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Neddie's care (L'attention de Neddie ou la souffrance des jeunes enfants)
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- Argument
| Titre | 7. ''Only a penny, Sir, please give me a penny'' |
|---|---|
| Distributeur d'origine | Riley Brothers |
| Fabricant | James Bamforth |
| Date | 1887 |
| Lieu de fabrication | Angleterre (Holmfirth, Yorkshire) |
| Description technique | life models, photographie rehaussée de couleurs, plaque carrée fixe |
| Dimensions | L. 82 mm l. 82 mm |
| Cote | PLM-00147-007 (Coll. Cinémathèque française) |
- Neddie's Care or the suffer the little children - livret
- "Only a penny, please give me a penny, Sir !" and though several hours were spent thus, no one seemed inclined to take pity on Neddie. Her clear voice grew gradually more desponding in its tones, till at last it had dwindled down into something like true professional whine. The poor child was almost faint with hunger and cold; she had tasted no food for nearly forty-eight hours, there was no affection about that. At length, she found herself once more close to the house with the iron railings, where she had waited so long the day before. In a short time Neddie saw a lady coming out of the gateway.
Minn, Neddie's Care or the suffer the little children, in Lantern reading n°72, Riley Bros, Bradford, p. 5
"If you please, 'M, will you" she began, but she stopped short when she saw the lady was one of the mission ladies.
"What were you going to say ?" asked the lady, stopping before Neddie.
"Please 'M, I was going to say, please, 'M, will you give me a penny, but I ain't going to now," she added. "Why aren't you going to, now, my child ?" asked the lady.
"'Cause you are one of them," said Neddie, looking towards the house," and I was going to say to one of them, please 'M, will you come to see my Dickey ? " he's very bad, he is."
"Who are you, and who is Dickey ?" enquired the lady.
"Please, 'M, I'm Neddie, and Dickey's Dickey."
"Neddie !" said the lady," why that's a boy's name."
"No 'please, 'M, it ain't it's mine."
"Whereabouts does Dickey live ?" she asked next, and no Neddie telling her, they immediately moved off together towards Stoke Alley. On their way Neddie told her how often she had waited outside the house with the iron railings. "I heard the singing," she said," and saw little children as young ad Dickey go in and out, so I waited patiently. I told Dickey I'd ask one of you to come and see him, as one did to widow Park's little granddaughter down in Fisher Court." "You look cold and pinched with hunger, poor child; have you no warmer clothing to put on, no shoes, and stockings ?"
"Nothing but what I have on, and two days ago I had a bit of bread, so did Dickey, that's all, non since."
"Are you father and mother living ?"
"Father died two years ago, he was raving mad, he was always drunk; had to keep out of his reach any way;"
Poor child, she remembered her drunken father, her own mother she could not remember. She had only known the cruel, drunken stepmother; at an early age the children had been sent out into the streets to beg. Cuffs and kicks they got in plenty, but kindnesses were luxuries quite out of their reach, except what they received from each other, for each to each was more than all the world, besides. "Is your mother alive, then ?" enquired the Mission lady
"No, mother got drunk too when we begged enough pennies. One day she goes out, and don't come back; next day someone says there's been a splash from off London Bridge - that was mother !"
"Poor children, and how do you manage to live ?"
"Sukey Brown took us in, and when I've begged enough pennies to keep Dickey and me from starving, I give her some. She's cross the days I don't get none."
"What is the matter with Dickey ?"
"I don't know , good lady, he wastes and wastes, and don't get better, and coughs day and night too."
"I am Miss Bell," replied the lady, "don't call me good lady, there is none good, save our Father in heaven ?"
"Does your Father live there ?", enquired Neddie
"Dear child, have you heard of your Father in heaven ?"
"It's a mistake," said the poor girl, "My father was never there in his life, never went anywhere 'cept to the gin shop."
Alas for our Christian land : that there should be any on whose ear the name of God has never fallen otherwise than as an oath, and who have never so much as heard of a future life."
By the time the lady and Neddie had reached the miserable street, called Stoke Alley.
Minn, Neddie's Care or the suffer the little children, in Lantern reading n°72, Riley Bros, Bradford, pp. 5-7.
Neddie est une jeune orpheline (plaque 2). Elle a trouvé refuge avec son frère Dickey chez Mme Suckey Brown parmi d'autres malheureux (plaque 3). Suckey Brown les acceptera tant qu'ils payeront leur abri de fortune (plaque 4). Malheureusement le frère de Neddie est très malade (plaques 5 et 6) et la fillette est contrainte à la mendicité pour ne pas qu'ils dorment dehors en plein hiver (plaque 7). Elle rencontre alors une femme de la Mission qui vient en aide aux pauvres (plaque 8). Elle questionne la fillette qui raconte ses malheurs : comment son père est mort, le suicide de sa mère et maintenant, la maladie de son frère. La jeune femme lui demande de la conduire auprès du jeune garçon (plaque 9). Quand elle découvre Dickey inanimé (plaque 10), elle envoie Neddie chercher de l'aide auprès de sa Mission et c'est avec l'aide d'infirmières (plaque 11) que le jeune garçon est transporté à l'hôpital (plaque 12). Peu à peu Dickey recouvre des forces (plaques 13 à 18). La chaleur de ce foyer inespéré redonne confiance aux deux orphelins et ensemble ils chantent un cantique (dont les paroles sont retranscrites à la plaque 16), ce qui n'est pas sans émouvoir les infirmières (plaque 17).
Mais un jour, un drame survient : Neddie est victime d'un accident (plaque 19). Sa blessure est importante et la fillette a peur de mourir (plaque 20). Une infirmière la rassure en lui chantant le chant chrétien "I heard the voice of Jesus say" (retranscrit plaque 21). Lorsque Dickey apprend l'état de Neddie, il veut absolument la voir (plaque 22). Neddie elle ne souhaite qu'une chose avant de mourir : revoir son frère (plaque 23). Finalement, Dickey assiste aux derniers instants de sa soeur (plaque 24). L'hôpital érige une croix en leur souvenir, là où frère et soeur reposent enfin en paix.
