The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-02
But I can't afford 10 buy 80 much milk,
Aaid Mary Annea's rnnthar dat ressfmllY

can you'" asked the visitor
Why, that's 80, / can't" said Mary
Agnes's mother in an astonished tone, as
if the thought had just occurred TO her.
Little Edward, named aftor his hereditary
sovereign. lay on the floor while his mother
wearily washed clothes beside him. It was
the front room, once the reception room. Of
an old New York house, and a stately old
the torn wallpaper, tho wood heaped on the
floor, the piles of unwashed dishes.
Edwards mother was very English, with
her clear pink-and-wh skin and her clear
blue eyes. She did not look pretty beoluse
she was ragged and draggled, unoombed
end down at the heels, wet with the suds
Of the tub. But groomed and dressed
and ted she would be very pretty indeed.
She listened rebelliously at first to the
instructions, but softened when the visitor
picked up Edward and played with him.
Nevertheless she stubbornly refused ticket
to the Floating Hospital She declined TO
give any reason. but it was plain that it was
too much like charity to suit her. Edwards
mother indulged in that luxury so incon-
venient TO the poor, pride.
"Does Mrs. Mooney live here?" asked
the visiting nurse Of large lady In blue
calico at the next door.
"She do not" replied the lady in blue
calico; "she wuz put out"
Dear me, how dreadful said the visitor
what was she put out forp"
Ser bein' bum; she an her husband;
thin two; answered Blue Calico firmly
And has she got little baby?"
-She had, mum, hut she has no longer,
thanks he to God; it's in Hiven," replied
she Of the blue calico.
The Board Of Health lady made note
on card; and 30 no more OF Baby Mooney,
Little Percival was the tenth child of his
mother, and she has raised seven of them,
and run furnished-room house for the
last ten years. Percival's mother looked
tired.
Il couldn't go on any excursion, no
ma'am.' she replied wearily, to the offer
Of a day on the water. "To dress and
take five Of them, and keep watch Of them
all day on the boat, and feel that all my
work was undone at home. why I'm more
tired than IL had worked all day The
baby's outdoors all day with his sisters,
You look "a If you needed the trip more
than the baby" said the visitor. Couldn't
you get away for day or a week, without
them? 1t needn't cost you anything"
And leave them all in the street? And
my husbands meals to get, and the fur
nished rooms TO look after2 Oh, no, sal
Percivals mother.
But why do you need to have this ROOM
ing house on your handsp It's too much
for you. Can't your husband support the
family?"
Not and keep the children in school,
said Percival's mother, simply. wed
like to, give them all an education, and he
can't do 1t unless run the house.
The visitor and her companion descended
the stairs thoughtfully
There's heroine for you" said one O I
them finally.
Yes" replied the other. How would
you like her Iob?"
Pounding the typewriter is good enough
for me a while longer
Guess my Job Of climbing stairs isn't
80 bad, after all" responded the other.
There are heroines scattered all through
the tenements." declared the Official visitor
with sudden energy. bringing up families
the best they know how, without money.
conveniences or comforts, in the dirt and
heat and crowded quarters. It's killing
business. The only ones who aren't worn
out with 1t are those who are content to
sit down in the dirt and never worry"
Little Turidru, which is short for Saliva
tore, lived In two rooms behind his fathers
barber shop, along with brother and
sister q pretty, little black-eyed mother and
a picturesque old grandmother, with long
earrings and a scarlet head kerchief, who
was frying deleotably spicy peppers over a
hot Are.
Turidru's father came in from the barber
shop to interpret All tho questions
ordered by the Board of Health were
answered satisfactorily until 1t came to
that of windows open at night
NO, ma'am," snid Turidru's father
firmly; mo. never do we sleep with our
windows open at night. We think too
much of our children"
But you must" persisted the Board OF
Health lady. If you don't you'll keep
breathing bad air over and over again,
and the baby will be sick, and you'll all
have consumption
The barber looked helpless
How I wish you speak Italian" he said
despondently; "then explain you"
~All right. speak Italian. said one of the
visitors Unexpectedly. In the tongue of the
land Of olives.
The barber smiled radiantly and broke
into liquid syllables. accompanied by
multitudinous gestures Never he would
sleep with windows open; not II he suf-
located with the heat, no. Mamma mia!
Would he open windows az night upon his
infants? He was too good a father for
that. But why? Why, naturally, sgnor-
ina, because the malaria would enter on
the night air and affiict the helpless little
ones.
But all Americans sleep with their
windows open at night. and don't you
think they are stronger than Italians?"
Americans sleep with their windows
open at nightP'
Most certainly; invariably very firmly.
The barber threw up his hands.
What strange, what an incomprehen-
sible race are these Americana" said he,
In accents OF despair.
And the Board Of Health lady departed
TO continue TO climb stairs and preach her
gospel of sterilized milk, open windows and
no beer.
Every Fire was Fourth OF July.