Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-03
THE PHEEBLE CASE.

The sun WIS shining full into Cherry
alley, and such Of tho inhabitants us had
energy crawlcd out to tho llagstoife pave
mont to enjoy tho warmth.
Better look out goin up them steps
There's water split I'LL the way up and 1t IS
froze over AMI dangerous III tho dark, I"
said II tenant who was coming out of one
OF tho houses to the district missions visit
ors about to enter.
Water split Why, TO they carry the
water up in buckctsl' asked the trained
nurse.
"Right about now they do. Tho pipes
nll out Of FIX, and no sign of gcttin it in
shnpe soon. Everybody goes to tho ground
floor for water. Yes, it's pretty tough
lug up to tho top flat"
The women acknowledged tho warming
md then picked thcir way cautiously up
tho narrow stairs to IL door at tho top Of
tho tall tenement.
"Gnod morning, Mr.. Phcebln. How arc
the vito and baby?" tho nurse nsks ms tho
door Is opened 10y II tall man wearing IA
yellow oyercoat and slouch Int.
Pretty well, lnn'an. Como In to the
fro, says tho master Of tho apartment,
and he Immediately steps out of 1t, II cir
cumstnnCo that Is fortunate, as there are
only two vacant seats md little room for
movement.
'Tho buby is bettcr?'' is tho nurses first
inquiry, glancing ut the bundle of wrap
pings in tho mothers arms.
"Oh, yes, 1na'am, II good deal" uncov.
cring tho infants face, Il proceeding Mt
which 1t wakes to protest, only to be
hushcd ut the brcnst.
well, how arc you getting on, Mrs.
l'heeblc5 Got my work, you or your hus-
bnnd."
Mrs. Phoebe shakes her head. "IIe
nlnt likely to get none" sho says TO-
spondcntly. clio tramps round carly and
late tryin to find Il job, but it seems ns IL
hos In poor streak Of luck. could get
II good place tomorrow, to do wnshin by
tho dry, but there UNIT nobody to leave the
baby with
Tho crcchc-tho day nursery" it is
suggested promptly.
'Thcy won't take any baby rs young ms
mine" says Mrs. Phccblo. IL won't To
two that's nenr the place could got work
ut, but there wasn't II chance
How old is tile baby now"
'Six weeks. They say they cant takc
children under 10 months. They uro too
much trouble
The nurse was thoughtful for moment
~ suppose your boy hero could not look
inter tho baby while you wore out?" sho
vont,lrcd.
ooh. no, I couldn't trust him. Besides
he's niln good deal, and when it's SO
that he Gun go like to send him to school.
He couldn't go today because he's got
such u cold"
Tho pnsty faced boy standing back of the
stove moved uncasily in tho conscious way
Of II child who finds himself tho subject of
conversation.
g las he got an oycrcoat?" WAS asked
Yes, but no can't get into it. It's too
lIttlo for him.
And rubbcrs?"
Eyes. but there's hoo in tho heel of
'cm. l WIS thinkin to got 'cm mcndcd
some way"
Arc you certain you could get work,
Mrs Phcrble?" asked tho other visitor,
who had snt silent In tho midst of these
dismal rcckonings.
Yes, imam, I've got u good reference
from tho people worked with four years,
and l could 90 hack there tomorrow
And your husband cant get work."
"No; no tries hard, but ho can't get
mono. He's in Il strcuk of bad luck"
well. then, why not got him to tuke
care of tho bnby while you 20 out to
work."
The mothers face is a study ale
wouldn't Ito it, nn'nm. lIo don't like
babies much, and this one Is llncomnonly
cross long Of hnyin tho thrash. Mr..
Phecbln never was no hand at tcndin
round the house matters"
The nurse engages to SEQ If some ar.
rangcmcnt cannot bo made by which the
bnby may bu taken caro- of anu tho mother
loft ut liberty TO work.
II hope you lntios will excuse things, I"
says Mrs Phccbo, cheering mp bit and
CHANGING around her very disurdcrly apart
lnent. Il mint had no heart to clean w
none yet today"
And very likely she had not There was
that In the air of the stut1y apartment cal
culntcd to strHnglo impulse Of nny kind
except tho almost Irresistible desire tC
ling some OF tho supcrtuous tides and
Kimcrncks ont Of tho window or into tn,
stove, to wash tho place, give tho wailinR
baby bath ind some fresh clean wrap.
pings, scrub tho rnsty faced boy likewise
md pin shawl round him and set him
out III tho sunny alley whore ho might
breathe somo pure air. But tho thought
arose, how could tho woman do this each
day with the only available water fnthons
below nor flight of stairs and an irute
lnndlady urging her for rent and threaten
AhR eSpulSlon lDtGSS III WAS lOl Incoming.
But sho'll surely not turn you out In
such bitter weather rs this" says the
nurse. She shunt do it.
Baby's mother shakes her head, uncon
WINGED. ~ couldn't wonder If sho did. =
She admits. "Accortlin to tho landlndy't
story, she's got this big house rented on
her hands, and II she ain't able to pay hon
landlord when no comes round he amt
goin to ask reasons why her money mint
rendy. l owe her three months rent now,
count Of hayin been sick SO much of and
on and the bnby comm just in the midst
of Mr.. Pheeble's bad streak of luck. II
scoms like one gets moro and more behind
hand instead of guin forward, and the
lAndlntlys patience is most to tho ond. !"
Tho visitors say encouraging words md
promise that by the next day or tho dizzy
after succor shall como in one form or an.
other.
1t is very cold day" remarks tho Ii.
hrarihn ut tho Br0oino Street FREQ librnry.
Tho mission visitors hnvo stepped in to
got an address, and comments nre e1-
changed for II few minutes. CHANGING to
GlanCS over tina wall flIlrl wall ,vrrpo,l