The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-01

No one who remembers seeing Molly
Slater singing on the street; in slush. or
rain,- or generally near the High
Street well, below the rron-wil think
of that little bundle OF rags having a
story. Molly had but one song-"I1ome.
Sweet Home" and as her voice through
constant exposure had dcgenerated to q
kind Of hoarse croak, I'm afraid her sing
ing could hardly be called a musical sue
cess. l dare not speculate as TO Molly's
age; she looked about ten or twelve; bat
1 have often thought she must have been
far below that. and merely aged with
buffetings, and cruel blows, and starva-
ton, and cold. For a while she carried
d child in her arms, tucked close I'm 10
her with shawl; but even then she did
not make a fortune. People said IL was
a shame TO have such child exposed.
and shut their pockets and passed on.
IL was a shame, undoubtedly, but then
the shame wasn't Mollys. Only the care
and concern, and hunger and cold were
hers-the shame all belonged 10 Abe Sla-
ter, her loahng, thieving. drunken father.
AAs-Slater was at-refuiar intervals
dropping into our hands, and during those
retirements Molly's appearance was won't
10 improve somewhat. The look OF VOL
fish hunger was partly smoothed from
her face, the scared glance left her eyes,
and part OF the Crime OF months disap-
peared from her face. But regularly as
Abe's term expired, Molly was over at
the jail gate meeting him, and then she
quickly merged once more into legiti-
mate bundle OF rags
That was all l knew OF her from casu-
ally seeing her She was very dirty
how could she be otherwise when she
had no home, and slept ''nowhere?" But |
looked forward few years. and thought
or the time when she would surely rub
OF part OF her dirt and accept a livery
or fnery more degrading than her rags.
what else could come of such training?
4 had no idea of that bundle OF rags
having single thought higher than the
gutter.
One day, however. a little light was
let into my mind by the bundle of rags
herself. j was going down South GTays
Close. when / saw Molly crouching on
stone step at a stair foot. and thought
i would have a word with her. | dare
say the thought of speaking 10 her would
never have entered my head had she not,
much to my surprise. greeted me with a
friendly smile--the first 1 had seen on her
pale face.
You are Abe Slaters girl think?" /
said, pausing with one foot on the stair,
which / had TO ascend on business.
Yes, I'm Molly" she answered frank
~.
You seem to know me?" / said. won
dering at the change a smile made on the
misery-lined little face.
yes; everybody knows you," said
Molly. You took father the last time"
There was no reproach or bitterness In
the tone; she seemed TO accept the tax
ing as part of her fate; yet l thought
proper TO justify the action.
Il would rather not take anybody. Mol
ly, but | must do my duty"
Yes, | know; but father won't always
be troubling you. Hell mend some day"
"What?' / cried. so astonished as TO
be completely of my guard and to show
the incredulity ] felt.
You don't think he's too bad 10
mend?" said Molly. with a surprised look
IN turn. He wasn't always poor. and
drunken man, ana a--a--you know what
lie had once men working under him;
that was long ago. when mother was
living and Bubbzie."
And who WAS Bubbzie?'
THAT was my wee brother He used to
90 out with me-singing-up at the we'll"
And where is he now?'' / asked sim
ply.
A curious, qulvering contortion came
over Molly's lips, and they worked spas
medically for a moment OF two without
word rising to her lips. Then her eyes
filled, and with an enforced gasp she
blurted out the one word
Dead"
Secretly thought that IL was better so.
but / said
II suppose you miss him a good deal?"
Miss him? | think all the heart is
gone out OF me since hc was took" she
huskily quivercd forth "Oh. l didn't
think anything hard when | had Bubb-
zie, but now, III Il wasn't for father, I'd
want TO be dead too"
l could scarcely sympathizo with such
sentiment, which l knew would be
quite thrown away on brute like Abe
Sla ,er. and merely grunted out a dry
Imphm'
ut wasn't 80 bad when mother was
alive continued Molly. I've had al
ways house of our own then, and moth
er used to wash and clean. and do lots
OF things for money 10 feed U.S."
II think We had her, too, once?" /
thoughtfully observed.
Yes. but IL was for him" breathed
the child i'm a 'hushed whisper. "He sold
some OF the things she had got out TO
wash, and he Kept out OF the way drink
ing Till the people wouldn't wait any
longer, ana mother was took up for IL.
when you found out where the things
were"
"But she pleaded guilty?" said. with
n new light breaking In ON me.
Yes, Just 10 save him. II I could save
him and make him better ia do just the
same-the samel I'd be glad 10 die and
bc shut up I'm n hole I'm the ground If it
would make him leave of drinking. It's
the drinking does it ALL he's not a thief
or n bad father by nature
"He won seem that TO you, Of course"
I dryly answered, "but I'm afraid he's a
brute. Some one told me that he actual
~ stripped your mother Of the only
blanket covering her when she was dy-
ing. and then. insensible with tho drink
IL brought. lay snoring on the floor
through tho night while she was freez-
Ing 10 death"
Yes, hut ~ was the drink too" said
Molly. with her fearful eyes turned up 10
nv face "IIo didn't kpoW what he was