“I do need it, but I will not take it from you, no, no; you can give us a few cents, enough to buy a loaf of bread, but I will not take the five dollars.”
“Do you need something to eat?”
“Why, sir,” said the woman, “we have not had a mouthful pass our lips in twenty-four hours.”
“Great Scott!” cried Ike, “why, I’ve got lots of food upstairs, I’ll go and get some,” and without waiting for remonstrance, or thanks, or inquiry, the lad shot from the room.
Ike prepared some coffee, he had all necessary appliances, and he had plenty of bread and cold meat, and he returned as quickly as possible with the food; he placed it on the table, and demanded:
“Where are your plates, and knives and forks?”
“We have none, all are gone.”
Ike had noticed, as stated, that there were few things in the room; the woman reposed on a cot, there was a table and one chair, no carpet, and he, at the last moment, discovered that there was no stove nor any of the usual, even poor equipments that can be found in the poorest apartments.
Again he left the room and soon returned with cups, plates, knives and forks, and he bustled around and set things all ready for eating. He carried the invalid a cup of coffee, and some bread and meat, which she devoured with avidity. The little girl also betrayed an excellent appetite and as her hunger became appeased she exclaimed:
“Mamma, this is just splendid.”