White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-10-22

AAC eI0 AiootSs rum VIC hAy cuc HoA 1HOGu W
protect the little Violet, old Nelly seemed a
changed being. Her tones we're now low and
gentle, her footsteps noiseless, As If she feared
her happiness all an illusion that the least
rudeness might dispel, or that the little being
she had learned 50 to love, was but vision which
breath might dissolve; and, old and decrepit
as abe was, her goodness made her lovely in the
eyes of the child. ~
As Violet grew older, the old woman grAdu-
ally withdrew from her habitual rounds and de-
voted her time more to the instruction of her
young charge. She taught her to read and spell
corectly-guided her little hand in learning her
to write, and was continually storing her mind
with lessons Of truth and purity. Words Of such
beauty seemed strange, issuing from the mouth
Of one whose life appeared to have been a scene
Of cruel toll and priVation! She instructed her
in all branches Of needle work, even to the finest
carbohydrates, those fingers, used to plucking
the rags and rubbish from unsavory sewers, now
threaded the variegated Worsteds, and beautsous
buds gloWed beneath her hand! -.E
Allow few years to pass unnoted, and Violet
is again before Us. She had now reached her
fourteenth year. and neither thought nor wished
for other home than the roof of the Rag-gath-
erer. Those four walls we're the world to her,
and there her days had passed in peace and hap
piness. Nelly was usually absent many hours
in the day, and rarely returned before night
Where those were passed was a mystery; she
never divulged even to Violet, who was employ
ed the meanwhile contsntedly with her needle,
and in perusing the very few books which the
old woman had managed to procure. Day after
day, as she threw her bag over her shoulders to
depart, Nelly would enioin upon Violet never to
be seen at the windows above, and on no account
to open the gate, no matter how hard it was as
sailed, and without murmur Violet had strictly
obeyed. But one day, and bright sunny one
it was too, when she could hear the birds singing,
and the insects chipping amid the grass, Violet,
perhaps for the first time, pinned to be let loose
from that dismal old building. She tried to sew,
but the needle slipped away from her needless
fingers. She opened her books. How tedious!
She had read all that thousand times. She
then went into the yard, where Nelly with her
own hands hadaranged little garden for her
darling, but the flowers looked sickly and hung
their heads, no more contented with their posi-
ton than Violet All at once she found herself
close to the prescribed gate. Al, take care ViO-
let! But what harm could there be in just I'M
boiling it for q moment What harm in just
looking into the street, She knew there could
be none, and so she timidly drew the bolt. Thn
gate yielded to her touch, and, half afraid, she
stood within the dingy portal. 1t happened un-
fortunately just at that moment, party Of gay
young men were passing. Struck by her uncom-
mon loneliness they stopped and gazed rudely
upon her. Violet attempted to retreat, but one
of them, with consummate audacity, seized her
by the arm and addressed her with the most in
solent language. In vain she struggled to free
herself. He swore he would have kiss, and
most probably would have succeeded in his brave
attempt, had not q smart blow across the eyes
with rattan, nearly blinded him, and obliged
him to release the frightened girl. His compan-
ions had stood by laughing at the distress Of Vi
olet, and encouraging their comrade TO persist,
but there was another spectator of the scene; q
youth, apparently not more than seventeen, who
enraged at their brutality, dealt the blow, and
then quickly drawing Violet within the gate,
bolted it. Now gracefully lifting his hat, he bid
her be under no uneasiness, for he would protect
her from all insult. In the meanwhile, smarting
with rage and pain, the party on the outside with
furious knocks and gross language, demanded
admittance, and at one time it seemed as if the
old gate must inevitably yield to their violence;
but, tired at length of their fuitless efforts they
desisted, and With oaths Of revenge, took their
departure across the Collect" The brave lad
would have waited the return of the old woman,
but Violet begged of him to be gone, while in
her own artless manner she thanked him again
and again for the services he had rendered her.
Reluctantly, therefore, he took his leave-to
Violet, it was as il A sun had suddenly disap-
peared from the heavens!
As soon as Nelly came in she candidly related
all that had -ceurred, 10 which the former list
sned with much agitation, making no reproaeh-
es, but for more than an hour remained in deer
thought, evidently distressed at such an unlock
ed-for circumstance. Suddenly lifting her head
she exclaimed:
Volt, you must 90 from me"
"what, leave you-dO you bid ne leave youi
All, forgive your disobedient child. Never, new.
er viii again offend you"' cried Violet.
"Iam not offended, for you have but commit
ted an act for which my own foolish conduct
must answer should have known better thar
TO have Gagged you so long, poor child, but ny
motives were good. Now We must part-per
haps never to meet again. for, when you leave
these walls behind you, the poor Rag-gathsrel
must no longer6e remembered"
viole. burst into tears, and sobbed as II hel
heart would break.
"Send me away, and tell me must forge
you, too. Oh, cannot-I eannOt"' $500
Even Nelly herself shed tears, but her :esO
luton was mistaken.
Listen TO me, Violet" said she. al know
lady who is not only rich. but, what Is far bet
ter, has the credit of being charitable. Indeed
more than once have 1 experienced her kindness
To her will now go. IViIl relate your littl'
history. viii tell her that though but the sdop
ted child Of poor, lone woman, Ike myself
yet you are good and smiable, and your min'
pure a. falling snow. thiak she viii 1t ono
receive you under her roof, and for the rest
fear not You would steal into her heart wer
It Of msrble.''