The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-12-07
ACROSS THE RIVER
BY WILLIAM HARPER BENNETT.

1--WE ELL, Mary Ann Mulligan, is i
wv ycrself? Sure it's cure To-
sore eyes to see We. Ye're roster and fat
ter than ever We were. Come right in
let me tnke the things off this chair
now sit We down. How's the good mar
and oil the childer? All, ha! Yer.
putin, and BLOWN like a porpoise
Ye're not the ight-footed gyurl thai
used to skip up Rathfine hill--God bles.
it and the blue sky over it!-in the good
ould days"
"Bedad, Maggie Bertelli, it-pooh-i'
I'd make inny wan-blow to climb thin
stairs. You you made sure you
wouldn't have to go far to reach Heaven
If you died in these rooms. How have
you been for the last six months, since
you came up to Harlem to see us?"
We've all been doin' finely, thanks
be to God. Now take off yer bonnet
and shawl, and III pour ye out cup O.
tay that I'm keepin' warm for Mary
anins. she comes home from the cloak
shop"
iii be deprivin' the child" objected
the visitor.
"Sorra bit. There's enough in the tay-
pot for half Dozen" and Mrs. Bertelli
hurried to the stove on her hospitable
mission, while Mrs. Mulligan took off
her bonnet and shawl, smoothed out
the creases in her kerchief that COW
cred her ample shoulders, and surveyed
the tidy apartment with an experienced
housewives critical eye.
Maggie she remarked to her host
ess. tits beyant me to know how you
can live down here in a double-decker
in Sullivan street among all the dagoes
-widout MANN offense to your good
man-whin you might just as we'll be
living up in Harlem among your own
kind, where you could get breath OF
fresh air now an agin."
"Well, Mary Ann, we see Tony's work
is down here, an Mamie sews over in
Broadway cloak house, and it's convan-
lent for thin. The neighbors is quiet,
harmless folks, and not KNOWN their
talk. have little to do wild thin. AS
for Tony, he's the best husband and IA
Their, God bless him, that ever lived.
Now here, take this sup O. tay while it's
hot;" and Mrs. Bertelli put the cup of
"tny" on the table in front of her guest.
"Bedad,' said Mrs. Mulligan, as she
slipped the beverage, you might a gone
furder and Jared worse than marryin'
Tony. But in this barracks, crowded
with furriners OF all kinds, you run
risk Of catchin' some kind O. sickness"
"Thrue for We. There was two min
an babe, sick wild smallpox, taken out
o the big tinement next door only a
couple O. weeks ago." replied the
hostess.
Look at that now! Sure it's the dirt
of the haythens with their rooms turned
into ragshops."
Mrs. Bertelli's information about the
sickness seemed to have disturbed her
friend, for after a moments silence she
said, in slightly hushed voice:
God preserve us, hope you have no
in this house. Me little Tim
amt as hardy as he might be, and
wouldn't want to carry the disease
home to him."
make yer mind easy" replied Mrs.
Bertelli. There's none av it here. I
hear me daughter Mamie's step on the
stairs. Wait till ye see what fine big
gyurl she's grown. Good avenin' to We,
MISS cried Mrs. Bertelli as the girl en-
tered. do ye see who's here? Ne sid
friend, Mrs. Mulligan, from Harlem"
and the mother beamed proudly on the
tall, pretty young woman who kissed
her, and gave welcome to her mothers
friend
"Arrnh, Mamie, wouldn't know YOU
l met you on the street." exclaimed |
Mrs. Mulligan. you've grown so tall |
md han'some. You've got your fathers
Dig black eyes and curly raven locks,
md the beautiful rosy checks your
mother brought wild her from the ould
lart."
"She's roster than usual this avenin'."
aid Mrs. Bertelli. Saint We feelin'
veil, acushlaP Why, yer hand is burn
NJ"
I'm not very we'll tonight. nanny.
We had a headache all day long"
give her hot cup O. tay, Mary Ann.
= - w ASA 6OCNs liIu ctOdk SlOOS is
o crowded and stiflin' they do give the
iris the headache to be in thin all day."
aid the girls mother.
Il couldn't eat or drink, NANNY. I'll
est awhile on the bed I'll see Won
gain before you leave. Mrs. Mulliqan,"
nd Mamie passed into the bedroom.
ITS fever she has. Maggie" whis-
cred Mrs. Mulligan. land as soon as
ony comes in you'd betther sind for
he docthor. Now it's gettin' late"
ne continued, thinking about little
i'm, who wasn't as hardy as he might
e. and the possibilities of NAMES
ever proving contagious. It's get
n late, and have long journey afore
re, SO I'll be goin'. Be sure now, and .
ome up and see us soon"
we've taken the heart out O. me.
airy Ann. wild yer talk about faver.
hat gyurls the apple O. me eve, an il !.
nything was to happen to her-God
a His Blessed Mother help me, don't
now what'd become o. me. An her