Year: 1870

|Do you know, Sir. that l am almost
starved-that l have had nothing to cat for
twenty-four hours?''


The young man started at this unexpected
address; then turned and regarded the speak
er for moment curiously.


The scene was Fifth Avenue and the time
was near midnight.


/ Horses and carriages were dashing over
the pavement, conveying gay parties from
+, theatre or supper


The air was crisp and chilly; the stars
shone cheerfully above; the lamps cleaned
! brilliantly below yet the young man was
able thoroughfare in New York, by a strang-
er who had had nothing to eat for twenty
four hours.


No wonler he turned to look curiously at
her


Caleb, Or Gale Gordon, as his ntimates call
ed him, was a hard-working young journalist
hard working but well paid for he was a
vastly clever and rapid writer, and found
ready market for all he wrote; besides being
on the regular staff Of one morning paper as
musical and dramatic critic.


And in pursuit of this part Of his vocation
he had that evening been to the French opera
to hear 'Genevievc'-had stepped into Del
moncos for light supper and was on his





lng's work.


| He had no one but himself to take care of,
made money enough to supply all his wants,
including light suppers at Delmonico's when
he desired them; and knew very little about
the poverty and wretchedness of the under
world OF the great city he lived in.
| Therefore he queried in tone of surprise,
after looking at the questioner for a moment,
you say you have eaten nothing for rtwenty-
| four hours ?'


"a bit of bread and some coffee last even
ing, and nothing more since the day before !"
and the girl gave great gulp, something
between 4 sigh and a sob, and turned her
face away.


BLESS my soul n' said Caleb ''come right
! along with me and get something"
! You see Caleb was quite green-he had
only been in the city about six months, hay
| ing come we'll recommended from n country
newspaper or else he would have given her
quarter-or perhaps something worse
would have come of it, who knows? But as
it was, he took her hand and placed it on his
arm, and walked with her rapidly down side
street, toward point where he knew there
was an oyster saloon that kept open all
night.


| 1t was not exactly the place to take a lady,
but it did not occur to Caleb to take her to





| She had said nothing further, but Caleb
noticed that she leaned rather heavily upon
his arm; and as they passed a street lamp,
and its light shone full in her face, he observ
ed that she was very pale.


lie hurried her along, and presently they
arrived at the saloon, and were soon seated
opposite each other in small private room,
or box, with a table between them


Caleb called q waiter and ordered glass
of sherry, and, when that was provided, gave
it to the girl, who seemed absolutely ready
to faint, and begged her to drink it, which
she did; then he ordered a substantial sup
per for her


The wine had revived her, and little color
had tinged her checks.


She seemed very young. Caleb thought
of his little sister at the old homestead in the
country, and guessed this girl must be about
her age-about seventeen.
| Thinking of his little sister, he could not
help thinking how he would feel if she We're
in such position as this poor creature; and
he felt 4 strong sensation under his watch
pocket, and did not care to speak for a mo-
ment.


Then he said kindly, and in II low tone,
'sAnd now you must tell how all this has
been brought about, and perhaps | can help
YOU"


l
laid her head on them, and cried-not loudly
but very bitterly.


81 don't like to see you cry" said Caleb
aud his voice was a little tremulous that
was soft point in Caleb's character; he
never liked to see anybody cry.


The girl raised her head and threw the
long, soft, curling hair back from her lace.
and said: "You are very, very kind to me-
and-I won't cry;" and she didn't; which
pleased him in more ways than one.


Caleb was not far out about her age
probably his memories about his little sister
had aided him in some occult way. She was
Just about seventeen, and now that she had
gained q little, that between the wine and the
Caleb thought so; but so thin so thin!


She had pretty, soft. brown curls. and ten
der violet eyes--very large; and as they
looked at Caleb, through the mist of her late
weeping he thought he had never seen any
halt so expressive.


| Her figure was trim and neatly clad but
poorly. Her hands were SMALL but they
bore the marks of labor, and the forefinger
of her right hand was dotted over with little
black specks, as Caleb remembered his
mothers to have been when he was boy at
home, and she sat i'm the arm chair sewing
for him


Then the nice hot supper came in, and,
with an apology, she began to eat.


And how she did eat?


Caleb had never seen any one very hungry
before, and he felt his own eyes grow dim
as he watched her. And somewhere in the
interior of his being he registered little oath
that she should never be hungry again-not
if he could help it; and then he thought of his
little sister once more.


And at last the supper was eaten (of course,
Caleb took nothing, for Delmonico had sup
piled him) and as she looked up, and he
asked her if she would have anything else,
she said: 81 am ashamed of myself for eat
ing so much; but l was so hungry and
then she went to crying again, but still silent
ly. And then, after a little, Caleb got her
story out of her.


How she was crying because she had a
widowed mother and little brother at home
who were just as hungry as she was, and
who would not have any kind friend to give
them food; and how she had come on this
night with wicked purpose in her heart be-
cause that she could not bear longer that
they should go hungry; and how that when
she spoke to Caleb her own hunger overcame
her-and she was so selfish, so wickedly sell
fsh-and now she must go. But Caleb