Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-05-16
csnisrella M.
A Capital Story of Human
Nature.

Nature.
The long walk down town from Mad
ison street, where Mrs. Jefferson lived
could be very much shortened by pass
ing through a dark alley, designated
"Howard street." Mrs. Jefferson sci
dom availed herself of the advantage
this cross way offered, but, one day
being in great haste. she said to herself
81 think | will venture to 60 through
this dirty lane
Accordingly she drew down her face
to its greatest possible length, and
with frown upon her brow, set her
pretty gathered foot on the walk, Pass
ing along, bewailng the necessity which
subjected her to the annoyance of such
miserable spectacles and offensive odors.
she approached group Of boys anus
ing themselves with pop guns. Halfa-
dozen voices shouted Pop goes the
weasel" and the potatoes from the guns
came in contact with Mrs. Jefferson 5
nose. Darker grew the frown on her
brow, and darker sti as she received
tue uBHiSld hdDlC ShiuGHCGS liltL IllC
next aim was taken at her back. An
expression of disgust mingled with Mrs.
JeHerson's frawn as she discovered a
dirty little child smiling at her through
a cobweb curtained window. The baby s
sister saw the look on her face and
treated her to splash from mud
puddle BY the door. --.a... -,
You nasty thing!'' said Mrs Jeffer-
son, but was interrupted By another
splash from a puddle by the door.
Some boys were making miniature
locomotives of mud on the walk They
did not notice the lady approach until
her frettpl voice inquired;
"Cap ! pass?'
Yes, just as quick as we get this in
jine done: said one.
'Let her 90 by. Bill Only don t
tip the cars over with your hoops, said
another
The boys considered this very witty
femark, and tley sent forth long and
boisterous shouts, which were anything
but musical. ..t... IS .Ez s%r.-
Howard street was full Of dirty.
ragged, saucy children; and it needed
only "a passing glance to see that they
lived in places too filthy to be honored
with the name of home 80" '..'t
Mrs. Jefferson WAS glad enough when
she reached the broad and open
thoroughfare, but she could not help
seeing the mud splaShes on her dress;
she feared he potato from the pop guns
had left its mark on her face, and her
gaiter boots had not been at all i'm
proved by coming in contact,with the
dirt. The faces Of those horrid children
seemed to haunt her, too. ,a=ra:as
She went home the furthest way
round, resolving whatever her haste
might be, never again to try and save
time by passing through Howard street
Just behind her tripped along her little
eighbor, Mrs. Baldwin.
Rather uninviting,'' she said to her.
self, as her happy face looked down the
diDgy alley, "but I'll try and see how
many smiles ] can get from the dirty
little folks ......-... r
With grateful feelings in her Leart
that God has drawn her lines in pleas
ant places, she reached the pop gun
narksmen, who had just takep such
successful aim at Mrs. Jefferson.
NOV for my smiles, Thought Mrs.
Baldwin, as she greeted the boys with
such frank, genial look, that it won
pleasant answering smiles from all but
one. He was SO busy getting his pop
gun into running order, that he did not
see her face until the otaer boys ex-
claimed: % - ss-s,.,..sg7E esr
'iield Oh, To@. Don't shoot that
lady"
Tom looked up with an expression
which said, Il will if l have mind to- -
But the lady gaze him such merry
smile that he drew back a little, and
Mrs. Baldin heard him say:
We'll, Id rather not shoot her, I
reckon" .... ~ .........-t -....-. .r
The dirty baby was still peeping
through the cobwebs.. He caught a
glimpse Of her sun shiny face, and in
stantly commenced such growing and
capering, that the lady had to stop and
look at him, and say aloud:
nat uear H2py you are
Baby's sister saw the admiring look
and heard the praise bestowed, and
hurried to the door, broom in hand, not
this time to imProvise shower from the
mud puddle; but she said: -..-
''The walk is SO dirty for your nice
dress that I want to brush it off for
you. ..,. ...e.l...s
The LITTLE engine makers were en-
crossed with their mud toys, and hesi-
tated about leaving their work long
enough to let the lady pass; bat the
lady said, pleasantly:
These, are very nice locomotives,
boys; III try to not come in collision
with them"
The boys made way for her right
quickly, and from the lips of more than
one of them came a "beg pardon,
madam.