The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-15
\ True story.


To-day The Times gives its boys and
girls 4 true story OF little London waii
In is a sad stOr5. you will say. So 10 is,
and The Times asks you one and all TO
read 10 thai you may perhaps sympa-
tbize more truly with these other boys
and girls VINO arc less happy than your
selves. The gentleman who wrote the
story is dcr0ii9g his Ifo to The care OF
the London waits. and is doing much
noble work. NOW read the story:
a LITTLE NAlF.
The crowd was gone. The streets were
nearly deserted and silent. save for the
rushing noise OF .lle down. pouring rain.
and the Gathering rumble of the carts
which PASSED over Iondon Bridge almost
without mtermlssion the whole night.
was cold and wet, for the rain had come
on suddenly and in volume. Ny great
coat was sopping, anu even my boots
were saturated. Finally j sought shelter
i'm "a narrow staircase Leading from King
William street 10 Biiiinggate and Lower
Thames street below. Ny work was eFi-
IDENTIFY done that might j thought /
might as well go home. My bull a-eye
firmly strapped around my waist would
be mo- longer needed.
But first ] went down the steps. Two
or three poor half-clad crea- ures below
were huddled together for shelter in one
corner. But they were ''grown-ups. and
nv quest was Tor waif children only.
I'm the opposite corner however there
seemed to be lust a. little heap % rags.
with my back 10 the other group, 1 turn
ed ou fI the light OF my lantern, ana
nut down my hand TO raise the bundle.
IL moved-lt arose-it was not bundle.
but n boy-a little chap. wee hunch-
back-with pale. Worn, thin face and
sopDing. ragged raimenti A shudder con-
yiilsed the boys thin frame when 1 spoke
to him. RUBBING the sleep from his eyes,
ina which my light cleaned. the took me
for his natural foe the Bobby; 50, IN
a moment ere ever L was aware ne
ducked under my hand. and, darung out
into the street. was soon making his way
amid the downpOur. / quickly overlook
him-not a difficult thing TO do, for one
could not but see he was too feeble or
step 10 go FAST
did my BEST 10 reassure him. ] was
no policeman. he need not fear; indeed
] wanted 20 help poor boys Ike MN.
Come back 90 the shelter or the STAR
and talk lie slowly and wearlly re-
turned-a hopeless detected, little auto
nation. l looked closely into the face
OF the little chap, and, as 1 did So l
touched his hand and check with
start I drew back the little dirty hand
was burning hot Fever. If ever I had
known &C., A more careful examination
revealed what was suggested-that the
poor waif was ill, seriously I'D, and pres
entity 7 had made my diagnosis. He was
suffering from pneumonia, tho result no
doubt. Of cold and wet homelessness and
..tfa ind
only come on that day, but I feared
a. was Of both lungs. Before had
finished my examination he had utterly
collapsed.
7 gently laid him on one OF the stairs
under shelter. and babe him rest there
quietly until I returned. Then out into
the street I rushed. through the pour
ing rain Turning the corner I came upon
a night cab slowly vending its way home.
At FIRST unwilling 10 come with me. the
driver quickly changed mis- tone and vol
unteered his help when | told him who
I was and why I needed him. Pore little
Teller" he said with genuine sympathy
In his rough, weather-beaten face as
he helped me 10 gather up tho child from
the steps where ! had left him. We
nlaced him tenderly and kindly I'm the
cab. having first arranged the cushions,
so as TO let him lie at length. Ihen 100
got in, and away we drove TO Stepney
Causeway, that little narrow lane lead
ing out Of the Commercial Road. filled
with dingy housfs. and having no feature
which distinguished IL from the mean
streets all around save the presence OF
the two great buildings. one on either
side Of the street. facing each other,
which had proved harbOrs OF refuge TO
hundreds (not then. as now, TO thous-
andsD OF litTle. tempest-tossed and
weather-beaten barques.
u was about O'clock IN the morning
when the cab. with its burden, drew up
az tho door Of Her Maiesty's Hospital
The night nurse was soon at nv side
helping TO lift the little patient out, and
then. the cab dismissed. we hal our
work before us 10 cut away with scissors
the fostid sodden rags which invested the
worn body OF our little wall, and make
him At for bed. But sister was soon
BY our side. and the child Che seemed
about eleven was tnksn into our ex-
perienced hands Was there cot vaca~it?
oh yes. In Gordon Ward. ntly named
after tho hero. who loved his kings
4 IT. Id a