At Dinner in Gambler-alley Hall.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 18, 16 March 1870, Page 3

At Dinner in Gambler-alley Hall.

{Dally Telegraph.)

On Christmas Day five hundred poor children, together with a few lame women, sat down to dinner in Gambler-alley Hall, and were regaled with roast mutton and out of money subscribed in an appeal in the columns of the iid'dy Telegraph. This dinner may be taken as a sample of many given through the same means on that day. Twelve o'clock was the hour fixed for the dinner, and long before the cooks were ready the entrance to the hall was more than filled by the invited guests, the rear of the force lingering in the alley. Each was expected to bring " fork, knife, and plate." When all had taken their seats, it was curious to observe the cutlery, and the doubts which the owners seemed to have as to their capabilities. Amongst the five hundred sets there was not one bright knife: all were deeply rusted, scores were worn-out shoemakers' knives, and a majority appeared to have been picked out of dust-heaps in anticipation of the feast. The forks were equally varied in appearance : prongs were turned in so many ways as to make it impossible to raise meat upon them, onefourth were handleless, ami scores were mere skewers. There were several notable little sufferers at the tables. Clara, eleven years of age, hobbled in upon crutches. Saven years ago she was run over in the street, and has not grown an inch since. Maria had a cut extending across her forehead, given her by a drunken father. Many of the boys had bruised faces, but they would not tell how they were thus marked. Phoebe was asked what she had had for dinner on Friday, and she replied, "Two ha'penny pieces of fried fish, and 'twas 'atween my big brother, and my little brother, and my father, and my mother, and me." Hundreds of the children represented families that are chiefly sustained on bread and tea. In only a single instance was difficulty experienced about the guests. There were two sisters, Elizabeth and Sarah, and they had only one pair of boots and one shawl between them ; but it was ultimately arranged so that the one who stopped at home had her dinner sent. In another case, three little ones, the children of a widow, could not be found until Christmas Eve. Then the Bible-woman discovered them about ten at night, shiver-

ing on the doorstep of their lodgings, waiting for their mother's return. When they were told about the feast, they appeared to forget their sufferings, and shouted in the exuberance of their joy. Amongst the women there was a young widow, whose ewe was one of special hardship. She had lost her husband, and falling into ill-health, became lame. They had occupied a respectable position, but, to maintain herself and her little girl, she is obliged to sit in a public street all day, offering ironholders for sale, by which she realizes 2d per diem. To that income the parish adds Is 6d a week. She walked up one of the aisles preceded by her little daughter, who appeared very proud of her protectress, and the child gave her mother's hair severai furtive touches with her hand, as though to make the most of her appearance. When all were seated, some minutes elapsed before the meat appeared, and the time was diligently occupied in straightening the pongs of forks, brightening the knives, lind drawing patterns on the table cloths. prace was at length sung; and then a ■conflict of no ordinary kind commenced. iClie knives would not cut; the forks were liseless. Some of the boys changed the usual mode of handling the dinner weapons, (ind hacked away with the knife in the eft hand. Others gave their knives a lick o put an edge on ; a few applied the knife nth rapid motion to their boots. One ittle fellow, to get the better purchase, ested his elbows on the shoulders of his leighbours, and this led to a short row. \i length, by common consent, the maonty of the knives and forks were laid lown, and nimble fingers effected a speedy ilearance of the plates. Then followed a »use, during which all the waiters myseriously disappeared. A hum was raised s of partial satisfaction ; but many an [nxious look was directed towards a cer-

ain door. At length it opened, and a gaiter appeared, holding in each hand a lluni-pudding. A second waiter followed he first, a third the second, until it seamed lie line would never end ; and it was only dien the fortieth waiter with the eightieth lum-pudding had appeared that the magic oor closed. The meat and potatoes had eon received in silence ; but this was top inch for discipline. Not one of the five undred had tested plunvpudding since the revious Christinas, and these puddings ere the realisation of a year's dream. In fin the Superintendent gave the signal « silence, The first qoupla of-puddings ere greeted with a cheer, and every sacking couple provoked an addition to the >lume of sound. They shouted until wple ran in from the neighbourhood to low- what had occurred ; they shouted ltd the very last pudding had been cut >, and was under course of distribution, was monarch of the day. A® ,ncl course wa3 moro q«ickly disP««wW than the first« and many a little li 4 was allowed to «take a bit 'ome for lother.".'.