Since the strike wages are fourteen dollars a week for cab drivers, and this fall the Donnelly rent went up fifty cents a week.
The Donnelly tenement was a very desirable one, having but a single dark, windowless room, instead of two or three, like most New York tenements.

There were three children younger than Annie, who was fourteen.

The family of five made a fairly tight fit in four rooms.
Nevertheless, when the rent went up to six dollars Mrs.Donnelly took a lodger.

She had to or move and, remember, this was a desirable tenement because it had only one dark room.
One day the lodger asked Annie if she did not want to go to a dance.
Annie did want to, but she knew very well that her mother would not allow her to go.

Once a year the entire family, including the baby, attended the annual ball of the Coachman's Union, but that was another thing.