Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20

life il very hard"
Then she rolled back the shawl
from her left arm, and showed an ugly
wound in the arm where her usband
had stabbed her with stiletto.
The Young teachc: lost no time In
taking the poor woman TO surgeon.
who dressed The already infected
wound, and dealt with case so diff
cult that he barely saved the arm
from amputation.
The poor woman accepted the help
s,oldly. for suffering had wrought Its
work in her embi,tered spirit
drunken, brutal husband, hard. inces-
sant toll. and the care Of three puny
children weighed down her forlorn
life She lived in one basement room.
and her washing supplied the chill.
dren's food when her husband did not
succeed in getting the money first and
spending it for drink.
There Is not a dog upon the street
whose lot is not happier than mine.
she said. No. there is no Cod.
TO the three children. Leonardo.
Michael and Angelo, a fourth was sooE
added, and to her was given the name
Rosie: for the mother did not recall
the names Of any Italian artists that
would have fitted a little girl. And
when the little girl was born. the
worthless father deserted the home.
which was pc. haps the only thing he
had done to help 1t for u long time.
1t was no argument that changed
the creed Of the poor immigrant wom-
an. The simplest necessities OF lie
were imperativeiy. needed in that
home, and they were supplied. Day
by day a visiting nurse came in and
cared TO- her. Day by day the chill
dren were tended in he day nursery.
Frequent visits Of the teachers
brought simple comforts TO the poor
tenement, and life became little
brighter. But the sad look was there
OF a woman whose hopes were gone.
and who had drunk to the dregs the
cup Of bitter experience.
They had q Christmas tree at the
nursery. with simple gifts for the chill
dren. When the exercises were over.
and the teachers were taking down
the tree, one Of them proposed that
they should carry it over to q home
where one Of the children was
sick. The tree was too large, and had
to be cut OF, but 1t was still re-
spectacle tree And its reception in
the first home was 30 enthusiastic that
they carried 1t to another. and yet
another. Nor were gifts lacking: for
a quantity Of secondhand toys had
been received, and there was second
hand clothing for distribution as well.
A few Of IT,. children accompanied
the tree to the first house. and the
procession grew, First went the tree.
upheld by two or, twenty children:
then came the basket OF decorations.
=, then q basket Of presents. and then
the teachers and the throng. 1t was
long after dinner time when they
came to Mrs. Csrrucip's one room.
1t was q dark room. with one court
window. and that window was hlLed
with children who could not get In.
The table was still loaded with the
remains Of the Christmas feast. and
Mrs. Caruccio was holding Rosie.
while the three boys gathered about
her. Into the midst Ct the family
group came the wonderful tree. for
the eleventh tine decorated with TIN
sci and glass balls. and lighted with
candles.
II bore wonderful fruit-a shawl Tor
the mother shoes for the boys. white
clothing for baby Rosie and an odd
collection Of second hand toys.
The light Of the candles found . re-
fec,ion in the face Of the poor WON
an. She had seen the Lord In the
love OF his children She looked al
the tree. now bare Of presents, but
still radiant With candles and orna-
mepts, and looked again at the faces
Of the teachers. and then At the face
Of her babe Upon her knees she
fell In front of the wonderful tree. and
over her face. that had been too sad
for weeping. the tears flowed freely
rs she kne,t and uttered q prayer.
And her face became almost Ike the
face O! . Madonna n she held her
babe and sobbed her sad Magnificent In
he- native tonSue-Youth's Com
paplon