The Angel of the Tenement

The Angel of the Tenement, by
George Madden

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Title: The Angel of the Tenement
Author: George Madden Martin

Release Date: November 16, 2007 [eBook #23517]
Language: English
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THE ANGEL OF THE TENEMENT
by
GEORGE MADDEN MARTIN

[Illustration]

New York Bonnell, Silver & Co. 1897
Copyright by Bonnell, Silver & Co., 1897.

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. The Advent of the Angel 1
II. The Entertainers of the Angel 16
III. Introduces the Little Major 26

IV. The Angel Becomes a Fairy 37
V. The Angel Rescues Mr. Tomlin 55
VI. The Major Superintends the Angel's Education 72
VII. Miss Ruth makes the Acquaintance of Old G. A. R. 90
VIII. The Angel meets an old Friend 99
IX. Mary Carew is Tempted 111
X. The Major Obeys Orders 122
XI. Tells of the Tenement's Christmas 125

THE ANGEL OF THE TENEMENT.
CHAPTER I.
THE ADVENT OF THE ANGEL.
The ladies of the Tenement felt that it was a matter concerning the
reputation of the house. Therefore on this particular hot July morning
they were gathered in the apartment of Miss Mary Carew and Miss
Norma Bonkowski, if one small and dingy room may be so designated,
and were putting the matter under discussion.
Miss Carew, tall, bony, and more commonly known to the Tenement as
Miss C'rew, of somewhat tart and acrid temper, being pressed for her
version of the story, paused in her awkward and intent efforts at
soothing the beautiful, fair-haired child upon her lap and explained that
she was stepping out her door that morning with her water-bucket,
thinking to get breakfast ready before Miss Bonkowski awoke, when a
child's frightened crying startled her, coming from a room across the
hall which for some weeks had been for rent.

"At that," continued Miss Carew, moved to unwonted loquacity, and
patting the child industriously while she addressed the circle of
listening ladies, "at that, 'sure as life!' says I, and stepped across and
opened the door, an' there, settin' on this shawl, its eyes big like it had
jus' waked up, an' cryin' like to break its heart, was this here baby. I
picked her right up an' come an' woke Norma, but it's nothin' we can
make out, 'ceptin' she's been in that there room all night."
Many were the murmurs and ejaculations from the circle of wondering
ladies, while Miss Bonkowski, a frowzy-headed lady in soiled shirt
waist and shabby skirt, with a small waist and shoulders
disproportionately broad; and with, moreover, a dab of paint upon each
high-boned cheek,--nothing daunted by previous failures, leaned
forward and putting a somewhat soiled finger beneath the child's pretty
chin, inquired persuasively, "And isn't the darling going to tell its
Norma its name?"
Miss Bonkowski spoke airily and as if delivering a part. But this the
good ladies forgave, for was not this same Miss Norma the flower that
shed an odor of distinction over the social blossoming of the whole
Tenement? Was not Miss Bonkowski a chorus lady at The Garden
Opera House?
So her audience looked on approvingly while Miss Norma snapped her
fingers and chirruped to the baby encouragingly. "And what is the
darling's name?" she repeated.
The little one, her pitiful sobbing momentarily arrested, regarded Miss
Bonkowski with grave wonder. "Didn't a know I are Angel?" she
returned in egotistical surprise.
"Sure an' it's the truth she's spakin', fer it's the picter of an angel she is,"
cried Mrs. O'Malligan, she of the first-floor front, who added a tidy
sum to her husband's earnings by taking in washing, and in
consequence of the size of these united incomes, no less than that of her
big heart, was regarded with much respect by the Tenement, "just look
at the swate face of her, would ye, an' the loikes of her illegant gown!"

"Won't it tell its Norma where it came from? Who brought the dearie
here and left it in the naughty room? Tell its Norma," continued Miss