The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-03


fellow, Economy, shakes his ugly head doubt.
ingly over your best furniture-cheap. fine
thlngs-and throws out hints about pine table
and two chairs. He makes you shiyer over n
homeopathic coal fire in the dining-room. leax.
ing gentllity to freeze in the parlor With
your purse in one hand, he counts your notatoes
with the other, and is dubious over an mac.
countable increase of pots and pans. He makes
you darn stockings, and repair-shall saw it,
old pantaloons; and you begin to believe that
you have made bad thing of it, and wish YOU
had not"and few nervous rows helm on
the misery. The gradual improvement in the
way OF furniture, the little recitals. in the even
ing OF successes during the day, do not alto
gether remove the troubles.
There are two other friends. vet tn come
known as Sickness and Sorrow. who will work
wonders; and, sooner or later, they are knock
ing at the door. II is after DAYS of suffering
and dreary nights of fear, when you battle
the fevered head and look into the wasted face.
and listen to the step of the Doctor as the
sweetest music in the world, that comes ND
the memory of the many patient little kindness
es, the many hard struggles with the world
all for you-and you would give what Won
once thought so precious, offer up your own ex.
istence, to save that one--one never so dear
before. And so from the poisoned flower comes
the honey-from the dark, heavy soil the deli
cious fruits from the murky fogs, the rainbowed
clouds Therefore, say to all lovers, fear moth
ing. When Poverty comes in at the door.
Love may 60 up the chimney. Well. let the
trihing little rascal go, for he leaves behind a
truer friend, when Affection takes his place.
know hatprudent worldly parents will look
upon this as bad advice, encouraging improvi-
dent matches but let them look back tbrougb
their own lives before they decide.
] should have continued my dreamings on
matrimony to the end of our journey, for it is
favorite subject, but my eye fell upon little
messenger, fresh from heaven, seated not far
from us-the loveliest specimen, with that
grave, thoughtful expression so common in
childhood, as if wisdom had come without ex.
perience, while innocence yet held it's own. The
little thing made an exquisite picture. Over
her beautiful head fell mass of sunny ring
lets, bringing it out in artistic relief from the
crimson background made by the lining of
the car. One plump, little white hand rested
on the arm of the chair, the other Law in her
lap while a foot swung carelessly from the seat
the entire giving an idea of sober Indifference,
delicious to contemplate. She looked to me
as if born at the depot; she was being hurried
through existence by express. l longed to
leah over and ask con6dentially, in a whisper,
for news from the spirit land. 1t was the same
little thing that subsequently, on Lake Erie,
told me that she was quite tired, the waves
kicked up So"
In contrast TO this, my attention was attract.
ed to an old woman, of very stout appoint
ments, and red face, set off by cap of I'M
limited frills, gown bright in colors. and very
badly put together, an enormous shawl, all Of
which she kept in extreme agtation-"f for the
old lady who had victuals and drink as a prin-
wal 81 o,1 = i
quiet" was nothing to my new acquaintance.
Whenever the cars stopped, her voice could be
heard, for she never ceased talking, and the
burden of her cry was, the aud man Den
MIS-" j gathered, from her disjointed dis
courses, that she and her husband, Dennis, had
set ont together that morning from Cincinnati,
for the purpose of revisting old Ireland
That Dennis had run back to bid Mrs. ODon-
nohue farewell, leaving his larger domesticity
in the cars, and that before he could return the
train had started. The poor old lady seemed
to think it terrible business. She might be
getting such a frightful start of Dennis that he
would not see her again until they met in
County Cork. She had got out at the first
station after leaving the city, but the train
that followed was an express and did not stop.
She bundled into the next, and found no Den
mis-. Now, it was painful question, whether
waited for, or had gone on, and must be over
taken. | confess that this would puzzle a
clearer head than that of an old Irish lady,
late OF County Cork. was long time get
ting at this little history, for we had one fact to
miles of lamentation; and the afternoon was
upon us, when new event awakened fresh
interest. We had stopped for an instant to
pass return train, and the cars were being
dragged at reduced pace, as the track was not
yet clear ahead, when my attention was called
to little man, ladened with bundles and
baskets, who seemed bent on overtaking u.s.
de was an enterprising gentleman, with evil
dent resolution, and got over the ground with
more speed than grace, but not much of either.
The miseries of one left always afford infinite
amusement to the more fortunate passengers;
and soon majority of our company had their
heads ont, hooking, by encouragement, the I'M
happy man. We were in the last car, and had
fair view Of the contest. The locomotive
continued at just the speed to delude the little
old gentleman
"Hurry up, there " cried one, initiating the
Conductor
Ali aboard!" shouted another.
Two TO one on old Bundles" said a youth,
taking out his notebook, as if to enter bet.
AT the moment, a wild scream-a howl, in.
deed-startled US all. We turned, to see the
Irish lady tossing up her arms, and struggling
for an utterance. At last, out it came.
It's Dennis-me ould man. Stop the rail
road, stop the railroad"
No one paid the slightest attention to this
reasonable request. Indeed, Dennis, although
he persevered manfully, was losing ground.
The track being clear, the cars began rafting
off at speed which would have soon left Den
mis- in the dim distance thing of memory
only-but the old lady, crying aloud, "Stop the
cars won't any of yees help poor woman ?"
was responded to by the wag who had offered
to bet on Dennis. Pointing to the cord along
the roof of the car, he said
Omnibus arrangements, Madam-one pull
for the right, two for the left; that's your dodge
now be lively"
The old lady hardly heard the termination of
the sentence. She threw her entire weight up
on the cord. Immediately the Engineer sig
nailed down the breaks; the assistants sprang
to the platform, and in less time than it takes
me to write 1t, the train was checked up. The
Conductor jumped wildly from the cars, and
ran towards the locomotive, at the same time
that the Engineer leaped from the tender and
started back. They met, shouting, "What's
the matter 2" AS neither could answer, the
Conductor ran through the cars, demanding in
each the cause of this stopping The old lady
soon gave him to understand, by pointing to
her husband, who, seeing the cars STOP was all
this time redoubling his efforts. The Conduct.
or was furious. He first thought of putting
out the old woman, but on second thought,
signalled the Engineer to go on, and left the
car. He evidently thought this the more aggra-
waiting course. The train again started, just as
Dennis bid fair to get on board. 1t slowly got
under way, but the strength of the little old
man was giving out before this unnatural eff
fort.
A locomotive, we are assured, can run at the
ato Of O liz c., Il