Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-10-28
A sToBY OF HUMAN NATURE.

The long walk down town from Madison
Arest, here Ggs. j. etI-T5ou lived, could be very
mech shortened By passing through g dirty
alley, d=siEustad Howard street" MIS- Jei-
feTsgn seldom ovsiled herself Of the advantage
this crossway offered, but, one day, being iu
great haste, She said to hsrsslf: " I think I viii
venture to 60 through this dirty lane >"
Accordingly she drew down her face 90 IFS
greatest possible length. and, with frOwB uPou
her brow, set her pretty gathered foot on the
wsik. Passing along, bewaLIug the necessity
which subjected her 70 the annoyance Of such
miserable rpcc:acles end offensive 0dors, she
approached = group Of boys amusing themselves
with pop guns. Half dozen voices shouted
% Pop goes the weasel, and the potatoes nom
the guns of the accurate msrksmeu came ia
contact with hrs. JsHe-aeu's nose. Darker
grew the frOwn on her brow. and darker still os
she received the unmistskabls evidences that
the next aim was taken ct AsT back. An ex-
preston of disgust mingled with Mrs. Jlt1eT-
sons frown as she discovered dirty little child
smiling at her through q Cobwsb-curtainsd
window. The bshy's sister saw the look On
her face and trssted her 80 a splash E0m mud
puddle by the door.
s. You nasty thing q" said Mrs. Jefferson, but
was interrupted 5y another splash from the Pud-
de by the door.
tive5 of mud on the walk. They did not notice
the laly's approach until h fIetlal voice in
guired:
d" Can pass ~
Yes, jest as quick as Ue get tkis irj.ue
done, said ore.
:. Lsthsr go by, Bill Oaly doa'5 tip the cars
over with your hoops" said au0thcr.
The boys considered this "a very witty remark,
and they sen. forth long and boislercus shouts,
which were anything but musical.
Howard street was fun of dirty, ragged ssucy
chiidTeni au1 !. needed only g passing glance
70 see that they lived in places too hlthy 10 be
hou0rsd with the name OF home,
Mrs. Jefferson was glad enough when she
reached the bread and decent tb1-CUgAia-a, bus
size could not sle'p seeing tho MAD sp!ashes ou
her dress; she feared The potato hom tho pop
guns had iefl ir5 mark Oh her iaee, and her E.i.er
boots had net been ct al, improved by comm @
10 contact Hj5h The dirt. The faces of those
"ho~rid children 90 emc5 so haunt har 700.
She wen. heu5 tls -1r.lrs- way ro-uc- re
solving. Whatever her haste might be. never
again TO Try and save time by passing through
Howard street Just behind her uip9ci along
hsr Little ueiEEb0E Mrs. Baldwin.
Rather uuiryi ing" she SAID to herself, as
her happy fIcs looked down The Ci-ty alley.
'' but I'll Try ard see how mary smiles 7 c-r
get from the dirty little folks
With grateful feelings in her heart that God
had drawn her lines in pleasant places, she re-
ceLved ths pcp-Eun marksmeu, who had Just
taken SO successful sim a. hrs. Jefferson.
" Now for uy sniles,' thought Ers Baldwin.
as she crested the boys with such a frank ald
genial look, .hUt lt won pleasant -nBCsriug
smiles from ell but one. He was so busy gss3iug
his pop gun into running order, that be did net
see her iace until the other boys exclaimed,
Hold on f10-r Tl.r.fF e'.rnt th-F 'sFr-H
Tom looked up with an expression viii -h -oi5,
'' viii If I nsve a mind Co." But the lady gave
him such q merry smile that he drew back 2 lJ-
tie, aad Mrs. Baldwin heard BIN Eey:
Well, I'd rather not shoot her I reckon"
The dirty baby was still psepinG through he
e5bwebs. lie caught glimpse Of her sUusiiHy
face, and instantly commenced such growing
/ and csperjug that the lady had 70 stop and lock
at him, and ssy aloud
| What dear baby you are
Baby sister saw the stmiging look and heard
/ the praise bestowed, and hurried 10 the door,
/ 1roCm in hand not this time 10 imprcvis5 a
/ shower from the mud-pulaIe; bUt she said:
The walk is go dirty for your nice dress that
l want to brush it Jf fer you"
The little eugiue-nak5Ts were engrossed with
their mud TOYS, ard hesi,a-ed shout leaving their
work long enough 20 let the lady pass; but she
/ said, pleasantly:
! These are very nice locomotives, boys I'll
! try and not come IN collision with them"
The boys made way for her right quickly.
/ and from the lips Of more than enc of tEsm came
/ beg pardon, MADAM"
Every little child was ready 70 give back
smile fog smile, and 10 was with face perfectly
I redisnt with happiness tha5 she greeted her
4 friends as she passed down Main street Mrs
! Baldwin told her husband all about ler walk
/ and her adventure, and be (silly fellow kissed
| her and said:
Bless your heart, wife! Yoa are perfect
sunbeam. Who, besides you, ceuid find any
thing but wTstcheduess in Howard street :"
Mrs. JsfTsrson thought she would never 90
near the dirty alley sEaiui but on talking with
some ladies' Of benevolent association OF the
degradation of its Inhabitants, she consented,
after considerable urging, to &c as a missionary
90 The poor, miserable creatures" Sle sup
Piled herself with bundle Of tracts; and
taking care to wear clothing which would not
sulfsr injury from dlIt, she sailed forth on her
/ mission.
Dear dear nc she said, as she entered a
wletcHed domicil, d" should think you would
| iHieci the whole city with ievars and cholera.
/ Don't you know il is shsnefUlly wicked for
/ yeu 10 be so dirty AEs you a friend OF the
/ savior she added in q slmpls tone
DON'T know. ] don't want to belt you are, 20
/ was The reply.
Here aIe some tracts ] should Ike to have
/ you Iead If you can"
The woman saa.e the tsaets from her
[ haEd, t5Te them to ees, and threw them ia
her visitor lace.
Shaking the dusl fom her feet, Ms Jetfar-
son passed from that dwelling TO aul taer, ma
king similar remarks, ana meeting with sim
Lar reception.
Here comes ths. cross woman, who looked
SO Ug y at bsbys sister aud companions" and
she slammed the dOoTin Mrs Jed5Ts0n's lace.
l saonld think you would be sick, aud
Should think your husband would druh,' say.
Mrs. j. 10 a pale and feeble locking woman
'' "a not surprised az il So 81. You ougnEn'
10 i've in this miserable way
his Jeh,Ts0a do ner du'y IN IS r5ulng be
tracts, bus she had the sztisi4cuon Of seeing
most 0f them follow GaT iutl .he street, s-d Ga
rest were colsg4ed 60 tls flames.
Those c.latgres axe LOpe.e5sly CePTavodi
said Mrs J sfEs.sJn. Ia,rs IS 10 use trying O
do aByli lag ior HJwsra sire {.
his. Baldwin c0uid uol hell, feeling Pm inter
est II the children who Ies porded SO readily g
her Kind locke, and So, without telling even Af
Baldwin what she proposed % do, size let U
, 10 make s5Ils calls among tlsn- bus though
she would cal G.st where the baby lived, ioi So
ieit quite sue oi q hind sacepIen
Twas joyful welcome lbay gave haT, 10
. the babys sister exclaimed:
coal here is the pleasant LADY who stoPPu
. to look at Patsy tue OtEeI day Od sAo ]
coming right IN here"