The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-17


an airing. There must be a dozen
babies, with mother apiece, and they
all board the car AT once. But 1t
doesn't take long 10 discover that this is
no chartered charity-simply home
made affair, so to speak, or neighbor-
hood fresh air mission.
After the days heat the touch of that
breeze in your face is a God-send and
you revel in it in silence on the reserved
rear seat. But the dozen mothers voice
their approval above the din OF wheels
and brakes, aud the dozen babies keep
keep up a Growing accompaniment all
on their own part.
And your meditation was somewhat
thus: Child in arms, no fare; adult fare,
one dime. Three months, 80 days-90
days; one ride a day, 30 rides-dime a
ride, nine dollars. Nine dollars for car
fares versus twenty-five dollars for
baby carriage. Comfort for two
versus the same for one only
After travelling miles indoors, from cell
lar 10 pantry and sink to store, it can't
be very restful to start out at p. IN.
and push heavy baby carriage q mile
or two. But there's no question as TO
the value of an outing for the mothers
and the little folk.
What lovely breeze! Do you know
this is the first time I've had a chance TO
sit down today? Ironing's awful hot
work in summer. isn't it?-lnd SO tedious
being on your feet at the board, too!
JOHNNY burned himself dreadfully on
the flat-iron stand this morning. Yes
put vaseline right on"-etc., etc. But
the rest Of the conversation you lose in
another fit of meditation.
You've been sitting at desk all day
with an electric fan over your head and
grumbling about the heat. JENNIE at
home has been standing over steaming
ironing board, and you expect smile
from the sheltering door upon your re-
turn And getting away from the
personal force of that thought you wax
philanthropic and give thought to the
tenement-house population. What
treat an open-car ride would be to them!
What noble charity to provide such an
outingl
This generous mood sets your pulses
beating and you so far forget yourself
as TO ride half q dozen blocks beyond
your customary white post. You pre-
pare hastily to disregard the warning
legend staring you in the face
on the seat just in front. The
conductor sees you, jerks the rope,
and the car slows up. On the curbstone
where you alight crouches one of the
sister-mothers with
child almost as large as herself in her
lap There is an open car approaching
from the direction opposite to the
one whence you lately arrived. You
hail it, shove a dime into MAGGIE's
grimy fist, put her on board and hand
her the cherub charge, whisper a direc-
tion in her astonished ears, and the car
whizzes off. while you take short cut
home through the by-ways.
Arrived under your own vine and fig
tree there is the welcoming smile, sure
enough, and some iced lemonade which
you appreciate fully % much. And as
you drink it you explain to JENNIE how
you happened to be footing it from the
particular quarter whence you appeared
q moment since-not forgetting to pic
lure, graphically, your little beggar
protege.
But JENNIEs mind takes wild leap
nto the future. "'It was lovely Of you,
ROB, to do it. but suppose she has a
brutal father and he beats her for going
IF and not bringing him the money you
rave her."
You refuse to consider yourself re-
ponsible to that point, and say so, add
ng as JENNIE refills your glass: "If it's a
ase of brutal father, he'll beat her any
way, very likely I'm glad braced her
Up for it with that ride-and here's
o the electric versus the perambulatorw