The Bossier banner., 1894-09-06
MILES GREEN PEAS.
The Part They Played in the
Scheme Of Human Events.

Millie Mitchell was only six years
old. Her mother was very poor, and
sewed for her living in two small
rooms of dingy New York house not
ia. 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 to the child:
you've been very good for three
If 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
if 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 q
ehild.'
81 guess what it is!'' she cried. Its
green peas! It's green peasn
Yes" said her mother; land 1
shelled them on the sly, and they'll
soon be cooked. And there'l be po-
kofa Too la
from yesterday. The meat will be
cold, for | haven't got time with my
sewing, to heat It. But two hot veg
etables, Millie, think of that! And
now you can run out into the street
Tor Ettle while, and when you come
In I'll have everything ready. But
mind you don't stay long, and remem-
Der not to 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 to do that, even If she
had desired. She simply trotted along
the pavements Of her particular block,
just as she had done countless times
before.
The merry wind blew back her silken
hair below the ragged brim of her hat,
with its one old crumpled scarlet rose
nodding On the crown.
She was going to have green peas
for dinner, and she was magnifcently
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 a
mellow little laugh: Were going to
have green peas for dinner!''
Some answered her laugh rather
coldly. Others answered it in a
humaner way. Still others gave her a
sigh OF pity. They were all poor peo-
pie, but there were grades in their
poverty, self-importance and pride.
Soon she reached grim, ramshackle
tavern in the middle of the block.
from its door big man with puffed,
purpllsh face had just emerged. Be-
slde him was thin, frail boy, with
sunken cheeks. The man had gripped
Ine boys sleeve, and his frown was
irli of threat
20 home," he growled. land tell
your mother that if she sends We here
agln when I'm takin' a sociable glass,
send ye back to her with the life
oeat half out O. you, so / will!''
Inc boy gave a faint cry of pain.
dis fathers hand had clutched truis-
.ngly what slight flesh there was on
MS fragile arm.
Willie came to a standstill, and
ssared innocently into the mans face.
:, I'm going to have green peas for
uinner!' she said. "Fve been good for
snree whole days, and I'm going to
have 'em!"
here Millie put her head on one side
ana critically surveyed the wan,
ss.a,nken-cheeked p, boy. Il guess he'd
liAe some green peas for his dinner. /
guess ne amt going TO have any. I
wish he was"
As she danced away. with a faint
~ luz OF song on her lips and the breeze
DaoWing her bright hair, the eyes of
l'e oioated man followed her. His
= uu dropped from the himsy sleeve
- the boy and presently it slipped
'u'o one of his own pockets.
lou said there wasn't anything
O'ne 70 eat? He drew out half dol
al ana gave it to the boy. That's all
se got left but it'll buy something.
won take no more drink to-day. |
.Isss can work off this spree before
WNoFsow nernia', Ge homs an tell