The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-09-20


Sometimes she had company; tall.
graceful, neat woman, with pale face
and irail person, who stood by her, look
ing in, the same direction. 1t was good
place. too, in the shade of some dark green
trees. whilher she could come out of that
cul de sac Of court, where she breathed
hot air all day, and carbonic acid gas all
night, to get little snuff of the evening
breezs coming up from the lower bay.
That breez is blessed inheritance Of the
New Y ork poor, which they should enjoy,
but are cheated out, of by every one who
builds their, houses.
One evening we noticed that our little
girl of the alley over the way was not
| alone in her usual seat upon the door step.
In her lap lay little sister, very young.
| small. and pale as her mother, with her
mothers own sweet face. Every pleasant
evening for months, that little girl brought
s,the baby" down the court, out into the
open street to feel the soft air Of the sea
breeze. She could not run TO meet papa,
out her eyes went round the corner in
sharp glances, and she tried to direct
baby's the same way as she said "there
comes papa" So, as she could not run
to meet him.; as soon as he turned old
Dobbin about toward the pump, before he
stopped to unhitch, he, jumped off and
came and stopped down and kissed both.
OF their life in doors, we knew nothing,
but one so affeciionate to his children,
must have been equally SO to the mother
who bore them We could have sworn it
often, that he was a kind. good husband,
when we saw the market basket upon his
arm, or the slop bucket in his hand. and
the little bits OF kindling wood on his cart
-all kindling the fires of affection in the
heart, as we'll as the household fire in that
one room, where ell lived and cooked and
ate and slept.
Oh what pity. we often thought, that
such industry could not bring better re.
ward. Out in the country. in some snug
farm house, how fhe color would come
back to that mothers cheek-for twas
there that she was iborn-and those two
children would grow up to healthy woman
hood.
Afew days ago we went out OF the city.
it was one of those burning days Of that
hot month of July-it was that very day
that all the world OF America turn into all
FOOLS day, and burn tuns of powder, while
they get gloriously drunk, shouting ''what
q glorious independence" Out in the
eountry--in shady groves and in deep
neoks. by cool springs gushing out of the
rocks, re saw, scores of city children. that
live in just such, courts as the carman and
his little red headed daughter, and they
were, so, happy, and it gave life such
healthy joy, that we wished she too could
have been there. Strange, though We had
never spoken to this gentle child, what
cord went from our heart to hers.
We came back the next day, but we
did not see her. Morning and evening
passed, and she was not there; and then
we thought, yes we felt, that she had gone
to the country; perhaps, just then, was
sitting with father and mother under the
shade Of just such group of fragmen,
cedars. on just such rock, near just such
spring as we had sat by two days before,
with one Of the dearest little girls in the
world, while other little girls. more inclin-
| ed TO play, were enjoying life with high
glee all around.
We were almost sure our surmi.e was
| true, because the cart stood idle in the
street; but it only stood SO two days, and
then We saw old Dobbin backing out oil his
oven and coming down the alley, and
walking in between the shafts of the cart
| by the pump. 1t was an old. familiar
sight, and we really felt comfortable to see
it again.s We had just taken acold bath,
as we always do AT six o'clock every morn
| ing, and that male US in mood to be
comfortable with all outside Influences,
There was one thing, though, that deiract-
ed little from our comfort. We thought
the carman's eyes looked little unusual.
ly red, and there was less yigor in his step
than ought to follow two days recreation
| in the country; and we could not help
thinking that he had done what million
j others of his countrymen had done upon
! the same occasion, just Gin honor of the
day''-got drunk. How we did wrong
that man. After he was all ready to start,
he got down and went back and looked
up the court, as though Ne had forgotten
something. or expected to see somebody
running down. Why did not somebody
coms2 Blu, she did not, and he started
away, looking back as he went around the
corner; but no loving glance met his; no
kiss few from waving hand. like an cleo.
t1tIC uhou " :" Hot COuiO
meant All, thought we. he has left them
Iin. the country Grandpa fell so in love
with the little city girl that he must have
her stay a while with him; and grandms
j thinks it must be. too hot for the baby in
j the city, and mammals health will be all
! the better for week there. 20
4 All true, yet all false. 1t was SO true il
served for lull Of any. anxiety in oul
mind until Saturday, and then somebody
at our house wanted a cart, and called
him of the opposite alley. While he was
waiting. we said 1--WE supposed he wen
to the country to enjoy the Fourth Of Ju
Ily."
i"No; it was day OF little enjoymen
! to me. - as,a ssss.l x ts
"Were you sick!'' !, 9 49,.
$40"
There was a strange suspicion coming
over US. We dreaded to ask, for fear i
J was true, but could notturn away, snd sc
: we said: ~ -,!f -AE.asf -
"And your little girl?''
"She is gone. Sir"
T. Al