The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-25
ONE BEGGAR's ARREST.
A Case Showing How Charity suGereth Lenl
and IL Blind.


and Is Blind.
Charity suffereth long and is blind. On Tues
day Q woman stood at the corner of Twenty
second street and Sixth avenue holding In her
arms a 4-year-old child. She was dressed in
q shabby black gown and jacket and wore .
black scarf tied over her head. She looked pale
and tired, and many a light-heartod feminine
shopper dropped a coin in her hand for tho
child's sake as we'll as for the poor woman's,
and with an added inner warmth a Of the Christ
mas feeling hurried on home. The next morn
ing these good Samaritans doubtless read
with horror and anger that an agent OF
the Society for tho Prevention Of Cruel
ty to Children had arrested tho woman
and refused to withdraw his charge
against her at the station house, although
earnestly solicited to do 30 by a fashionable
woman who had been interested In the case BY
ths so5otng Of the iae, beg TEn fh, tie street = . ear w While
Of by the society and the woman was locked up
in q cell. after stating that her husband was sick
driven her out to ask charity. She said also
that she had another little one @ years old at
home: who was doubtless I crying Ing, for osn fo o malt q
heart Of stone, but tho agents heart was not
touched. SO II must have been formed Of q
Police Court the sympathetic intercedor had a
lawyer. who succeeded in getting the woman
husband, who was not too sick to be on b nd.
and procured him a job at SO a week and board.
The kind lady purchased two dolls for the chill
dren, and the little family went home rejoicing.
Another woman was interested enough In the
case to call At the o%eggar's house that morning
family. They had not yet returned from tho
court. but the landlady, a voluble, good.souled
creature, met her at the door and showed the
caller up tho stairs TO the quarters OF the
"They seem to DO in trouble to-day" said the
landlady. " and I'm right sorry for them, though
/ can't understand 1t at all. The two little girls
oldest one goes to school to the Sister, T..
"Well. 1 don't know as I can say, She do
s Ssna l Is q f { s'fSS safi, ESHI1S Ts'% man, t soe. 'Ai BUT aa' I
don't know as can say anything about it."
a bedsteSd well Clothed, a cooking stove. table.
sink and cupboard. On the cupboard shelves
Ussfae sss sSs;t SI oaksdi l{ Rrss eoffss aS Sit tes' On a the
long piece Of silk ribbon, bright and pretty. BE:
mems black clothing, carefully, creased, and
pressed. Two comfortable clio ks hung b~esideit.
THAT looks like . warm garment. and very
respectable" said the visitor to tho landlady.
then ] amt e%rudginE nobody nothing"
Eyes. indeed; 80 far l have"
The family returned at that moment; the chill
a dlEa rushing iqt 3i,,I. Y a ahead cod, with III, their cir 3; do n q
hoods and woollen Tam O Shanters. from which
their long yellow hair escaped picturesquely.
They were chubby, red-cheeked children, and
frolicked on tho bed with their new toys. The
woman was close behind them. and breathlessly
announced to the landlady that she had been
arrested, much as one might say he had been
and looked rather Shamefaced whom he saw a
stranger. He wore a good black suit, and looked
healthy and hardy. The couple seemed vel
matched in good looks and well.being, neither
-fFI'm al Fight now" he said rather sulkily
i've got a Job and | guess our troubles over
Didn't you know that II you let your wife &c
out on tho street to beg she was liable to arrest
We'll. we had TO do something."' he replied
"And l guess we can manage now
"How did you spend tho night T. tho mother
was asked.
mot very comfortably. 1t was an ordinary
cell with Just a bench to sleep on. j was som,
worried. but guessed 1t would come. out al
right. Children. get out Of the way with YOU
dolls; / must cook some dinner"
Tho visitor took the hint TO clear out. thinking
as she quilted the house of a shop girl who hat
lost her place the day before and said there wer,
only two things for a woman in her position t.
| do, and as her conscience wouldn't permit tn,
one she was seriously considering the other.