The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-08-04

Maybe, " replied the girl sullenly.
al run risk. but l will take my
chances. | can't see the children get
whittier and whittier and stand by and
not give them something. No, shall
steal everything can; / am going TO
commence tomorrow il the boys
come home without work tonight. I"
What do you do all day." l ask
ed several people as they walked aim
lessly along the walk or pushed ILL
naturedly~yeryone who happened 10
come in contact with them.
" wash, said one, when | can
get il 20 do" II sew for the shop
girls who live in the next block" II
don't do anything but mind the chill
dren," said another whose face was
ashen white, and her eyes went far
back into her head. Her hair was un-
combed, and the child in her arms
cried loudly.
What is the matter with it,"
Il don't know. Ii was born so.
The landlord wants his rent, and we
want something TO eat. can't do
anything on account Of the baby"
Il am blind, said an old man, who
came along, feeling with his cane,
every now and then yelling out two
or three lines OF song for the benefit
OF the poverty-stricken mass about
him,
why do you sing here? Surely
you don't get much money in this
part?''
YES, do, ma'am. The childers are
free with their pennies, and sometimes
get three cents, and once / got
FIVE"
A colored girl held tight to her
bosom tiny colored baby.
lis il sick?" / asked. "Oh, no,
ma am. 1t stays out all day with me.
Mamma stays home and works, and
keeps the baby out all day, and
don't go in except TO eat. Ii is well,
but We have to keep out of the house
as much as possible" d."
Invent inside and walked through
TO some of the rear houses.
How are you spending your Sum
mer?" was the question | put to all
who allowed me TO visit them.
1--WE stay right here and try to
keep the little ones alive" was the
! general answer. On an average the
faces of the children were haggard
and sallow; the old women were
shriveled and dark, the middle-aged
women unhappy and disconsolate
Thousands Of mothers and children
are taking advantage OF the fresh-air
! excursions, and there Is no doubt
that many lives are saved by the
chance they get for bath-a luxury
which would be of greater service TO
many than money.
As the sun went down the spirit s
Of the poor people seemed 10 rise.
Fathers appeared with small bundles
| hugged closely under their arms.
Mothers smiled and the faces lost the
hard -begone look babies stopped
their whining and moaning, and now
and then soft coo! goo! goo!
| brought bright look into the face OF
everybody who heard it. Boys
played marbles and girls iackstones.
Little tots from TO 4 played ring
! around-a-roSy ana screamed Win de-
light as they broke circle and tum-
bled in heap into the gutter. A
policeman, with his bright buttons
cleaning, walked through the first
street visited and began to tell OF
Finnley, the newsboy, who had just
| died OF sunstroke. Immediately
every little face grew solemn, jack
stones were dropped, marbles for
gotten, the supper delayed, and every
ear was attentive and every heart
beating with the sympathy that only
the poor feel for each other.
The Little Mothers pressed the
baby sisters closer, the boys linked
arms, and a big boy sought the fat
hand Of his smaller brother and
clasped it afrectionately in his dirty
fingers. Fathers grew thoughtful,
and there was the unspoken thought
in every face. "WEo will 90 next,
wonder?" as they listened sorrow
fully to the sad story OF Finnley.-
[Pocahontas, in n. Y. Recorder.