Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-10-07
JUSTICE FIFTY YEARS AGO.

In the early part of the present centu-
ry, in one of the principal towns of the
north of Scotland, lived family of the
name Of Bussel. 1t consisted ola husband
and wife and their two children, a broth
er and sister. They tenanted small,
self contained house, in narrow back
street. The sunshine seldom streamed
in at the front parlor window, making
the notes dance in it's rays, like mil
lion atom worlds, and causing everything
to look mean and dusty. IT. was always
quietly and shady, some might say dull
not we, for we love, of all things in
the shape of apartments, quiet little
parlor; but so did not Jessie Bussel, and
so did not her favorite linnet, for he
would not sing when she hung his cage
in the parlor window; and she could not
sing without him so the parlor was left
to its repose. The kitchen that looked
to the back was quite contrast to the
front Of the dwelling. There the sun
shone all day long; and the window
looked out on a small patch of ground,
whose scanty space was economically
divided into bleaching green, a flower
and kitchen garden. Beyond this was
only the open sea, with its white crested
wavelets and everlasting murmuring-
now loud and near, as it almost washed
the wall of the little garden, now coming
on the ear like distant whisper over a
track of glstening sand.
The sun shone i'll at the little window,
when it shone at all i; and there are more
sunny days than cloudy ones, even as
we believe there is more happiness than
misery in the world, though we hear
most of the latter, for they that are the
loudest in their murmurs are faintest in
their praise. There, too, the linnet
whistled all day long, and Jessie went
about her work, singing to him, while
her mother sat spinning in her clean,
white cap and check apron. And in the
Afternoon, Jessie would sit down to her
wheel, and her mother throw her apron
over her head and take a nap in the ca
sly chair; then she did not sing, as if in
sympathy, ceased his warbling, too, as,
if he did begin, the warning finger of
his youthful mistress checked his notes.
Then she had only to raise her head to
see her father at work in the garden
his sole occupation, for he was quite
quite blind; yet he could feel the growth
of hisp]ants and flowers, and distinguish
them one from another. He knew eve
ry inch of the ground, and to SOW, and
weed, and water it, was his hourly and
daily pleasure.
The family were at the time we write
of, In easier circumstances than ever
they had been. Mr.. Bussel, who was
by trade a gardener, lost his sight by
inflammation when his son James was a
boy at school, and Jessie but an infant
in arms. His wife literally toiled day
and night for her husband and children
and with some assistance from her hus.
bands former employer, bravely strug-
gled on; but health was lost in the strug
gle, and, ere better days had arrived
she had become a sad spirited, broken
down woman. Yet she had found hap
piness in her endurance, and now every
blessing Of her lot seemed double, from
the trials that had passed away. James
the pride of his mothers heart, had
grown up to manhood, and was now re-
paying her for all her toll and care with
the fruits of his talents and industry
talents and industry which promised 3
yet more abundant harvest.
He had profited by the education
which his mother had striven hard te
obtain for him, and was now a clerk il
the post office Of his native town. His
salary was but small, very small, consid
ering that he had to maintain his parents
and sister; for, owing to the delicate
health of his mother, and the household
duties Of his sister, their joint earnings
added but little to the general fund; yet
with economy, it was sufficient, anC
James, as he poured his earnings int
his mothers lap, never dreamt that h'
made sacrifice.
Jessie was a very lovely girl, yet she
never had a lover, though she was near
ly through her teens; only the bake
over the street-an honest, hard work
ing fellow-had long exchanged pleas
ant sautations with the modest littl,
customer, and often joined the family a
they walked to church, and had once
lately, sat a whole evening in the kitch
en-, chatting with Mr.. Bussel, withou
once speaking sentence with Jessie.
: Meanwhile, James had companion
OF the name of Allen, whom he brough
with him as visitor to his humbl
dwelling. His visits soon became yer,
frequent; and the baker over the wa
seldom joined them now, for he was Gen
orally at Jessle's side, and went hom
with them to tea when they came out 0
church.
Martin Allen was a gay, extravagan
young man, of handsome person and e.
E egant manners, at once bold and insinu
] atlng in his address, very dangerou
} companion for the timerous and comply
ing James.
-" say, Bussel," said Allen, one eve
nng, as they left the house of the form
er, arm IN arm, for an evening stroll an
a visit to one of Aliens acquaintance,
''she's sweet lassie, that sister of your.
but | was going to whisper somethin
fine in her ear tonight, and if YOU ha
only seen the look she gave mein