The morning times., 1896-01-05
MAYER BROS. & CO.,
e37 and o3o F ST. N. W.

her share toward feeding the many mouths
and covering the many little bodies, ana
ali day long, through all these years, she
has sat and sewed with her mother with
never a days outing For not a single day
through all the hot weather has she
breathed the fresh air or rested her weary
eyes upon the tender blue and green or the
country, until the long confinement and
bad air have completely stuDted her growth
and ruined her health, SO that when called
upon her last, found her quite too Ill ana
listless to even take any interest in Santa
Claus or what he might have in store for
her. Her only longing is TO get into the
country, and the doctor says that that
might cure her. IL
But people living in the country willing
to take children at all want bright,
healthy, happy little children, and not
poor, bent, stunted little Lenas. She
eats almost nothing now, and the great
deep circles under her eyes and hack
ing cough tell that she may soon go to
the far, fair country, where we hope that
at least nothing SO internal as sweat shops
have an existence.
But happily the child spirit is something
too potent to be easily exttaguished. In
spite or inconsid crate lodgers and her
miserable cotton dress little Marie Tralla
always comes to Sunday school, her face
beanling with smiles; and dolls and toys
| are quite as welcome gifts in these homes
as essential garments and non-essentiai
hats. Indeed these children or the tene-
ments are as brimful Of the mothers
instinct as the children OF more fortu-
nate homes who count their imported
| infants by the dozen. As, for instance, one
day found our two-year-old Tessa tending
| with most loving carea barrelstavew wrapped
in a towel By the aid OF her vivid imagin-
ton this improvised doll seemed to answer
all practical purposes but one could not but
fancy with what beatIfic smile she would
greet real live doll"
HAPPY INFLUENCES.
Aside from the educational influence, 1t
isimpossible toestimate what kipderg artens
sewing schools, children's hour, etc., signify
In the lives OF these little ones. without
glimpse into their homes. Most OF these
tenement homes consist OF but two rooms
one a dark bedroom and tie other little
larger room, In which the family cook, eat
sleep, wash, iron, and ltve--ftft De nviug.
And as these tenements are built absolutely
without cupboard or closet. tubs, pals,
wood, pots and kettles, rubbish and what
ever poor articles the unfortunate family
may possess are In evidence But as one
poor woman said, they never have money
enough to buy more than one meal ahead,
and often not that, SO they do not need any
cupboard for food. II tue home chances TO
be one of those horrors. q rear tenement,
tucouiy
is the rear OF another tenement with moth
ing between but the never ending clothes
lines. tin cans, rags, and the rubbish in gen.
eral that constitutes the hack door property
of the poor.
To step from these homes into u mission
sewing school was indeed going into an
other country. Here all was bright, warm,
CHEEKY. Little knots Of children were
grouped about some rcfiued, sweet-faced
woma n, whose geutle voice aud kind man.
ner was in itself a benediction. After the
sewing was over their child voices were
heard In concert reciting their creed:
"Clean hands, clean nails, clean faces tidy
hair and clean aprons"
And the second clause ''sit on low
chair 50 that the feet shall touch the floor,
the lap shall be level, the light come over
the LETT shoulder and the thread reach from
shoulder To shouldef.
Then young woman at the piano led
them in some Of those clever kindergarten
songs full Of pretty pantdmime as well as
charming melody.