The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-12-03


cursion when II was explained that the
family lived on Beecher street.
They walked past the gloomy, rick
ETY. wooden dwellings, through throngs
Of dirty urchins who hooted and made
faces at them, and finally came to a
dingy opening that proved to be the
entrance to flight Of stairs.
Up these steps the girls stumbled.
their way lighted by only few rays
that sifted through the cracks in the
flimsy outside wall. One of the party
knocked at the door that confronted
them at the top Of the stairs.
Footsteps sounded on the floor, evi-
IDENTIFY those Of child. Some one
fumbled at the knob and the door was
swung open to reveal chubby, round
faced boy Of about four years.
A MANNED, disreputable toy bear was
suspended by its leg from one hand Of
the tot, who blinked curiously at his
four visitors. The opening Of the door
permitted warm, pungent odor to
penetrate the hall and each Of the girls
involuntarily shuddered.
"Who is it?' called a voice from
within--a weak, plaintive voice, that
Of woman.
The tot, who was clothed in a nom
descript suit of several materials and
cOlOrs turned and called.
"T'ree dirls."
"Come right in answered the voice.
II am Ill and cannot come to the
door,"
The girls entered and noticed that
the pungent odor increased. The room
was permeated with an unhealthful
warmth, caused by keeping all the win
dows closed and thus conserving the
heat radiated from the small wood
stove. go
The designs on the wall paper had
all but become eradicated by accum-
ulation Of smoke, grease and dust On
one wall was framed picture Of
young man and woman evidently
bridal couple. A row Of picture post
cards was the only other decoration.
A table occupied the center Of the
room, and nearby were three-legged
stool and a dilapidated rocking chair.
The floor was covered with a faded
rag carpet
"Here am" called the woman from
the dingiest corner of the room .''Dont
look around. I'm too Ill to keep the
place clean, and Jimmy here is too
young"
The girls found her lying on nark
row bed, or rather, bunk. She was
frail and emaciated, but she carried
a pleasant smile of greeting.
Jimmy lowered near, still clinging
to the bear. Ethel. lover Of children.
picked him up in her armss
"My, my. what clothes!" she mus
INJURED to herself, but Jimmy over.
heard her.
"Tm donna have new suit" he an
nounced. Nuns donna bring It."
"Who do you" Ethel began. but
at that moment Jimmy, hearing famil-
lar sounds on the stairs, scrambled
from her arms and dashed toward the
door.
HE hears his man." explained the
woman on the bed. Nearly every
night he brings us food, and some
times candy or something to wear. He
found Jimmy on the street one night
and came home with him. Jimmy told
me his man was going to bring him a
new suit today"
The door was flung open and young
man entered, placed bundle on the
stool and gathered the little b. in his
arms.
my man." breathed Jimmy, hugging
the newcomer, while Ethel started for
ward in amazement upon recognizing
him.
"Cliffl" she cried.
Clifford Eldridge placed his human
burden on the floor and stared In as
constituent that equaled her own.
So 1t was decreed that home OF
poverty should be the setting for a
proud, sensitive, impulsive girl to ask
forgiveness-and get 1t.