New-York tribune., 1904-09-15
GLIMPSE AT THE "sEAMY SIDE"
One Experience of Nurse in an East Side
Tenement

The girl sprang upsn bed. with her pulses beating
wildly and vague. sitting sense that something
wrong. The next instant she knew what 1t
was; there was some on the fire escape outside
her window. The noise had walked Ter: as she
started up she saw hand pulling the curtain
aside She was a sensible girl. and remembering
that she was alone in the fat, she did not scream
Instead. with her eyes she measured the space
from her bed the door ard gathered her strength
for quick leap But IN another breath a face fol-
lowed thd hand n the window, and the girls fear
PASSED into intense bewilderment. for. by the light
OF her eas-she had fallen asleep readng-she saw
that il was the face of Annie. the German laun-
dress VINO lived the third floor. II was differ
ent Annie though from the demure little neat
creature who had brought the girls clean shirt
waists mp her, that afternoon. The woman's hair
was dragged down over her back. ono bare shou-
der showed hla cls with bruises. and there
cut freshly bleeding on her cheek. In her arms
she carried boy Of six or thereaboUts; she
set HIM inside a crutch c}attersd the floor he
had but leg BY this time the girls brain had
cleared. and. comprehending tragedy she slipped
out OF bed and helped Annie shut and bolt tho win
dow behind her. Then she got her down in 2 chair
and brought her wine.
Well Annie" she said. when tho womsn's
trembling had stopped little. 4 suppose its your
husband, back from the island"
Annie. with the returning instinct Of noatness.
knotti7g up her hair ''Hien Gott, I not look
for him tonight" she said r her cultural tones.
Il stand dere ironing init Fritze i'm bett. und IN
he kooms First he stay bel der saloon. und trink,
und trink denn he kooms home. Denn hn picks oop
FritzIe und saws. We're ss der poy's leg So /
tells him how Fritz!s gets run ofer NIT der
vagon'-
Yes" said the girl. She remembered the acct
dent. which was a common enough one on the East
Side Annie. having to her living and the
childs. perforce let her boy run wild while she
stood at the tubs, And Fritzie had tried once too
often his favorite amusement OF dsrting across
The street in front OF a fast moving truck
Yes" tho gil repeated. Il remember II hap
pened after your husband was sent 10 the ISLAND
Fritzies leg healed quickly he's wiry little chap.
Well. your didn't beat you for that did he
Annie picked up the child. who nid-nodd'ng
against her knee. He say no goot muttor." she
explained monotonousy. He say II watch Frit-
zie it would not 50 hat happened"
Good gracious the girl burst ont Il hope YOU
told him that II he'd behave himself and support
his family and not leave YOU 70 do 81 you could
wa tch .Frtzie"
"Er vas betroonkcn" Annie cemarked simply
Il said nodings." And the Sirl perceived that me
woman was wiser than she.
But he kooms oop behind me" Annie went
''und knocks down Gin. dre times p"nn n"
goes out. SAYING maybe he kooms back und kills
me und ! thinks ur der IRE escape. und l sees
your light. Miss Wallace. und climbs oop here.
And q sensible thing TO do" said the SRI. But
now YOU must le; me wash the cut your cheek
Annie. and bandage your shoulder. that bruse Is
swelling. Good job I'm nurse. isn't 81?
She lifted the sleeping boy from his mothers lap
and put him her couch. and got out her gauze
and llniments
Maybe my husband kooms." Annie whispered
apprchensiycly.
Hes not likely 10 suspect that you're up here.
And II he does como. don't YOU get scared Annie.
I've a chain on my door that would keep out two
men"
When she had persuaded the woman 10 i" down
on the couch beside FritZic she carefully tu the
door She had put the chain on chiefly in Difference
to her respectable uptown friendg VINO, ever since
she had carred out what they called ncr mad whim
OF going live In East Side tenement houS"
had never ceased 10 prophcsy that some night she
would be slain In her bed. Just now she vas rather
glad herself that she had the chain though OF
course Anne's husband would not think OF coming
up here 5, M.
a agairst the door Annie seized FTitzie, and with
one wild leap precipitated herself INTO the, Girl
little closet crushing among the white duck uni
forms which were the pride OF the girls heart Tn"
gi,I stood debating what TO do There came another
ihnnn. and with sudden decision she Opened me