The morning times., 1897-01-19
MRS. CARROLL ASKS WORK
Her Husband Is i'm Jail and She
Without Support.
NO ONE ABLE TO HELP HER
Her Baby Needs Her Constant At
tention, So She Cannot Go Out.
She Is an Expert Boxmaker and
Would Be Glad to Have Work
Sent to Her House.

One square above the Seventh street car
line terminus is a small house, No. 2o42.
IL was not a cheerful neighborhood to
visit at 10 O'Clock Saturday night. There
was a misty drizzie that made the pave
ments mucky and shut the sky from view.
The street lamps burned diInly under the
blurred glass, and each shop on the Strag
Cling street was closed but one that had a
red light aud a shutter door. AT the curb
a pathetically patient white horse waited
for his master inside. 1t was the only
living creature on the street, except a
draggled out old dame with a basket, who
Topped up her skirts at every step. The
basket gave her n lop-sided shape, that
showed its weight, and the reporter,
being of a gregarous turn of mind, offered
To share her burden SO long as their way
lay together. The offer was declined
without thanks.
To get to No. 2042 was to plunge into a
black sea OF shadows that engulfed the
walled-in porch. Nothing short of second
sight could have located the doorbell, so
there was nothing better TO DO than
knuckle a tattoo on the door, which was
opened eventually by young lnan in his
shirt sleeves. He was a kindly-faced,
nice-mannered young man, and in answer
TO the reporters inquiry for Mrs. Carroll,
politely led the way up the rickety stair
way and pointed to her door. This door
was opened promptly by young woman
in black frock, with tumbled mass OF
brown hair curling about her shoulders.
Il have called to see Mrs. Carroll an
nounced the reporter, by way of social
g.as I
is in trouble, and 1 want to help her, if L
cam
We'll, am Mrs Carroll she answered,
with an apology for her loose gown and
flowing train, and then she invited her
visitor into the room, which was heated
by a kitchen stove and lit by a clean,
cheerful little lamp. The floor showed for
its recent scrubbing. the cheap sidcboard
was tastefully arranged with glassware,
and on Il sofa, cuddled up in a blanket, was
a baby sucking its fist.
The two women made friends over the
youngster, and the little mother, who would
be pretty and attractive with happier sur
roundings, told how her troubles came
about.
Il wouldn't be il this fix if my husband
were here she explained with wifely 10y
atty. but you see, he is locked up for
fighting
That's bad, isn't it?''
Its awful. You see, it was like this:
My husband worked for Mr.. Watts, and
when business got slack he laid him off
Then my husband heard that Mr.. Watts had
said he had dismissed him for cause, and he
went TO see him about it. That started
them To fighting and my husband was put
in Jail. The lawyer was here yesterday
and said he might get bond, but | guess he
didn't, else my husband would be home"
She seemed very grateful for the food
and clothing that had been given her by
the ladies who first discovered her con-
dition, and does not hesitate to declare
that her people are too poor to help her.
She has received only temporary relief,
and as she cannot leave her siX-wccks-old
baby to go out to work, the reporter tried
to plan with her how she could support
herself and little one until her husband is
freed from Jail.
Before her marriage Mrs Carroll worked
five years at her trade of box making, and
she says that it is work that can be done
at home. During the half hour that the re-
reporter stayed the baby cried a great
deal.
1T is very fretful," sighed the little
mother, as she rocked it in her arms. You
see, 1 grieve so day and night that it af-
fects nay nursing, and 1 can't afford to
buy milk
Mrs. Carroll says that she has absolutely
no one to help her. Her father is an old
man with nine children to support, and her
sister is the only other member in the
family who is earning money. Her hus-
bands case has gone to the grand jury, and
it may be months before he stands his trial
In the meantime he will stay in jail. and
afterward, possibly, be sent to prison.
She understands her trade, and if some
box manufacturer will give her employ
ment she can be self-sustaining instead of
being indebted to charity that might
better be bestowed on those too old or
too feeble to work
When the reporter started for the down
town car the red light still burned before
the shutter doer and the white horse still
waited for its master.