Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-05-05
"Kindling' and Its Problem

got to start II right. It's yer everiastin'
duty,
M1GeIE-My eyerias,in' duty. Eagerly
turning)-Say. dye think Heinie d quit
his Job an go?
BATEs-I can put yez next to scheme
to land yea both In Wyoming and set ys
up for a hundred dollars at the most.
MAGGIE-Ye can?
steadin'? Wen. there's certain land the
government Amt got no use for, SO IL
gives little pieces to the poor people. ana
tells them to 20 and live happily ever
afther. -.
MAGGIE-They give it to ye. to own?
BATES-Wait I'LL We see the land.
MAGGIE-Then II We get hundred.
we can set up in Wyomin'?
! BATES-Thaf's the game.
MAGGIE--Hetnie's got TO do IL. III
help hlm-f'll work. too. Gee. think of
it--livin. out there in the sunshine an
Helnie's got to do Il, Tell him about IL
when he comes home tonight. will YET
BATEs-An' you'll be tellin about the
E-yes-yes-Ill tell him to-
night.
Made desperate by the prospect. which
becomes an obessloa with her. that her
child win Come aiiing into the world and
will not long survive the terrible condi-
tons in the rotting tenements. Maggie
gives heed to the advice Of the sapient
Bates, who suggests that. II she takes
the place Of seamstress which has been
offered her by rich woman. she viii be
able 10 pick up many trifle which win
never be missed In that wealthy house.
hold and which viii be of great use to
her In her coming trial. TITS the way
OF beasts" said Bates. "and they're al
ways good parents-if you need anything
for your young, take it!''
Maggie follows the advice. takes the
place IN the household of her '.benefae-
tor" who happens also to be the owner
OF the disease breeding tenements, ard
steals money and trifles with the idea Of
obtaining money enough to buy railroad
tickets to Wyoming. where she thinks the
baby will have q fighting chance for life.
She Is found out. and In the course Z q
pltIIess eross-examination by her has
band she blazes up in yindication OF her
deed. Thus the scene proceeds
HEINIE-How about the silver cup.
them gold pins and thingse
MAGGlE--Oh, they was Just knoekin
about. Nobody wanted 1t. 1t didn't mat
ter af.E
HEINIE-Didn't natter My Godl
What's got into ye. anyway
MAGGIE-You put the idea into my
head
HEINIE tstunnedl-Me,
MAGGIE-Yes. yot. You showed me
the game We WAS up against was sat
isfied with things as they was TN then.
You think I'm Just weak fool that steve
got TO help him. Wei. now, I'll tell ye
somethin'a Ye're wrong
HEINfE puzzled by her defiancel-
Just what's ye drivin' at
MAGGIE-I mean that ! finally woke
up to what ! had comm to me. Them
people owned our home. they owned us.
and II / dared to bring life into the
world they'd own that. too. Well. they
went too far SO | went up there anil
took what | needed-what was mine-l
had a right to. tell We.
HEINTE-Rights
MAGGIE-Yes, right. A right TO .
share OF life. Just as they have. Just as
any animal has. ] didn't ask for COM
fort, didn't ask for happiness: that's
for their kind uptown. that's the law
but there's some things they've got 70
leave me have. me. and the lowest ami
nal Twin You're man. and you're
goin' TO have food and drink. amt yer
Ye got right TO live and ven steal and
yen murder to do It Well I'm q
woman. and God. gave me a greater right
to give life. and there's no want In my
body or soul cries out 80 loud Il viii be
satisfied. my greatest right Of all Then
they come, them people down there. ard
warn me. warn me that II | brought a
life into the world II would 5e sHiothered
out. burned up like 80 much ktndling.
and for what-their comfort. their pleas
ures Think Of it, l stole. Tn a thief.
I'm rotten. I've lowered myself In their
eyes. well let them think so-and In my