Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-12-10
QQlOrtestrr QalIg Spp.



ed crept on little farther, waited tremhlcd
and then swelling us the bosom swcs with
sIghS, ran down the madcn's check, aud tell
upon the faded chntZ Through and through
and through again, slipped the nimble needle,
shining with the never ending aurition of mus.
lin and linen and silk The Argus eyed
Misunderstanding better than steel though
worn TO the polish of silver-clickcd against
1.-The needle pressing it through the close fabric
into the calloused tinger-tip, fretted and notch
ed and blackvned by many another needle
point, during many weary day and many
weary night.
A cooking stove one chair, two beds, a few
dishes on Il shelf in the corner, Il broom, 4
large stone pitcher, bonnet and shawl, a few
pieces of stove furniture, half dozen plants
in rough wooden boxes on the window sill,
four or five books on the one table-these com.
prised the furniture.
The room was elevated far above the noise
and dust Of the dirty street-above the usual
flight OF city pigeons even in the fifth story
and the root i'll sloping had cut of corner of
the ceiling The little low windowS-a pair of
stunted 0nes-did the best they could with the
sunlight, but were too much crowded by the
falling roof to accomplish much
Had you slipped noiselessly in--which YOU
could not have done, III fact for the saggiug
of the door and its heavy scraping upon the
by the baroness, and then by the singular neat.
ness of the attic room.
A little black and white kitten would have
= glanced up at you from a soft bed OF cotton in
its own corner, or skipped, frightened, upon
the smaller bed of the two and the still figure
in the window would have presented only
bowed head, but busy fingers, and worn and
faded print.
But if your tread had been heard on the stairs
II, 4
fore you reached the Threshold you would
have heard springing step upon the attic
floor, The door would have scraped open with
good natured erowl, a pair of black eyes
would have shOne at you from face wreathed
in smiles, and possibly, in the shadow and
haste, you might have got pair of arms about
your neck. At any rate, you would have fol.
lowed a tail, little figure into the room, and on
taking your seat would have found yourself
viS'dUjS with as expressive and proud tace as
ever shOne from voluptuous plush, airy laces,
rustling silk, and sparkling diamonds
Indeed while the tear-drops were falling
under the pressure of thoughts which the
heart could not possibly hide under lis lifting
lid, step was heard upon the stairs, the stair.
case did creak like the stage drivers horn
with the news of a coming, the door did open,
and pair of white arms were flung passion.
aely around the neck of whitehaired old
man.
Jennie had been crying of thoughts aroused
by bret walk i'll populOus street that after
noon
She avoided these better thoroughiares
when she could, hurry ing along where the
streets are narrow and dingy-were the glis.
tening OF silk and the tremblc If plumes is
seldom seen-where bright eyes and fair faces
radate only from faded and worn surround.
mgs. But ibis afternoon her errand to the
store had taken her through one of the comedy
streets. Indeed, it stood on the very corner
of Main street, around which human tides
swept, eddying, every hour. She had seen
poverty, comfort and wealth. lainness, come.
illness, heauty-siupidity, sense, intellect.
Sitting at her low window in the dull, un.
seemly room, worn, tired discouraged with
the labors and forebodings Of life, Jenne's
thoughts could do less than bring tears. She
was thinking of the happiness which floated
about her in the crowded street; of the laugh
ing eyes; OF the naughty tread Of faces
trimming with careless merrimtnt and con
scious beauty. She had seen hundreds in that
one street-hnndreds OF madcns to whom she
was consciously superior. And this was not
egolsm i'll the weeping girl. Does the doe
imagine itself snail, or the eagle fancy itself
a blue jay Was it wrong that all this beauty
all this innate refinement, all this spirit and
taste and mentality, should pine and sorrow
for want OF that appreciation for which we all
long and strive? And if Jennie wcpt that
her scant and faded calico had drawn forth
sneCrs, as though il were herself and not the
accident Of covering; aud if she wept that
supplemented and narrow-thoughted girls
carried themselves proudly, and won atten,
ton, while she slipped meanly into by.ways,
and shrunk from the observation which was
only cold and Contemptuous, can we blame
he q vii
beauty and woman's power. But, alas Jen-
ME was Gagged by circumstances, her jewels
covered with the dust of labor, her young lite
hidden, and dull and sad.
Besides, an incident at the store had wound
e. her severely, and reawakened her con.
sciousness of weakness and semi degradation.
II was this She had taken a bundle OF work
to the inspecting clerk, and thence had been
directed to the cashier with a ticket for her
pay. On former occasions she had suffered
from curious and WICKED chances while pass
ing the clerks Of several departments, as well
as from peculiar tone in which the cashier
addressed her. To day she was either more
painfully sensitive or the glances of admra-
ton were more disgustingly prominent and
the cashier after tumbling us long as possible,
handed her the silver she had earned with a
careless but insulting remark. Jennie flashed
with indignation, threw the money upon the
the desk. A hand touched her arm, and a
kind voice said, "Wait moment, Miss Dell"
in so assured and commanding a way, that she
Involuntary paused. The gentleman step
ped up to the cashier, struck him smart blow
on the side of his face with the palm of his
hand tipping him over, took the vacated stool
at his desk, and by the time the fellow had
picked himself up, had balanced his account,
and was ready for him with the residue of his
wages. Then leading the fellow to the door
by the arm, he kicked him into the street
All this was done so cooy, with so much ease
and gentlemanly decision, that Jennie could
take no exception to even the last act of the
drama
B. "My store will be safe to you in future, Miss
Dell but will not put you to the inconven-
fence OF bringing your work. l will send
boy for it, and directing lad to take the la
dy's bundle, Mr. Brewer bowed Jennie out of
the store before she had time to cry or do any
thing more than thank him with n glance
which, breaking from her late Indignation, was
curious intermingling of pride and graft
tuue
The incident had recalled for the hundredth
time terrible consciousness of her uupT0
tected situation, AID she felt more keeny than
ever the ulterhelpessness OF poverty, Some
tlnts me uloou OF proud ancestry dashed to
her checks and throbbed at her temples but
the next instant woman tears chased each other
down her checks
am SO glad you have come father |
have been so very lonely, and then was fear
full something had happened"
The old man bent little to kiss the eyes of
his daughter-kssng her eyes was the EN-.
phasis of his ailection-anH his lips wore
moistened by tear which Jennie had unwit.