The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1860-11-08

A CAPITAL STORY OF HUMAN NATURE.
The long walk down town from Madi-
son street, where Mrs. jefferson lived.
could be very much shortened by passing
through dirty alley, designated "How-
ard street, Mrs. Jefferson seldom a.
vailed rerself Of the advantage this cross
way offered. but, one day, being in great
haste, she said to herself: Il think !
will venture to 60 through the dirty
lane"
Accordingly she drew down her face
to its greatest possible length, and, with a
frown upon her brow, set her pretty, gai-
tered foot on the walk. Passing along,
bewailiny the necessity which subjected
her to the annoyance OF such miserable
spectaces and otfrnsive odors, she ap-
preached group of boys amusing them
selves with popguns. Half dozen
voices shouted "Pcp goes the Weasel. ="
and the potatoes from the guns Of the
accurate marksmen came in contact with
Mrs. Jefferson nose. Darker grew the
frown on her brow, and darker still as
she received the unmistakable evidences
that the next aim was taken at her back
An expression Of disgust mingled with
Mrs. Jeherson's frowa as she discovered
a dirty little child smiling at her through
a cobw, cuItained windor. The baby's
sister saw the look on her face and treat
ed her to splash from a mud puddle by
the door.
'You nasty thingl' said Mrs. Jeffer
son but was interrupted by another splash
from mud puddle by the door.
Some boys were making miniature 10.
comolives of mud on the walk. They
did not notice the lady's approach until
her fretful voice inquired:
"Can pass?'
eyes, just as quick as we get this in
jine done,' said one.
''Let her 60 by, Bill. Only don't tip
the cars over with your hoops" said an
other.
The boys considered this very witty
remark, and they sent forth long and
boisterous shouts, which were anything
but musical.
Howard street was full of dirty ragged
saucy children; and it needed only pas
sing glance to see that they lived in pla-
ces too filthy to be Eonored with the
name Of home.
Mrs. Jefferson was glad enough wher
she reached the broad and decent through
fare, she tried 10 put on cheerful, pleas
ant face, but she could not help seeing
the mud splashes on her dress; she fear
ed the potato from the pop-guns had lef
its mark on her face, and her gaiter boot
had not been at all improved by contac
with the dirt. The faces of "those
horrid children seemed to haunt her
too.
She went home the furthest way round
resolving, whatever her haste might b,
never again to try to save time by pass
ing thro' Howard street. Just behint
her tripped along her little neighbor, Mrs
Baldwin.
"Ratber uninviting," she said to her
self, as her happy face looked down the
d:ngy alley, but III try and see how ma
ny smiles l can get from the dirty little
folks" .....
With grateful feelings in her heart tha
God had drawn her lines in pleasan
place, she reached the pop gun marks
man. who had just taken such success
full aim at Mrs. Jefferson.
"Now for my smiles," thought Mr.!
Baldwin, as she greeted the boys will
such frank, genial look. that won pleas
ant answering smiles from all but one.-
He was SO busy getting his pop gun inte
running order, that he did not see hel
face until the other boys exclaimed:
"Hold ON, Tom! Don't shoot that Ia
dy!'
Tom looked up with an expression
which said, II will il I have a mind to.
but the lady gave him such a merr.
smile that he drew back little, and Mrs