Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-03-08
II. THE ALTAR OF, OR 1850.

II. TIE ALTAR OF, OR 1850.
The setting sun of the chill December
lit up the solitary front window of small
tenement on street, in Boston
which we now have occasion to visit
As we push gently aside the opening
door, we gain the sight of small room
clean as busy hands can make it, where
a neat, cheerful young mulatto woman
is busy at an ironing table. A basket
full Of glossy -bosomed shirts, and fault
less collars and wristbands is beside her
into which she is placing the last few
items with evident pride and satisfaction
A bright, black-eyed boy, just come in
from school, with his satchel of books
over his shoulder, stands, cap in hand
relating to his mother how he has been
at the head Of his class, and showing his
school tickets, which his mother with
untiring admiration deposits it in the
real china tea pot-which, as being their
most reliable article of gentiIity, is made
the deposit of all the money and most
special vaiuables of the family.
"Now, Henry says the mother
"look out and see if your father is com
ing along the street, and she begins
filling the little black tea-kettle, which
is soon set singing on the stove.
From the inner room now daughter
Mary, a we'll grown girl of thirteen,
brings the baby just reused from nap
and very impatient to renew his ac-
quaintance with his mamma.
''Bless his bright eyes!-mother will
take him" Calculates the busy little wo-
man, whose hands are in very foury
condition, in the incipient stages Of wet
ting up biscuit-''in "a minute" and she
quickly frees herself from the -four and
paste, and, departing Mary to roll out
her biscuit, proceeds to the consolation
and succor of young master.
Now, Henry says the mother,
you'll have time before supper to take
that basket of clothes up to Mr. Shell
don s; put in that nice bill you made
out last night [ shall give you cent
for every bill you write ont for me.
What comfort it is, now Tor ones chill
dren to be gettin learnin' SOL"
Henry shouldered the basket and
passed out Of the door, just as a neatly
colored man walked Up with his pale and
whitewash brushes.
40. you've come, father, have you?
Mary are the biscuits in? You may as
we'll set the table now. Well, George,
what's the news?"
'Nothing, only but pretty smart
days work. I've brought home five
dollars, and shall have as much as [ can
do, these two weeks" and the man hav-
ing washed his hands proceeded to count
out his change on the ironing table.
"Well, it takes you to bring in the
money" said the delighted wife; ''no-
body but you could turn off that much
in day
"Well, they do say-those that's had
me once-that they never want any
other hand to take hold in their rooms,
[ s'pose its kinder practice I've got,
and kinder natural!''
Tell ye what said the little woman
taking down the family strong hox-and
pouring the contents Oh the table, "we
are getting mighty rich, now? We can
afford to get Henry his new Sunday cap,
and Mary her mouseline-delaine dress
take care, baby, you rogue!' she hast
lily interposed, as young master made a
dive at dollar bill, for his share in the
proceeds.
"He wants something, too, suppose,
said the father; ':let him get his hand in
while he's young
The baoy gazed with astonished eyes,
while mother, with some difficulty, res
cued the bill from his grasp; but, before
any one could anticipate his purpose, he
dashed in among the small change
with such zeal as to send it flying all
over the table
"Hurrah Bob's a smasher" said the
father, delighted; "he'll make it fly, he
thiEks," and taking the baby Oh his
knee, he laughed merrily, as Mary and
her mother pursued the rolling coin all
over the room.
"Come, come, Mary" said the mother,
at last with a sudden burst of recol-
lection; you mustn't always be on your
knees IOollhS Win thlS child! LOOK IN
the oven at them biscuits"
''They're done exactly, mother-just
the brown!' and, with the word, the
mother dumped the baby op to his
fathers knee, where he sat c0ntentedly
munching very ancient crust of bread,
occasionally improving the favor thereof
by rubbing it on his fathers coat sleeve.
What have you got in that dish,
there, . said George when tbs whole little
circle were seated around the table.
"Well, now, what do yoq suppose?'
said the little woman, delighted; quart
of nice oysters just for a treat you
know. [ wouldn t tell yo4 till this min
ute,' said she, raising the cover.
HWell," said George, I'VE both work
hard for our own money, and we don t
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