Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-09-22
From the Little Pilgrim.l
The Lady of Number Nine.

FROM the Little Pilgrim.
The Lady of Number Nine.
BY MIS-. 5. {. HALL.
Wandering on the banks of tn,
beautiful river Wye-as Wadswortl
calls it, "a wanderer by the woods,
we had paused to relish the full cup oi
pleasure from which we lad been
drinking. The history Of the Man o.
Ross was in our mind: we were pom
dering over pleasant thought-that
probably there are few towns in Eng
land without some who, bearing III
mind that 'to distribute is a graciou.
privilege, obtaining, by giving, hap
piness-employ wealth in the service
of God 10y apportioning it to the
needy; we were pondering thus, when
circumstance occurred to illustrate
this truth: we need not say where, and
we are bound to withhold the name oil
the good and faithful servant to
whom we make reference. One of her
homes is not far from the place we
are describing; another is in far-ofi
country, by the seaside; we know Of
two: there may be others of which we
know nothing, for a mere accident
brought us acquainted with these.
He looks very ILL., we said to oul
landlady, who had been doing up the
fire; 'he looks very i'll; your fine all
can do little for him. How attentive
his servant is!'
That person is not his servant she
replied; that man belongs to 'the La
dy,' and comes from No. o.
is the poor gentleman insane?'
'Oh, no--not at all-he is only very
i'll. All, if there ever was an angel
upon earth,' added the good woman,
laying down the coal box and taking
up the hearth broom, which, however
she did not use, but balanced, while
she put the other hand under her
apron, movement indicating that she
had leisure and inclination to give any
information we required, IF ever there
was an angel, il is the Lady, not
that she's any thing particular to look
at--very quiet and plain in her dress.
She would keep her good works secret,
too, if she could; only greatful hearts
will speak--and God forbid they
should be silent she added. with
warmth, the more unexpected because
she was gentle tscilight sort of wom-
all, who seems to have dwelt under
the shadow of sorrow all the days of
her lifel We waited; but the land
lady had turned away to sweep lit
tie at the hearth. and we observed her
put her apron to her eyes.
The Lady always makes me
choke, like she continued. and | am
sure that's not what she desires to do
to any living being. But, living at
No. 2 mast know what passes at No.
O. We observed that she was of an
inquisitive sort Of mind and believed
her.
About two years ago, the Lady
took No. 9. for one-andtwcnty years.
She had always been lady of proper
ty; but some one died, and left her
morc-more than she wanted. Well.
she took No. Q. l thought, what
could she want with it?it is very
nice house, and in the best situation,
don't mind saying that for No. 9, as
well as for this No. =; but / did not
think it grand enough for the Lady
We'll, 1T was taken and furnished in a
week; all the rooms were turned into
bed rooms, with single beds, and the
front rooms divided, so as to increase
the number, and folding-doors put to
the pallors, to make one large sitting.
room; single beds, and children's beds,
(oh, yes, two or three of them in the
large top room; capital furniture, but
plain. On Saturday, down came a
man and his wife. Strangers they
were; so short and stiff in their an
swers; would tell nobody what they
came about. The next week two flies
drove up, with nine childrenl such OBJ
jectsl some crippled-some twisted
some with coughs some such wasted
creaturesl-but all looking like gen.
tlemen's children; not fine, or even
well dressed, but with something
a bout them that told what they are,
though some say. it only tells what
they srere. | think it came out through
the doctor. and it was this: the Lady
devoted the money she had been left
to taking No. Q, and fitting it up for
invalids; invalids, YOU understand,
who are too respectable to go to a san
itarium, and yet have no means to
seek place like this. She pays eye-
ry expense, provides every comfort.
baths and chairs, and a drive now and
then over the downs, and comes her
self when least expected, to see that
every thing is properly attended to. ]
watched those children at first creep
ing about, seeming unable to bear the
breeze from the common: and two that
could not walk at all, wheeled in a
perambulator. 1t was wonderful how
they improved. One dear child-such
pretty boy.-found it SO hard, at