“I kin remember when she used to wear dem,” cried she.  The women burst anew into cries as if they had all been stabbed.  The mourner turned to the soiled and unshaven man.

“Jimmie, boy, go git yer sister!  Go git yer sister an’ we’ll put deh boots on her feets!”

“Dey won’t fit her now, yeh damn fool,” said the man.

“Go git yer sister, Jimmie,” shrieked the woman, confronting him fiercely.

The man swore sullenly.  He went over to a corner and slowly began to put on his coat.  He took his hat and went out, with a dragging, reluctant step.

The woman in black came forward and again besought the mourner.

“Yeh’ll fergive her, Mary!  Yeh’ll fergive yer bad, bad, chil’!  Her life was a curse an’ her days were black an’ yeh’ll fergive yer bad girl?  She’s gone where her sins will be judged.”

“She’s gone where her sins will be judged,” cried the other women, like a choir at a funeral.

“Deh Lord gives and deh Lord takes away,” said the woman in black, raising her eyes to the sunbeams.

“Deh Lord gives and deh Lord takes away,” responded the others.

“Yeh’ll fergive her, Mary!” pleaded the woman in black.  The mourner essayed to speak but her voice gave way.  She shook her great shoulders frantically, in an agony of grief.  Hot tears seemed to scald her quivering face.  Finally her voice came and arose like a scream of pain.

“Oh, yes, I’ll fergive her!  I’ll fergive her!”

*** End of the project gutenberg EBOOK, Maggie:  A girl of the streets ***

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