Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-04-11

Special Correspondence of Gazette and Journal
NEW York, April 5.-I.'s pretty hard,
'wheniyou are only 10 years of age, to
stand. on the platform of great station
and see the train going out carrying on
1t a man whose name you bear, whom
you love dearly, but who can't wave |
"good-by" to you, because his hands are |
held together by strong iron cuffs. l
stood beside woman like that the other
day. Pretty, young and knowing more
of crime and wickedness than your girl
of 10 could even imagine. But this was
Peggy's story. met her fret when
they were having an entertainment on
/. the other side, with coffee, cakes and
sandwiches for refreshments. l was
helping deal out the coffee, and the de-
mands for it were quick and short.
Suddenly / saw Charley waving his
crutch at me, and so, leaving the coffee
service in charge of young man who
very Hospitality threatened to knock
"smithereens out o amy boy what gits
out o. line" l went to see why l was
wanted.
Charley whispered that, way in the
back of the hall there was girl who
was crying, and who hadn't come up to
get anything to eat. This is always
surprise on the other side, for the
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
seems to need constant attention in the
way of filling. l was soon beside the
girl, and found that she was pretty,
with that strangely refined beauty that
one sees often in an Irish girl. Her
clothes were poor, but she was clean
Her black hair was smooth as possible
but out of the big, blue eyes came the
great tear drops in quick succession.
After'a little questioning l found out
that she was crying because somebody
had sung an Irish song that reminded
her of home, and not only of home, but
of the people over there who loved her,
endabelieved she was as sweet and good
as when she left them. The next day
went to sec her. Her home here was rep
resented by small room in tenement
house, but it was home, for on the bed
lay the most beautiful blue-eyed baby
that ever cooed and laughed us if the
world was going to be good to it and all
was sunshine for it. looked at Peggy's
hand-there was no wedding ring on it.
But waited, for had no more right to
speak to her than l should have to up
braid a woman who lives in palace,
and who is just as human as poor Peggy.
AS the days went by, | got her some
sewing and gradually the story of Peggy
and the baby was told to me. She had
met "her man" at dance given by The
club to which he belonged-"Thc
Sneakers" whose motto was, properly
enough, "No matter what happens
sneak good time" Their idea of good
time wouldn't be yours and mine. That
night it consisted in fierce dancing
much drinking and a general scrimmagt
for windup. Tommy Calligan was til,
president, and from the minute he saw
Peggy he began to make love to her
She don't know how it all happened.
SHE KNEW SIZE LOVED HIM VERY MUCH
and she knew that one night, when tn,
"Sneakers" gave another dance she tool
her first drink OF whisky, and then sh
couldn't remember, until the womal
with whom she boarded said some thin
about Knockout drops. For littl
while she kept her situation, and the
the day came when she was discharged
and called all sorts of dreadful name
Tommy kept promising to make her a
honest woman. The day was set agai
and again, but every time he spok
about it, if there happened to be one c
the Sneakers" around, he would /
told he was fool, and he was wea
enough and vain enough to want
have reputation in his club for tough
ness and for being ga all.round maj
see ?"
Fortunately for poor Peggy, she hcal
of the loving kindness of the be
woman in the world-5ister Irene. 81
went to her, told her trouble, was take
in and cared for, for Sister Irene is II
living embodiment of the good samal
tan. The little baby was born thel
and after two months, Peggy can
down town again, bringing with he
God bless it! that blossom of bah
And because of it, and because of {
that Sister Irene had told her, s
meant TO try an live an honest lii
After good bit of trouble, found o
Tommy's address. | wrote note a.
asked him to come and see me, and
that afternoon only, | borrowed I
baby. Tommy Calligan is 22 years o
is strong and healthy, knows his traC
that OF plumber, and can always ma
a good living if he will work. He "
a steady, well-behaved boy, living wi
his mother and helping to support Ia
until he became acquainted with one
the Sneakers and was asked to jC
the club. He thought this was gr,
thing; that it made u man of him, 4
when he was elected president he
drunk for the first time in his life a
was taken to the police station for fig
ing. He drifted away from his moth
and the next bad thing on his life-bC
was his treatment OF Peggy. Yet
wasn't bad all through. He was OF
vain and foolish, and thought that to
man it was necessary to curse and
get drunk and to have poor opinion
women.
| took him in to look at our pipes
far as | knew, they were IN good ORC
but being plumber who understood
business, he quickly discovered le
While he was busy fixing it, came
WITH THE BABY II NY ARMS,
and, as will all babies do when they
man, it stretched out its tiny arms
cooed its desire to be taken by him.
handed it over, and, while he was a
A awkward, still an honest smile ca
4 over his face, and he asked its name.
IN "Tommy," said |.
n Again he smiled, squeezed it
tighter, aud said, in half shamed, |
proud way, That's my name,
Miss"
Then I asked: "Who do you thin
looks like =
And he answered; II don't KIN
ma'am."
l said: "Oh, it is like its father"
And ne said; "Who is he, ma am ?
~, 1,