The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-04-13


for others to live in In n recess next
to the chimney place was wooden
structure which he supposed was the
washtub, and upon the closed cover of
this he saw n tiny form covered with
n bit of worn but clean cloth which
might once have been sheet.
This is your baby" said he, rcvrr.
entity lifting the cloth.
Yes, sir" said the woman, with a
Sob
Mr. Mitchell heaved n sigh rs he
gaZed upon the thin little corpse too
evidently dead from want Of pourish
ment.
Your first baby?" he asked
NO. sir; my fourth"
Your fourth? Then you have three
children alive!"
MIR. Mitchell looked around the place
and wondered where they all slept.
but her reply explained matters
"No. sir" said the stricken mother;
''thcy are all dead. They always live
about a year and then they waste
away. think teethin does il and the
hot weather. sir It's awful hot here.
even on the top floor moved ND,
though the stairs is hard. hopn it
would be better for the little one. But.
you see, it's no use. God is against
me. guess, though what I've done l
don't know
To such as these it is hard to bring
the lesson Of the eternal justice and
love Of the Almighty Father. Left
alone In their wickcdness by their fcl.
low man. what wonder that they lose
faith in God?
You have done nothing" said Mr..
Mtchel What has been done is the
fault of others. Your condition is q
result OF their greed and SrliiShncSs
You are not to blame. but neither must
you think that the Almighty has for
gotten you"
I'm sure l try not to, sir, but some.
times It's hard, mighty hard. to know
what to think" She bent her head
and wept softly.
"Ieil me-" said Mr.. Mitchell soothing
", chow has all this come about? You
!lavc husband, have you not? Can.
not he support yOu?"
Yes, sir; I'm Il proper married wom
an. and my husbands sober, good in
tendin man. and he does his best. But
times has been hard with us. What
with the strikes, ant the Italians comm
over. and one thing and another, we've
been goin down these last three years.
iatrlck-my husbands an Irishman,
sir-gcts odd jobs now and then, but
steady work don't seem to come his
way Yet he's n good man at his trade
too. Hes bricklayer."
''Whcrc is he nOwf"
baby died this mornin about ;
O'Clock. We was both M with hor all
night. Pat went on like mad and went
ont early. He ain't come back. I
thought maybe he'd gone to notify the
police. He'd have to do that, wouldn't
hc?"
81 suppose so. But, Mrs. Griffin, do
not he dcsDondent. OF course death at
any time is dreadful thing, but re-
member 1t comes to the rich rs we'll as
to the poor"
Yes; / know other people has their !
sorrows, but the rich has some COM |
iorts. too, / guess. That makes the |
sorrow easier to bear, fancy" She
spoke bitterly.
Come. my good woman, Won mrst
lot speak so. 1t is wrong of the rich |
% neglect the poor, but 1t is also wrong /
u the poor to look upon the rich as
heir enemies. Many Of the wealthiest
you'd be only too glad to do away with
III the poverty in the land If only they
Knew how. Fortunately ! am rich
nan, and / can Mt least help one de.
erving family. So cheer up. will see
nat your baby Is properly buried, and
VIII find work for your good man
ince you tell Inc he is a sober. hard.