Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-03-12
POOR Old
BfDDY MURPHY

that, although most of the passersby
hardly gave her glance, few OF the
more sympathetic paused long enough
to drop a coin into her hand. The
Busy Girl, who was hurrying to the
office, looked at her with pity in her
eyes, but quickly turned her head
away and walked on with an air of
determination. That little CLEAN of
compassion, however, was not lost by
the old woman. She saw it and fol-
lowed, talking volubly, with a soft
olarney in her voice, until the girl
wavered and finally stopped.
I am very sorry, but have nothing
for you" the girl said, firmly.
I'm that cold, darlin', I do be shiv-
erin in all my bones. If only had a
nickel to get a dhrop of hot coffee to
warm me insides, it's happy woman
I'd be-"
do you live far from here?" the
girl asked, weakening visibly."
mo, darlin', not so very far; right
in this shtreet, 800 West, in Mike
Flaherty's tinimint. Ye see, 1 come
over this way every mornin' to Father
Malone's church. Shure, it's the only
bit O comfort 1 have. I never miss
the swim o'clock mass, glory be to
God, an if it's doubtin' me characther
ye are, just ask Father Malone who
Biddy Murphy is, an he'll tell ye
that she's the honestest woman in
New York, but very poor an too ould
to worruk amy more an all alone by
herself. All, wurrah,'' and here she
rubbed her eyes with the NANCY fringe
of her shawl. Its hard world to
be In whin ye're ould an poor"
The Busy Girl fumbled in an inner
pocket of her coat and drew forth the
nickel that had been slowed away for
her homeward fare in case of accident.
The bony fingers closed over it and
vanished with it beneath the depths
of the shawl
"Shure, I knew that such a nice
lookin' young lady as yerself, ashore.
wouldn't be for refusin' to help poor
ould wildly woman. God bless We, dar-
lin"
The Busy Girl walked to the office
and arrived there late. AS she re-
moved her hat and coat she remarked
to the boss:
81 broke my resolution this morn
ing and gave my nickel to a beggar,
but don't think 1 have made a mis-
take this time, she was such a very
old woman, with good, kind face"
Better ride and get to business on
time" grumbled the boss.
For two months after this Biddy
Murphy's brown fingers closed every
morning over the Busy Girls home
ward nickel. The old woman always
was ready to talk of herself and the
Busy Girl soon learned that she sub
sisted chiefly on the charity of her
neighbors and that of Father Malone.
who, according to her assertion, would
be in heaven before the soles of his
feet was cold" a reward which the
good man no doubt richly merited, if
only for his kindness to Biddy Muir
ply.
Then came morning when Biddy
was not at her corner. And the next
morning she was not there, nor the
next, nor the next, and even the boss
began to show some anxiety, so when
to venture to Mike T,ahertys tint
mint" called at the modest rectory
next door to Father Malone's church
and asked if she could see that gen.
tleman.
Hes busy in the church." said the
boy who opened the door. What do
you want him for? Is it a marriage
or a funeral or a baptism? Or" in a
confidential whisper, "do you want to
take the pledge?"
ST want to ask about a poor old
woman called Biddy Murphy. l am
afraid she is ILL.,"
"Oh," said the boy, assuringly.
"You mean old Biddy Murphy that
used to come to seven o'clock mass
so regular and that everybody used to
help? Well, there was a fire where
she lived an after they got Biddy out
she ran around screamin' ooh, my
money! Oh, my little bit O. money!
Save my bed or I'll lose every penny
I've got. It's all In there Then she
knelt down in the street and prayed
bit O. money, and one of the firemen,
Pat DAILY, he went right through the
flames an smoke an he pitched her
old mattress outer der winder, an
didn't half a dozen bank books roll
out of it, an old Biddy she gathered
'em up an she Rugged 'em an then
she Rugged Pat Daily, who came stag
germ out nearly choked to death, an
then she went away with Mrs. Flanni-
gan, an next day Mrs. Flanagan she
came here an told Father Malone that
Biddy Murphy had money in every
savin's bank in New York an was
rich woman. An then Father Malone
he went an gave it to her for fair
for begin an Twin on charity, an he
gave her beans from the pulpit, too;
but Biddy, she didn't care rap, she
went to Philadelphy, where she has
two married daughters an ten grand
children, an she always sayin' she
was a lone woman an hadn't a soul
in the world to care for her. In the
newspapers they said she had $4,000.
What dye think of that?'
Four thousand dollars! The Busy
Girl, who had no bank account,
thought sadly of her little contribu-
lions to the fund, and, thanking the
loquacious boy for his information,
she murmured to herself half aloud