office at eleven tonight.
This girl will be begging on the streets as
usual. We shall see her, and if she does not
take us to her home, then it may be well to
report the case to the police
I agreed to this, and that night my aunt,
called for me, and we went to the place
where I always saw Minnie, and where
Alice was now appealing to the charity of the
beated.
We looked and searched for fully an hour.
but could not find the girl.
eve must try it again tomorrow night"
said my aunt, who was not the woman to
undertake thing and give up beaten while
there was any hope of success.
We tried it the next night, and with moro
success, for we came at once upon Alice
with her pinched face and her extended thin
hand.
Speaking kindly, but firmly, my aunt said:
cit is evident, my poor child, that you are
suffering and need help and sympathy, and
you shall have both; but first you must take
me to your home and let me see for myseh
how you live.'
The little girl was very much frightened,
but my aunt, with her kindly, womany ways,
soon won her over and she agreed to take us
to her home.
She led us to a dirty, dimly-lit alley-way a
few streets to the east, and into dim hall
way, and up a creaking stairs to the top
floor, the sound of painful coughing from
above growing louder and louder.
At length the child opened a door, and
ushered us into a little room, where tallow
candle burned. On ragged coverlet little
boy lay asleep, and on the bed that half-tiIied
the room lay my old friend Minnie, with the
bright light in her eyes and the hectic
death banners OF consumption on. her
sunken cheeks.
The story was this, the mother had died
some six months before, and her last words
were plea to Minnie to keep her brother
and sister together. Believing that the ''sick
mother" would be the best card to play, the
poor girl had kept up the falsehood after her
mother was dead, in order to care for the
brother and sister.
Need 1 say that Minnie was forgiven her
deceit? Indeed, there were many moist eyes
when her story became known. Need say
either that the poor girl was well cared for in