The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-11-06


who his new contributor was He would
often wonder, in my presence, who II
could be, and ascribed to him a degree
of talent and bri!Iiancy of expression as
| had hardly hoped to deserve. He oft
en-, too, imputed my articles to - and
-, then the two leading writers OF
the day, and expressed his opinion that
they would not remain incog great
while. Through third party | receiv,
ed larger compensation for my labors,
certainly, than / shoald have done had
my wise father-in law had the least sus-
picion who his correspondent was
| studied hard, and had at length the
inexpressible satisfaction of being admit
ted to the Suffolk bar, l took an Office
with another young lawyer, in order to
reduce our expenses, and | waited anx
ionsly for the brief period what should
be offered.
Poor Susan ! My heart aches at the
remembrance of certain priyations to
which, with angel sweetness, she sub
mitted at this period, in order that |
might appear respectable. My contri-
buttons TO various literary journals bare
ly gave US the means OF sustenance, and
| had SO nearly offended Mr.. Russell by
sighting his advance, that did not dare
10 apply to him for any assistance.
One day, in passing from our subur-
ban residence to the city, met my old
landlady, Mrs. Jones. She looked al
me hard, and returned it, There was
no mislaking that good, honest counten-
ance and expressive form, and even
dressed as il was in the deepest mourn
ing. A widows ample veil hung over
the back Of her head, and nearly swept
the street. The recognition was mutual,
and the old lady's raptures at finding me
were almost too strong for outdoor eXhi-
bition She told me OF poor Jones's
death of their removing to the country
when The old house in Howard street
was torn down.
And now" she said, :" | am alone in
the world.
Come and live with me-" weie my
first words. i" You gave me home
when | was lone child"
| stopped, for the thought passed
back upon me that | was poor. and una
ble to maintain even my own family. \
strange smile fitted over the face Of my
friend, while she enqured OF my sitaa
tion. told her, ana described my wife
and children.
| will so TO you, for | can help your
wife enough 10 pay for my board. ="
| was almost displeaseI at what | had
done when considered the immense ap-
petite which | had considerably offered
to supply, and which well remembered
OF old. Bat cluGg TO my bargain, and
begged her to come with me Immediate
ly.
" You will find me in rather close
quarters" | said, " but YOU shall come
aud be welcome"
We agreed that she should be there
the following Monday, aud | went home
10 Susan whom | met with rather an
embarrassed air. She looked aL the mat
ter more phllosophicaIly than | had ex.
pected, and prepared her best chamber
Tor Mrs. Jones 5 reception, heroIcally
carrying in many litlle couyeniencies o.
which We had no duplicates.
Ny relation OF Ms, Jones's former
kindness 10 me, and my description OF
her present lonely and widowed state.
made Susan she'd tears. She promised
10 do everything in her power for the
iorIorn woman, who She thought would
now be thrown upon ma for mainten-
ance, and herself for companionsnip
Mrs. Jones arrived on Monday morn.
ing, carpet bag in hand, and followed by
a handtart, bearing hef old fashioned
aad somewhat diIapiiated hair trunk.
We received her kindly, and she seemed
pleased and happy when she sat down
10 Susan's simple, but excellent dinner.
The children were attentive, and kept
passing the fool 10 the new guest
\ fortnight passed away anl We be
gan to feel that we could scarcely do
without Mrs Jones. She was inyalua.
bic rs an assistant 10 Susan, aad in mar
keting tor US, her services were beyond
all praise. We gave her our slender
purse every morning, as She Thought
sse could do better with il than We could,
and il was perfectly amazing 10 see the
loads Of provisions ami The superior qlal.
ty Of the same which she obtained
Susan anl began TO think that We
had been previously cheated IN our for
mer purchases. - when our wardrobe
impeiatiyely called tor additions, Mrs.
Jones would 20 out with the money for
a sIxpenuy print and return with some
thing really handsome and valuable for
my wife, aud nice remnant for lttle
Katy, and then she would sit down and
make them both up wI.h All the skill ol
an experienced mantutmaker.
Susan handed me some bills one day.
thatshe said were left there by the col.
leetor, including one Tor our rent, an5
one for the last suit OF clothes which
had been unwillngIy iorcel 70 buy. II
order to keep up 4 respectable appear.
ance Ny eounpnaase fell SONS DO.
srees. l fancy, for hal 10 money L
pay them.
Mrs. Jones was busting around til,
dinner table, ana she sfil. rather sadly
Ihat she lei, ,hal she ought 10; 70 BE- llv
ling upon us, ana perhaps she had better
- away.
:. Never mind. my good friend II sai~