The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-27


for others to live in. In recess next
to the chimney place was a wooden
structure which he supposed was the
washtub, and upon the closed cover of
this he saw tiny form covered with
a bit of worn but clean cloth which
might once have been sheet.
''This is your baby?" said he, rever-
emily lifting the cloth.
Eyes, SIR" said the woman, with
Sob
Mr.. Mitchell heaved a sigh as he
gazed upon the thin little corpse, too
evidently dead from want of nourish-
ment.
"Your first baby?' he asked.
mo, sir; my fourth
"Your fourth? Then you have three
children alive?"
Mr.. Mitchell looked around the place
and wondered where they all slept,
but her reply explained matters.
mo, sir" said the stricken mother;
"they are all dead. They always live
away. 1 thinl. teethin does it and the
hot weather, sir. It's awful hot here,
even on the top floor. 1 moved up,
though the stairs is hard, hopin it
would be better for the little one But,
you see, it's no use. God is against
me, l guess, though what I've done I
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 wickedness by their fell
low man, what wonder that they lose
faith in God?
you have done nothing" said Mr..
Mitchell. What has been done is the
fault of others. Your condition is a
result of their greed and selfishness.
You are not to blame, but neither must
you think that the Almighty has for
gotten you"
"Tm sure try not to, sir, but some
times it's hard, mighty hard, to know
what to think" She bent her head
and wept softly.
Tell me-" said Mr.. Mitchell soothing
ly, chow has all this come about? You
have husband, have you not? Can
not he support you!
Yes, sir; Pm proper married wom-
an, and my husbands a sober, good in
tendin man, and he does his best. But
times has been hard with us. What
with the strikes and the Italians comm
over, and one thing and another, we've
been goin down these last three years.
Patrick-my husbands an Irishman,
sir-gets odd jobs now and then, but
steady work don't seem to come his
way. Yet he's good man at his trade
too He's a bricklayer."
Where is he now?"
Baby died this mornin about 5
o'clock. We was both up with her all
night. Pat went on like mad and went
out early. He amt come back. |
thought maybe he'd gone to notify the
| police. He'd have to do that, wouldn't
he?"
81 suppose so. But, Mrs. Griffin, do
not be Respondent. OF course death at
any time is dreadful thing, but re-
member it comes to the rich as well as
to the poor"
Yes; | know other people has their
| sorrows, but the rich has some COM
forts, too, guess. That makes the
sorrow easier to BEAR l fancy" She
spoke bitterly.
Come, my good woman, you must
not speak So 1t is wrong of the rich
to neglect the poor. but it is also wrong
of the poor to look upon the rich as
! their enemies. Many of the wealthiest
would be only too glad to do away with
all the poverty in the land if only they
knew how. Fortunately l am a rich
man, and | can at least help one de-
serving family. So cheer up. / will see
that your baby is properly buried, and
l will find work for your good man
since you tell me he is a sober, hard
! working fellow"
ooh, may heaven bless you, and may