The diamond drill., 1894-09-15
MILES GREEN PEAS.
The Part Thoy Played In the
Scheme of Human Events.

y
old. Her mother was very poor, and
sewed for her living in two small
rooms OF a dingy New York house not
far from East Broadway. One bright
day In summer, day that made even
the shabby and dirty street seem
pleasant because OF the breeze and
sunshine that were blended there, Mil
lies mother said tothe chul:
You've been very good for three
whole days, and promised you that
II you didn't worry and fret me the
least bit for that length OF time you
should have something nice To eat ON
the fourth day"
Millie jumped for Joy. Her blue
eyes glittered. and the red lips curled
away from her tiny white teeth in a
glorious little smile. Even in her
coarse gown she was very pretty, and
II she had been arrayed like some of
the children who then were romping
In the uptown parks, watched by their
careful nurses, with her yellow floss
OF hair neatly combed and daintily be-
ribboned, you might even have paused
and said OF her: How beautiful
childl"
81 guess what it is!" she cried Its
green peasl It's green peasl'
"Yes," said her mother; ''and
shelled them on the sly, and they'll
soon DC cooked. And thercH be po-
tntocs, too, with some ment left over
from yesterday. The meat will be
cold, for I haven't got time with my
sewing, 10 heat IL. But two hot veg
ctables, Miilic. think Of that And
now you can run ont into the street
for little while, and when you come
In Ill have everything ready. But
mind you don't stay long, and remem-
Der not 10 pass the corner.
To pass the corner meant to invade
the great hustle and breadth OF the
thoroughfare near by. Millie would
not have dared 70 do that, even If She
had desired. She simply trottod along
the pavemcnts OF her particular block
just as she bad done countless times
before.
The merry wind blew back her sillxen
hair below the ragged brim of her hat
with its one old crumpled scarlet rose
nodding on the crown.
She was going 10 have green peas
for dinner, and she was magni6cently
happy.
Certain residents of the street knew
her. and smiled To her from their
doorways. To some OF these, as she
tripped along, she would say, with n
mellow little laugh: We're going To
have green peas for dinner"
Some answered her laugh rather
coldly. Others answered it in n
humancr way. Still others gave her n
sigh of pity. They were all poor peo-
pie, but there were grades i'm their
poverty, self-importancc and pride.
Soon she reached grim, ramshncklc
tavern in the middle OF the block.
From its door big man with n puffed,
purplish face had just emerged. Be
side him was u thin, frail boy, with
sunken checks. The man had gripped
the boys sleeve, and his frown was
full of threat.
go homc," he Rrowled, ''and tell
your mother that IL she sends ye here
ngin when Pm tnlsin' q sociable glass,
I'll send We back 20 her with the life
beat half out o. you, SO / willw
The boy gave n faint cry of pain.
| His fathers hand had clutchcd bruis-
ingly what slight flesh there was ON
his fragile arm.
Mile came TO standstill, and
stared innocently into the mans face.
"Im going 20 have green peas for
dinner" she said. 1--WE been good for
three whole days, and 1m going 10
have 'eml"
Here Millie put her head on one side
and critically surveyed the wan,
sunken-cheeked boy. II guess he'd
like some green peas for his dinner
guess he amt going To have any.
wish he was"
As she danced away, with faint
hum of song on her lips and the breeze
blowing her bright hair, the eyes OF
the bloated man followed her. His
hand dropped from tho himsy sleeve
of the boy and presently IL slipped
into one of his own pockets.
"You said there wasn't anything
home to cat? lie drew out half dol
lar and gave IL TO the boy. That's all
I've got left, but it'll buy something,
/ won't take no more drink to-day.
guess can work off this spree before
tomorrow mornin'. Go home an tel
yer mother | said that Hurry, now
an Ill trudge on after ye."
The pale boy, with his coin close
graspcd In one weak hand, hastencd
down the street. He knew too vel
his fathers good resolvcs--how soor
they melted In air. But at least thC
awful want from which he and his lit
tie sister and his sick mother were al
three suffering would bo appoased fol
short time.
Fifty cents meant so much Ter
cents would buy lots OF bread. Twenty
cents would buy a good deal Of meat
And then there would be twenty cents
left. And that for tomorrow might
stave of actual starvation at least an
other day.
As he thought this thought the pal,
boy, speeding 20 his miserable homo {
few streets away, blessed that same