The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-12 00:00:00

JATcJRDAY, JULY 12, 1884

[ALL RIGHTS RESILRVED.3
AMBITION'S LADDER.
Byt of " Athcrsione Grange," "A Life lot
, . a Love," j-c.

CHAPTER
TOUCH OF NATURE;
Poor, wretel ed wandeltr
Want vritten legib'y on her wo, face;
What sin, what madness, or what sudden folly,
• Etas brought her to such d're it-nits 01 miseryl
AWAY out of the crowded streets, down the narrow
lane on the other side of the viaduct that spans the
well-lit, busily-thronged road, the raw night air
Piercing through her thin shawl, which she every
'now and then drew clnsPr round her shoulders, in
the vain endeavour to outain more warmth, a
poorly-clad woman stood beneath one of the brick
arches of the railway, looking wretchedly forlorn
and ill, as she leant against the wall, her gaze fixed
intently upon the living stream that passed along
the Westminster Bridge-road, as though she was
wat hing for some one, her arms crossed tightly
Over her breast, her lips firmly compressed as if to
choke back the convuTsive sobs that must else have
escaped her.
Poverty-stricken, with want and privation show-
ing themselves in every line of her face, every fold
of the scanty garments that were BO ill-calculated
to protect her from the inclemency of the weather,
she was strangely beautiful, in spite of her evident
misery and rags, and bore herself with an air
that spoke of happier, more refined surroundings
havinc, been hers at some time, than those among
whiclishe now stood, eagerly watching the living
tide that passed so near to her that every figure was
'plainly discernible; some—alas, how many P—poor
and wretched as herself, others with prosperous,
well-fed looks and comfortable clothing, more suit-
able for the damp, bleak air; more, again, lost,
vicious blots upon humanity of her own sex, who
flaunted their tawdry finery and filled the air with
the sound of their bold, loud laughter.
But very few eyes turned in the direction of that
solitary figure. Misery in tatters is not a sight so
uncommon as to attract much notice.

"And it is better so," muttered the woman, with
a hard, Litter look—" much better. A single word
of kindness, a touch of real friendliness, even now
might turn me from the end I have in view. Yet
there is no other way, nor should I care, but for the
thought of what will become of him. My child !—my
poor child ! "
And the sad, despairing face looked even more
despondent, till it suddenly brightened into tender-
ness at the sound of a childish voice close to her
side. _

"Mamma," it said, "why don't 'oo come home ?"
She turned with a wistful smile and stooped down
to embrace the speaker, a fine-featured, delicate
boy of four or five years of age, whose hand was
held by a good-humoured if somewhat coarse-
feature:l elderly woman, also poorly dressed, but
With more appearance of comfort.
"I didn't like leaving your little boy at home by
himself, Mrs. Grant, and Alick— drat him—ain't
nowhere to be found— off to the Wictoria again, I
expect. Drat them playhouses, say I; he'll never
come to no good along o' them," said the new
comer volubly. "So, as I was telling you, I brought
little Louis out a shopping with me. But, bless my
soul ! what are you standing here for in he cold,
and such a drizzle coming down, too. With such a
cough as you've got! It's quite enough,to give you
Your death, my dear, that it is."
The woman smiled again, but drearily, this time.
"I'm not afraid Of that, Mrs. Wood," she
answered in a reckless tone. "The poor and
miserable—such as I— are too well used to wet and
cold to be affected by them. Poverty is proof
against all such evils, I have found.'
"Just what my old man says, ma'am," returned
Mrs. Wood, nodding her head wisely. " He's
always a arguing that poor people 'as the best of
things that way, because, he says, they ain't got no
time to lay up, while rich folks go to bed and send
for the doctor if only their little finger aches, and
makes themselves ill with coddling and taking care
of themselves. But I don't say that he's right,
you know; and I'm sure of one thing, that you
ain't 'ardy enough to stand such weather as this,
so come along 'ome wi' me and little Louis, there's
a good soul, or you'll be getting the rheumatics,
and that's no joke, T can tell you, as have suffered
tortures unbeknownst that way, and my joints as
stiff as a poker."
"There is no occasion for fear as far as my health
IS concerned," replied the woman addressed as Mrs.
Grant. "Nothing can harm me now."
"Still, you'd be better at home, my dear, than
wandering about in the cold and wet."
"Perhaps. But lam here with an object, and
one that must be carried out before I seek rest.
Se if you will take the child home again, and put
him to bed for me, I shall be very much obliged to
you."_ _

"That I will, and welcome, my dear, and give
him some supper first as well," heartily returned
Mrs. Wood. "But I do hope—and you won't
mind me speal,ing p'a'n, as is old enough to be
your mother, and has known my own troubles, and
plenty of 'em. Ido hope and trust, my dear, that
the object you mean is a good one, that you won't
forget the little man here," and the worthy woman
.drew closer to the other's side—" that you won't
forget he's got no other friend in the world, only
you."

Tears stood in her kindly eyes as she finished
speaking, and Gertrude Grant turned away from her
anxious, enquiring glance.
_ _

"No "otbOr friend but me !" she repeated, with
despairing bitterness. " Ah! how can you think
that? I have been his cruellest enemy, if yeti knew
all."
"You!"

"Yes. It seems strange to you, no doubt, who
are a good woman and love your children, that a
mother can make such a confession. But it is true,
nevertheless. The innocent have often to suffer for
others'- wrong-doing in this world. You cannot
understand me, I daresay, now, but you will soon—
very_ soon." _ _ -

"1 hope so, indeed, for I can't abear to see you so
down, my dear. It makes my heart ache to hear
you talk so." -

- "Take my advice, Mrs. Wood, an' don't bother
yourself with troubles belonging to other people;
you have enough of your own."
"Maybe so; but for all that I can't help feeling
for those who seem to be w one off."

• "You are a good, kind woman, Mrs. Wood," re-
turned her companion, touched in spite of herself by
the tears of sympathy. "I can never make you any
return for it, but some day, perhaps, my boy may
have the power I lack. Some day, when lam
gone."
Mrs. Wood grew very nervous as she saw the
-solemn, unfathomable look that came into Gertrude
Grant's; eyes, and again attemrted to persuade her to
go ome. Chap 2
"It would be the test place for you, I am sure,"
the urged, "and this poor little fellow too."
"My boy !—my darling !"
.Ancl the mother stocped to take him in her arms
and press her lips to his in one long, lingering kiss,
then put him from her once again and repeated her
refusal. _ _ _ _

" it cannot be," she said; "I have something to
,do first. Take him away, please. He is shivering
with cold."

"And you?"
"I have an appointment I must keep, then I shall
.5o home, straight home," was the answer, spoken
in low, saddened accents.
"You will, you promise me?"
"Yes.'

'"Then come along, little man, and let us see
whether there ain't something nice and hot in:the
-saucepan by the'fire-- I humbly beg your pardon,
rm sure, sir. Come along, laddie. Mammy won't
le long."
With which she walked away, the child rather
reluctantly allowing himself to be parted from his
mother, while the gentleman to whom Mrs. Wood
had apologised for tai inadvertent jostle looked after
them a little curiously.
He was the same person already described, and
the reason for his visit to a neighbourhood so evi-
•dently foreign to his usual haunts now became
apparent, for—only waiting till her late companion
and the boy were out of sight—Gertrude Grant
addressed the newcomer.
'"I had almost given you up," she said.
"I am sorry to have kept you waiting, but I really
'could tot—''

.4rl;`
_Ni;-ni.atter;" she said, cutting him short with an
p,...a Lient gesture. "You saw that child?"
f,..,:add.ed his head shortly.
.t_ougaess who he Is, of course ? " she went ,on.
yeer, B°ll, I presume ? "
" I ailppo„d a
sh
savoury ou
that
locaultdy Ot.c, be br
But was it altogether necessary
ought to this anything but
44 be Perhaps not. But
I such
so much ? "
wishing to see yout,soahnd had alother reason for
unlikely for h a -spot as this is the most
atiaintanees." e you encoresuunted b'y any oiii
aiS
Pm not quite so sure cf that T
i
fellows at in): club talking cd heui. male
are ly
utand, clos e .
founded music hall, which is, I
uncin into some con-
eg
hope
am ready to
o
However, I came, as you requested
hear what you have to say; but
make the interview as brief as possible." Pe Y°Cil wi2ll
"You might speak to me a little more kihnadly-
George, if only in memory of the days when
children the same roof sheltered us."
"I think it would be better to let the past alone,"
answered the young man, coldly. "Tell me what
you want with me. If it is assistance, as I suppose,
I shall be very willing to give it to you, though a
setter would have answered the purpoe quite as
Gertrude Grant regarded him fixedly for a few
naoments,*and then replied bitterly—. -
ps I should
S.€lfish, unfeeling as ever. Perha
nave remembered that before, and not trusted to
Your good offices:,
:-;1-TPou Puy word, Mrs. —"
Silence!#' exclaimed Gertrude, with a look et
fierce abhorrence, "Do not speak the name that
Pon is
your lips. Aildress me only by that you used
teu we were childreo, together. I have rOnollinied
44t other for Pver.'.

In London last week 2458 births and 1508 deaths were
registered. Allowing for increase of population, the
'births were 127 below, and the deaths exceeded by 5,
the average numbers in the corresponding weeks of
the last ten years. The annual death-rate from all
cuses, which had been 17-8 and 19-1 per 1000 in the
two previous weeks, further rose to 19.6. Thirty per-
sons died from small-pox. -
From the Ist of April to the sth inst. the Exchequer
receipts amounted to £20,839,159, as compared with
£22,297,308 in the corresponding period of last year.
The expenditure has been £23,561,759. On Saturday
last the balance in the Bank of England was
£1.216,150, and in the Bank of Ireland £700,862.
The "City Press " states "that. one refreshment
contractor has accepted terms for the supply to his
firm of. 30,000 baskets of strawberries daily for the
next fortnight, which means a total of 360,000
baskets."

A young man named Quincy, son of an evicted tenant
at Knocknagree, has been sentenced to six months'
imprisonment for having posted a boycotting notice
threatening with death all persons who traded with two
brothers named BlTauliffe, coopers, who carry on busj.
ness in the locality. . .
A large brick building in course of erection in Sea-
gate, Dundee, as a penny theatre, collapsed on Monday
morning. The gable fell out into the street, and
crushed to death a horse harnessed to a van. The van
was smashed, and the driver seriously injured. It is
thought that the accident was caused by the side walls
being too slight to support the heavy roof.
The Swansea local fishermen report that the mackerel
has induced a shoal of sharks to visit Swansea Bay.
A shark measuring nearly five feet has just been landed
from a fishing smack, having been caught in a mackerel
sieve:
At a meeting of Sunderland, shipowners on ,Monday,
Mr. Storey, M.P., was unanimously thanked for the
energetic steps taken by him in the House of Commons
in relation to the crew of the Nisero.
Sir Saul Samuel, K.C.M.G. Agent-General for New
South Wales, has been informed by telegram of
the arrival in Sydney of the steamer Abergeldie,
which sailed from Plymouth with emigrants in May
last.
New South Wales has an area of 308,000 square
miles, and in 1882 had 817,468 inhabitants and 1315
miles of railway, whose average cost was £12,161 per
mile.
While the Rev. Mr. Keitb,minister of the Established
Church of Lybster, near Wick, was out driving on
Saturday afternoon, the horses took fright and ran
away. The carriage was upset, and Mr. Keith was
thrown out on the road and received injuries from the
effects of which he died in a few hours.
The explosion of a spirit lamp was followed by a fire
at 24, Albert-terrace, Barnsbury-road, London, in a
room occupied by lodgers. Henry Kennedy, aged 28,
and Sarah Ann Kennedy, aged 26, were both severely
burnt, and removed to an hospital. The woman shortly
afterwards expired.
Alderman O'Connor, a Nblican and a Nationalist,was
on Monday elected Lord Mayor of Duhlba for the en-
suing term by 34 votes to 13.
The election expenses of Sir J. Whittaker Ellis, Bart.,
the newly-elected member for Mid-Surrey, amount to
£1179 Bs. Od. In addition to this sum there are his
share of the returning officer's charges (£340), and
£l7 12s. 10d., Sir J. W. Ellis's personal expenses,
making a total expenditure of £1537 is. 7d.
On Monday the steamship Normandy (Captain Hem-
mings), one of the regular boats between Newhaven
and Dieppe, accomplished the fastest passage on record,
having only taken 3h. 31min. between the two pier-
heads.
It is stated that further tevelations concerning the
flogging of Indian coolies have been brought to light in
Mauritius. A high official has reported that during the
last ten years there have been over 500 cases
of flogging in the Manritius gaols that he thinks were
not cases in which flogging should have been inflicted.
A telegram received at Dundee on Monday, reports
the arriN al of the steamer Kara at Lerwick, bringing
the intelligence that a boat belonging to the whaler
Chieftain of Dundee, had been picked up in Greenland
by a Norwegian whaler on June 2. The crew of five
men had suffered severely, having been five days with-
out food. No hopes are entertained of the safety of the
crew of the remaining boat.
The operatives of Lancashire have arranged to
present Mr. Mundella, M.P., on the afternoon of the
2nd of August, at Manchester, with an address welcom-
ing him to Lancashire. Afterwards a bust of the right
hon. gentlenian and a silver service will be presented
in recognition of his constant and valuable efforts on
behalf of factory-workers.
The GermAn Cuirassier band, which has been playing
at the Healt II Exhibition, arrived at Windsor on Mon-
day, and , the men were entertained by the Queen.
They wci e driven in one of her Majesty's brakes to
Virginia We after which they inspected the Castle
and othrt i.;aces of interest. They dined at the Castle
before returninc• to London.

A large woollen mill, belonging to Messrs. Kenyon,
at Bury, Lancashire, was burnt down on Saturday
night. The damage, about £12,000, is believed to be
covered by insurance.
A New York telegram states that the visible supply of
wheat on July 4 was 14,200,000 bushels, as against
14,900,000 bushels the previous week. Visible supply
of Indian corn, 7,800,000 bushels, as against 8,500,000
bushels the previous week. The export clearances of
wheat for Europe during last week amounted to
990,000 bushes ; the export clearances of Indian corn
for Europe during the week amounted to 740,000 bushels.
Eleven British and ten foreign actual shipwrecks were
reported during last week, making a total of 815 for the
present year against 1015 at the same period last year,
Four (British) were wrecked off the 'United Kingdom,
including one by collision. One German vessel was lost
with all hands, and a British vessel of 1000 tons was
destroyed by fire.
According to the latest information from the North-
West Territory the Canadian crop prospects are very
good. The Department of Agriculture officially esti-
mates the yield of wheat. at 91 million bushels, of
which about 7,000,000 bushels will be available for
export. The crops in the western sections of the
Canadian Pacific Railway as far as the Rocky Moun-
tains are declared to be fully equal to those on the
more eastern portions of the line.
John Evans and his wife were charged at Market-
hill, Newry, on Saturday, with having murdered their
child, whose body was found in the river with wounds
on its head. Sergeant Elkin stated that on proceeding
to the prisoner's house he saw blood stains on the wall
and also on the male prisoner's trousers. They were
returned for trial at Armagh Assizes.
Paris advices state that the French cereal crops pre-
sent generally a good appearance. The tone of the
French wheat markets has not experienced much
change. The offers made by farmers have continued
restricted, but, on the other hand, the demand has been
extremely moderate. At Marseilles there has been a
slightly increased demand for wheat, and quotations
have not varied.
The large immigration this season to Canada has
given rise to an interesting discussion as to the value of
a good settler to tne country. Many of the best
statistical authorities place it at £2OO. In the United
States the value was for some years put at 830 dols.,
and 1200 dols. ; while in the Australian colonies
each immigrant is estimated at being worth from £250
to £260. _ _ _

The weekly arrivals of live stock and fresh meat at ,
Liverpool from tho rnited States and Canada continue
On a large scale, and there being a larger number of
steamers conveying live stock and fresh meat last week
than in the preceding week, the imports show an in-
crease. The total supply amounted to 2SOI cattle, 345 '
sheep, 7459 quarters of beef, 630 carcases of mutton, and
60 hogs.
The producti, n of coal in France last year is officially .
returned at 20,887,092 tons, as compared with 20,046,79 i
6
tons in 1882, showing an increase of 820,296 tons last
year. The production of lignites in France in 1883 was
559,107 tons, as compaird with 556,909 tons in 1882,
showing an increase of 2199 tons last year.
The losses by fire in the United States during the
half-year were nearly 54,000,000 dols., or 20 per cent.
over the total for the first-half of 1883, and 9,000,000
, -
dols. more than the highest return for any previous cor-
responding half-year.
Last week's receipts of cotton at all United States '
ports were 6000 bales; since Ist September, 4,786,000
bales. Week's exports to Great Britain, 13,000 bales;
ditto to Continent, 3000. Total since Ist September,
3,674,000 bales; stock at an ports, 336,000 bairn;
ditto interior ports, 29,000 bales.
A six-storey lace warehouse at Nottingham belonging
to the Midland Lace Company, and situate in the '
centre of the lace market, was discovered to be on fire
two hours after the workpeople had left on Saturday.
An adjoining warehouse, the property of Mr. Henry
Clarke, also became ignited, and damage to the amount
of 25,000 was done. .s.
A fiddle upon which Washington used to play is now
in the possession of Colonel J. Washington, and an
effort is being made to raise 1500 dols. to purchase
it that it maybe placed in Miss Custis's music room, at .
Mount Vernon, where are already the harpsichord pre-
sented by the General to Miss Custis on her wedding -
(lay, and the flute upon which he used to accompany
her.
On Saturday the Australian Eleven continued their '
innings in the cricket match with an Eleven of Eng-
land at Huddersfield. Their first innings closed for 175,1
and following on they lest seven wickets in scoring 125,
damages.
being 300 in an innings and seven wickets, as against
453 scored in the first innings by their opponents. The
game was thus drawn. '
The heat during last week in Berlin was intense, and
storms Of exceptional violence. i • •
The Lord Chief Justice gave judgment on Saturday
was only occasionally interrupted by swhsoratgatoihnausrntddetehnres- ,
in the action brought by
Eastern Telegraph Company and others for, as alleged,
appropriating their message announcing the battle of
any
havingcouanwsealrdoecin both sides, his ,
lordship said he should give judgment for the defend- -
ants, and then the whole matter could be raised before
the Divisional Cou:t. There will be an appeal from .
this decision.
AfterT e l-el -K
somee bi r,
conversationt ile jury not
wi
th
,
Regent's-park, London, during last week, included 'an •
Indian wild dog from India, presented 1 .
The additions to the Ztohoel ogi Centrale
a i
Bulkeley ; a brush-tailed k )3, Mr. T. A.
kangaroo from New South
Wales, presented by Mr. J. Abrahams .
; a white-collared
mangabey from West Africa, presented by Mrs. Du
He mme 1 a black-eared
marmoset from South-east
Brril _ .... ,
presented
by Mrs. Spencer C: Stanhope; a
Gmanan tree
Guiana, porcupine, a rough fox from British
ana, presented by Mr. G. H. Hawtayne, C.M.Z.S. ; a
laughing kingfisher from Australia, presented by Mrs. .
W. Moir; two chaplain crows from Persia, presented
by Mr. B. T. Ffinch ; a European pond tortoise, two
spotted salamanders, European, presented by Mr. J.
Satcherd.; two Algerian tropidosaures, three rapid
spine-foot lizards from North Africa, presented by Mr.-
W. O,Tait,C.III.Z.S. ; an adorned ceratophyrs from South
America, presented by Captain Hairby ; an orange-
winged amazon from South America, a St. Thomas's
conure from St. Thomas, -w.r., a- yellow oonure from
Guiana, two P -serine parrots from British Guiana,
as
deposited ; a Bengal vulture from India, two coscoroba
swans from Chili, three turquoisine parrakeets from
New South Wales, purchased; two black guillemots
from Ireland, received in Qxchange ; a hog deer, four
Himalayan monauls, five Chilian pintails, five siineePe
ducks. bred in the zazdens.