Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-12-10
From the National Era
Uncle Johns Visit
TALE FOR THANKSGIVING
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.

BY MARTHA RUSSELL.
1t came at last-what the fire, Cassandra-kc,
had muttered of for several day, past-what pco-
pie prophesied on the street-what Bill Lyman,
the stage-drivcr, had foreSeen that morning, when
he called for his heaviest pea.jacket-what young
maidcns and school boys had looked for with such
impatient longings-what the houselcss and homo
less had anticipated with dread-the snow-storm.
And right brave storm it was; none of your
light, trfng affairs, that merely covered the earth
with thin frostng like that on bridal loaf, but
a regular old fashioned snow storm. To be sure
it rather coqucttish at first like young horse
at starting, but it settled down, and went to
work in good earnest. 1t dainty coyerlids
for the violet beds in the deep old woods, and COW
cred them over like careful mother it powder
ed the heads of the ccdars until they looked like
white haired giants, and wrapped alike the graves
of rich and poor in shroudS Of dazzling white
ness
oh very impartial were those same little white
fcathery flakes that came down at the bidding of
the storm. edgng alike the blue cloth cloak of
Judge Edmonds, and the ragged garments of the
bcggar with,
''Ermne 100 dc,r for Eel"
Then they made league with that cool-headed
old tactican, the North wind and together they
went skirring through the streets, hcaying up en-
barkments here, and digging trenches and form
ing there, rushing round corners, TO attack
rosy checked gentlemen, who fought and sputtcr-
cd and dashed the snow from their eyebrows, to
see what awaited them next, while the thinly clad
shop girls drew their shawls closer about them,
and scudded in troops, like little snow birds, close
under the lee of the houses TO escape their boiS-
ferrous greetings, In the space of an hour or so
the storm had the city pretty much to itself for
whoever had shelter, glad to get beneath it,
and stay there.
On the corner of and streets was spa
cious wholesale clothing store, upon which in hur,
ryng up and down the street, after the last strag
glcrs, the storm seemed to bcStow particular at
tcntion. 1t tried TO shake the mahogany cased
windows, and find some crack in them or in the
heavily -pancllcd door, by which it could gain in
gresS but baiicI here it concntcd itself with rap
ping a white covering over the guided sign board
darkening the windows, mutliing the steps, and
| png up barricade against the door. rs lit said
never mind III be ready for you when you
! do opcn!'
| Now, it was very provoking, no doubt, but none
of these manovrcs seemed to disturb the cqua
nimity of Mr.. ID. Orcstes jumps, the owner of the
store. All the clerks had gone to tea; and while
waiting their return, he sat before the stove, with
his heels resting upon high stool, rather above
the level of his head, and his eyes fixed upon a
lamp hook in the wall, rs a kind of tcther to his
imagination, as he counted up the profits of the
days salcs-a very necessary and commendable
| process, seeing next day New Years, and he
anticipated several extra demands upon his purse
| Perhaps we should not be far from the truth, il
we said that, at the same time, he gave a sort of
rough guess at his ncighbor Jumpers profits and
| wondered Just how much and ,chdt he would give
at the pastors donation party the next evening
! for Mr.. ID. Orcstes jumps did not intend to be
thrown in the shade by any one, especially by n
| rival house; besides all at times so remark
ably disintercstcd, that take interest il
other peoples concerns than our own.
But hnrrah the storm has triumphcd Through
the open door falls barricadc of snow, followed
by the wind that sends the glittering particles
dancing through the whole length of the store
and raises such a connection among the variou:
garments, mentonable and uncomfortable, sus
pended overhead, that it is some time before tht
astonished Mr.. jumps is aware of the cause Of
that disturbance.
But there she stands-a little, shrinking, hollow
eyed girl with a cheek almost white snow
matted in her abundant hair, and clinging to the
folds OF her miserable dress.
We'll, what is wanting, my girl :" asked Mr.
jumps, as the thin, wan face, scarcely higher thar
the level of the counter, turned up to him
with timid, appealing glance.
please sir" began little trembling piping
voice, II have brought some shirts, and mother
wants to know if you will be Kind enough TO let
her have the money for them"
Mr.. jumps took the package which the little Cir
drew from under her shawl, and deliberately coun
ted the coarse garments it contained. while the lit
| tie one edged timidly toward the stove
| Three, four, five, six. WHY. child" exclaim-
ed the gentleman, he finished counting, chow is
this Here is bat half tbs lot we gave out to
your mother"
mo, sir, returned the child as she edged back
| to her first stand, mother knew that-but little
Jennie has been so sick, sir that we could not have
| any more done; and-and-iti is SO cold, and the
! coal is all gone. Mother hoped, sir, that you
! would be kind enough TO pay for these, and we
will finish the others as soon as we cam
II thought your mother understood our terms.
told her when she took the work, that we made
it a rule to paw only when the work was done, y
returned Mr.. jumps. There arc plenty Of peo-
pie glad to work for US on these terms, and your
mother cannot expect Us TO make an exception in
her favor.