Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1900-03-02
A Mothers Sacrifice
BY Mr.. Hoolihan.
80 m az N 'siS''9i'S S'GS-'' az az

M 'FADDEN was in ugly mood for
iV conversation, and he sat long
time by the cheese boxes in the gro
Gerry without saying a word. Terry
Hoolihan fitted about, putting his
small stock in order and wondering
why his friend was so silent. Finally
McFad6en spoke:
MY sister" said he, "has given my.
mother the double cross-she's quit
home and married booze singer"
Hoolihan made no comment for some
minutes, and when he did it was while
he was freshening the fire.
II never told YOU" said he, 'of how
Mother Murphy saved five dollars and
what became of it, did ~"
mo" says McFadden. "And as for
that I've troubles enough of my own
without thinking of the Murphys."
"Tut-tut, replied Terry. We're all
out of the same pan, and what's sor-
row for one is sooner or later grief for
another. The world is little enough
when you come TO think of how big
it is. Mother Murphy has lived in the
ward for 35 years-35 years within
stones throw of Clark street and
never out of sight of Harrison. The
house is iammed in between two big
buildings and there's a window in
front and window behind, but never
a one on either side.
Murphy, the man, never earned
over dollar a day in his life, but he
was good to his woman and TO the lit
tle girl that come and while it's tight
pinching to make $50 a month (and
sometimes only 500 take care of
three. he did it, And the old woman
she helped him and she helped the lit
lie girl There wasn't a better dressed
girl in the street, nor one that thought
less Of her folks, save for what she got
out of them
1T was perhaps ten years after the
kid was born, just about the time they
was first talking of paving the alleys
and covering the garbage, that Moth
err Murphy said one day to the old
man;
1--we set my heart on it Murphy
What's that?' said he.
IA lace curtain for the front win
dow, said she.
when you find the money for it,
said ne, rolling uphill or swimming
in the river, you can get the curtain.
"'Never mind says she. The cur
tain III get and the cost of it will
never trouble your dreams when
you're awake.
so the old woman started TO raise
the wind to pay for the lace curtain.
Mind you, McFadden She was a wom-
am what never asked anything for her
self 10 my certain knowledge. in
nine years She never had but one dress
OF her own and she turned that when
she went to mass She was never in
theayter never had a ribbon ia her
hat and when She wanteNcar fare she
walked. whether il was one mile or
iye But the daughter had four
dresses. she had can tickets plenty, she
had d seat IN the balcony of the Hoo
ley place and She ate candy as il she
would be sugar inside forever. In one
day she biowcd herself in this store
for 20 rents worth of ioo-joo, and
that's a Pile Of coin. McFadden, for a
poor person 20 get rid Of in frummery
'llit Mother Murphy was not com
piaining In her own way She was go
ing % have the lace curtain. Her first
start for Il was the finding of a penny
Aon the street near the door She was
anxious TO keep it, but fearful of
kcheating SO she brings il in to me, and
she says:
ass it yours, Tcrry|.
And says /;
III couldn't identify it II it was
And she kept ii. A week later she
gets dime for cleaning some win
dows and then having TO go to Calf
fornia avenue on bit of work, she
ayrs 2 nickel by walking BY not eat