Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-16

building at the further end The front of
each house was decorated with its inmates
underwear. and each doorstep sat
small, dirty child, holding a baby. The
king had never seen SO many children be-
fore; he was reminded Of d swarm of flies.
In a shady corner sat knot of iabofers,
drinking from tin pals, devouring immense
sandwiches and smoking clay pipes; while
on the housetops were stretched dizzy laby-
rnthS of clothesline and more underwear
All seemed to be on the most intimate
terms, and the exact season might have
been ascertained by careful study of the
refuse vegetable matter.
Disguised with the prospect, the king
closed his eyes and ruminated over certain
stocks; but presently a shrill chatter broke
the MONDAY lull, and looking abroad once
more. he beheld coming down the street
led by a little ten-year-oid Slattern, ms
friend, the blackmailer, pulling his organ
after him, waving his hand playfully at the
children and wearing the same joyous
Smile-which. it appears, was chronic.
The king clutched his knees, gaSped and
nearly broke blood vessel Twenty yards
off the backmailer halted. And it seems
almost like sly joke the part of fate
that the first sounds should have been:
most every one knows.
And, when we are married,
How happy We'll be!
| love sweet Rosie O'Gra-a-ady,
And Rosie O'Grady loves me-e-e!
By this time the babies had been Tor
gotten, the doorsteps deserted, and a score
| windows. The Backmailer, smiling upon
the circle of upturned faces, adjusted a
lever and started off again on an Irish g.
Then two of the children entered the
ring A lean, ragged little pair they were,
not over eight years old; but with what
zest, what sense of rhythm, and even a
sort of rough grace they danced there I'M
der the scorching sun. Face to face, back
to back, side by side. with quick steps, out
kicked feet, swaying bodies, arms akmbo,
| heads aslant; and now. clutching fast to
each other. they ctreled about In a Jaunty
little East Side waltz. And how their faces
frightened! And how the rest watched and
beat time on the cobbles. eager for their
turnsi And when the two fell out exhaust
ed another couple took their place; then
another, and another until they had all
| danced. and the Blackmailer's repertoire
was exhausted.
At length when Sweet Rosie O'Grady''
was reached again, the little one who had
brought him. executed a SOLO, in humnle
imitation of some costumed performer, seen
from the gallery of a Bowery music hall.
lingering her ragged skirts, as though
they We're beautiful tinsel and gauZe; Wav-
ing her thin. grimy arms. as though they
| were white and fair to look upon; pirouet-
ting about on tiptoe as though her shoes
were gilded and dainty, instead of three
times too large. buttonless, down at the
heel and broken at the sides. In fact. a
very miniature of the heavenly, fairylike
original in the old clothes of poverty, and
the clumsy graces of the slums.
But how the rest cheered! And how the
frowzy heads at the windows called Go 1t.
Rosie,' ''Shure its foine. it is!' do it
agin, Rosie!' While even few of the
big. rough laborers strolled across to
watch, and said she was "a purity slip av a
gurrl." and "loike me own little Katey."
And when the BIackmailer began to black
mail. not child but had ng-hoarded
cent to drop in the hat; one of the men
tossed him nickel, with Here yare. Pc
dro; and strangely enough. he afterward
found quarter among the copDers, and
blessed the saints. wondering. in his own
happy, Italian way, however 1t came there.
But suddenly, with a cry of '"Th' cop!
Tn cop" the children scattered seized
their respective babies and slammed and
locked their respective doors, leaving the
Blackmailer, Rosie and the cop with hand
on each. 1t may seem incredible, but
the king was standing close by AS to why
| he was there and how long he had been
appeared, and there he stood. feet apart
and fists thrust deep in his pockets. regard
! ing the trio curiously, almost concernedly,
| from under his bushy brows.
1t may seem still more incredible but
when the cop. threatening awful things,
| had released the terrified child and re-
| quested the family smiling Blackmailer to
| brusquely-though that was his usual man
! ner-the reason of all this. At first the cop
would say only ORDERS but presently un-
| der gentler questioning. explained that the
| street, locally known Babies block was
4 noisy one at best, but that the piano
| organ was more than the hospital on the
| corner could stand. and that he had stop-
| ped 1t at the directors request, which was
! kind and humanitarian of him. though he
| hadn't mentioned quite all the circum-
| stances
| He useter come reg'ler." he concluded,