The Cairo bulletin., 1908-03-20
POOR Old
BIDDY MURPHY


wrinkled and so persistently pleading
that. although most of the passersby
hardly gave her glance, a 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
barney in her voice, until the girl
wavered and finally stopped
81 am very sorry, but have nothing
for you, the girl said, firmly.
I'm that cold. darlin', | do be shiv-
erin in all my bones. If | only had a
nickel to get dhrop of hot coffee TO
warm me insides, it's happy woman
Id be"
DO you live far from here?" the
girl asked, weakening visibly.'
mo. darlin. not so very far; Wghc
in this shtreet, 800 West. in Mike
Flahertys tinimint Ye see. COM
over this way every mornin to Father
Malone's church. Shure, it's the only
bit O comfort | have. | never mis-
the swim o'clock mass, glory be To
God, an If it's doubtin' me characther
We are. just ask Father Malone who
Biddy Murphy is, an he'll tell yo
that she's the honestest woman in
New York. but very poor an too ould
10 worruk amy more an all alone by
herself All, wurrah," and here she
rubbed her eyes with the NANCY fringe
of her shawl. ITS a hard world to
be In whin ye're ould an poor"
The Busy Girl fumbed in an innec
pocket of her coat and drew forth tho
nickel that had been slowed away for
her homeward fare in case Of accident,
The bony fingers closed oyer il and
vanished with it beneath the depths
of the shawl.
"Shure, knew that such a nice
lookin young lady as yerself, ashore.
wouldn't be for refusin' to help poor
Guild 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
Il broke my resolution this morn,
{vrv mir IN a
but don't think | have made a mis-.
take this time. she was such a very
old woman, with a 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 s0les of his
feet was cold" a reward which the
good man no doubt richly merited. II
only for his kindness to Biddy Muir
ply.
Then came a 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
Sunday came the Busy Girl, not caring
to venture to Mike Flaherty's tint
mint" called at the modest rectory
next door to Father Malone's church
and asked if she could see that gen
tleman.
He's busy in the church" said the
boy who opened the door. What do
you want him for? Is It marriage
or funeral or a baptism? Or" in a
confidential whisper, do you want to
take the PLEDGE
II want to ask about poor old
woman called Biddy Murphy. | 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' "Oh. 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
to all the saints to save her little
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
ont of it. an old Biddy she gathered
'em up an she Rugged EN- 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
sayin's hank in New York an was a