The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1895-12-30


in her arms seated in the midst of a little
load OF broken and faded furniture, in front
of No. 2O23 Eighth street. attracted a
crowd of syInpathizing neighbors at noon
Saturday.
The story of poverty and woe told itself
and 81 o was quickly raised to pay the rent
and put the little family back into the
rooms In the wretched tenement, which
had served them for a home.
The woman was Mrs. Mary Cleveland,
and one OF her little ones, w hen asked her
name, answered Ruth. Mrs. Cleveland had
been sick ever since the baby was born, and
only the night before the doctor had called.
Driven into the chill, damp air of the De-
! cember day, she was In imminent danger
of death, both to herself ard her baby
She sat weeping bitterly, while her neigh
Dor, Mrs. Roby OF No. 2Ol7 Eighth street
talked with ncighbors and passers-by. and
took their contributions. The amount soon
reached $40, and the constable agreed, for
thatsamount, TO let her furniture be moved
back, and the poor woman put to bed. The
subscriptions came from all Sides from a
nickel up to a dollar The clerks at Gar
denis store and the policemen at the
Eighth precinct gave most.
This morning other contributions were
coming in, and at 8 clock Mrs. Roby had
a dollar and ten cents to buy food and medi-
cine. None OF the charitable organizations
in the city had heard OF the case and no help
has SO far come from any OF them. This
OF itself is proof that the family is deserv-
ing and has been making proud fight
against overwhelming adversely.
HELPED BY NEIGHBORs.
Mrs. ROXY last week knew that the little
band We're in desperate straits for fuel
and food, and without their knowledge
went TO the Eighth precinct and got an
order for some coal and groceries. Mrs.
Taylor, who lives in the same house with
the Clevelands, had also managed to give
them some assistance from her own scanty
store bat the family had suffered to the
verge OF death without crying out for pity
and help in lie name OF common hu-
manity.
They had lived in the ncighborhood only
two months, and only those Immediately
next them knew them at all. They rented
the house of a real estate agent. He sent
for his money. They hadn't il. Mr.. Cleve-
land hoped TO get work and pay. He had
been employed with Stevenson's express
business, but had not the strength to do the
work and was discharged. He has since
been looking IN every direction for Work.
The Oldest boy, a little fellow ten years
old, brought in little money by selling
papers, The father tramped the streets,
hoping with faint heart, and came
back with nothing. There were five mouths
To feed. He starved himself without know
Ing il. TO leave more for his sick wife. and
the little children who cried sometimes with
hunger, and could not understand why
mamma didn't give IL, III bread.
Those were pitiful days Of beartbreak
for her. A little heart lay beating near her
own, and she halted between satisfying her
own intense hunger for the sake OF her
unborn babe, giving TO the little ones beg
ging at her knee or forcing her poor hus-
band to eat more that he might have
strength to go out and plead for i chance
to make a living.
REDUCED To PERJURY.
Finally Mrs. Cleveland was confined.
Every cent they could get from where
was required 10 pay for medicines and suit
able food, with nothing left TO feed the
other members OF the family. Coal must
be got. Mrs. Taylor helped, Mrs. Roby
helped. Other neighbors sent in littls
hui they had not much for themselves, AID
all were so driven with work they had not
time to go and ask help from the charities.
Resides nObody felt like doing this as long
as Mr.. Cleveland was too proud to go bini-
self Finally Mrs. Roby, seeing the des-
perate need of the almostfamishing woman,
with the baby Juggling at her breast, went
to the police and got little relief.
But now two months rent was due. The
family had notice TO quit the premises. II
was in due legal form, cold and cruel
They could no more raise the necessary SIT
| for two months rent than they could turn
the rickety gate into gold by touch. The
hours flew till the last moment limit or
the notice from Mr.. Shreve's constable
| arrived. They had no answer to his demand
| and he set them out in the street in front
| of the house.
As the crowd gathered plying hearts
supplied the immediate need. Tile public
knows OF the dire need that had come upon
| these faithful souls. The father and mother
| have n bitter memory OF unmcrited shame
| TO hand down to their children and another
sermon is preached against the great heart
less struggle OF man against man that rolls
up It's unseen hundreds OF similar cases in
this land of the free and the home of the
brave every day.
And it Goes on till the story shall have
been told So often the fight will change
TO a struggle of man for man in brotherly
love, according to Christ's teaching, and this
sort of woe shall cease from earth.