The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-17
MOTHER JOE.
BY EDITH FARMILOE.

He had four children and a baby in
arms. The names and ages of the chill
dren were, respectively, Anna Maria
aged seven; Minnie Kate, aged six
Albert, aged four and one-half; Maud
Harriet, aged three, and the baby
Sarah Ellen, just turned one year.
He himself rejoiced in the name OF
Joseph Weber, and believed himself
to be about eight, but his mother was
never quite sure. They all lived al
the top of a narrow, tumble down
house, and occupied one room with an
exalted view of the dirty street below
Mrs. Weber always spoke of herself
as wilder" Her first husband had
died ''in ole Hengland," the second
here. o
Mrs. Weber got her living by char
ing, and as long as she was sober al
ways managed to secure enough work
but she was an improvident, thriftless
woman, and any extra money She
might secure either went for drink OF
was spent on indigestible food, such as
timed salmon and pineapple or shell
fish, which often made the poor baby
i'll for weeks after. She took little in
terest in her family, save now and then
for a fit Of maudlin sentiment over her
orphans, but on the other hand was
seldom violent except after an extra
heavy bout of drinking, when the chill
dren carefully kept out of the way
being taken in and given shelter by
kindly neighbors.
Her one idea of responsibility was to
try to lock her family in before start
ing off for her work, ito keep 'em out
of mischief" as she said, "for she
wasn't goin' to have her Jim1nys chill
dren, rest his sowl, brought up on the
streets an kapin' low company"
But since Joe had been five years old
he had nearly always evaded this ma
ternal forethought, which was not diff
cult, as his mother slept heavily, and
before she could open her eyes and
struggle to her feet in the morning the
children were all up and away, taking
with them enough money from her
purse to pay for their dinner.
In vain she swore and thraShed them
at nights when she remembered; it was
no use, and the same little scene was
enacted every morning. The first thing
Joe did on ushering his little brood into
the open air was to take them to a
covered passage leading into little
blind alley; here they sat down and
shared the bread and "scrape," or
sometimes the bread without the
scrape, which he had prepared. The
baby had it's milk, and then they fin
ished up their repast with a drink OF
waterfalls, never wash.
After this the serious work of the
day began for little Mother Joe. How
to get the girls to school, and with the
least amount of friction; that was al
ways the puzzling question. When they
were younger threats always served
him, but now they were long legged and
nimble and shrill, and he had to resort
to brides and cunning.
'Its nigh yer time, amt it, Minnie
kite?" he remarked blandly, this par
ticular morning, as he wiped the baby's
mouth with his sleeve, land I know
yer'll want to be punckshall and beat
that Eddie Cox with her regular 'ttend-
ance."
Minnikite leant back and smiled at
him with long, wicked green eyes, and
then she slowly put out her tongue.
IT 'appens to know" he continued,
with weary patience, and busting the
baby's head as he spoke, that there's
a moo law pest bout children's be1n'
sent to PRISON for not goin' to school
reglar."
what price boys?" asked Anna Ma
ria, with her head on one side.
II allus go when can" he replied
fitting on the cap where it was meant,
"and you know I goes every time Mrs.
Beet as no washin' and can mind the
biby"
"Well, ma ses sh'n wallop yer ter
death mex time the 'spector comes
arter 'er bout you. So now"
WELL sadly, "therell be no one
to mind yer if she does.''
yah! 90 wants mindin'? Go and