Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-05-28
A CAPITAL STORY OF HUMAN NATURE.

/ -
The long walk down Madison street
where Mrs. Jefferson lived, could be very
much shortened by passing through a dir
ty alley, designated "HOward street -
/ Mrs. Jefferson seldom 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 go
/ through this dirty lane"
| Accordingly she drew down her face to
/ its greatest possible length, and, with a
irown upon her brow, set her pretty gait
cred foot upon the walk Passing along,
6ewailing the necessity which subjected
her to the annoyance of such miserable
/ Spectacles and offensive odors, she ap-
preached group of boys amusing them
selves with pop-guns. Half dozen voic-
eS shouted, Pop goes the Weasel" and
the potatoes from the guns of the accu-
rate m3rksmen came in contact with Mrs.
JeffeTson's nose. Darker grew the frown
on her brow, and darker still as she re-
ceiyed the unmistakable evidences that
the next aim was taken at her back. An
expression of disgust mingled with Mrs.
JeifersOn's irOwn, as she discovered a dir
ty little child smiling at her through a
cobweb curtained window. The baby's
sister saw the look on her face, and treat
ed her to a splash from a mud puddle by
the door.
You nasty thing!" said Mrs. JefIer-
son, but was interrupted by another splash
from puddle by the door.
Some boys were making miniature loco
motives of mud on the walk. They did
not notice the lady's approach until her
fretful voice inquired:
Can l pass?"
eyes, just as soon as we get this injin
done" said one.
Let her go by Bill. Only don't tip
the cars over with your hoops" said an
other.
The boys considered this a very witty
remark, and they sent forth long and bois-
ferrous shouts, which were anything but
musical.
Howard street was full of dirty. ragged.
saucy children; and it needed onlya $
ing glance to see that they lived in places
too filthy to be honored with the name of
home.
Mrs. Jefferson was glad enough when
she reached the broad and decent thor
oughfare, but she could not help seeing
the mud splashes ON her dress; she feared
the potato from the pop-guns had left its
mark on her face, and her gaiter boots
had not at all been improved by coming
in contact with the dirt. The faces Of
those horrid children" seemed to haunt
her, too.
She went home the fuPthest way round,
resolving whatever her haste might be,
never to 90 through Howard street again.
Just behind her tripped her little neigh.
Dor, Mrs. Baldwin.
Rather uninviting," she said to her.
self, as her face looked down the dingy
alley, "but I'll try and see how many
smiles lean get from the dirty little folks. "
With grateful feelings in her heart that
God had drawn her lines in pleasant pla-
ces, she reached the pop-gun marksmen,
who had Just taken successful aim at Mrs.
Jefferson.
Snow for my smiles" thought Mrs.
Baldwin, as she greeted the boys with such
a frank, genial look, that it won pleasant
answering smiles from all but one. He
was 50 busy in getting his pop-gun in run
ming order, that he did not see her face
until the other boys exclaimed:
Hold on Tom. Don tshoOt that lady"
Tom looked up with an expression which
said, g | will if | have a mind to-" But
the lady gave him such merry smile
that he drew back little, and Mrs. Bald
win heard him say: ---f
swell, I'd rather not shoot her, reck-
on rf 'i r-r
The dirty baby was still peeping through
the cObwebs. lie caught a glimpse of her
sun-shiny face, and instantly commenced
such q growing and capering. that the la
dy had to stop and look at him, and say
aloud:
What dear baby 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 a shower from the mud pud-
die, but she said:
"The walk is so dirty for your nice dress
that | want to brush it off for YOU"
The little engine makers were engross-
ed with their mud toys, and hesitated
about leaving their work long enough to
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 quick
ly, and from the lips of more than one of
them came Beg pardon, madam"
Ever little child was ready to give smile
for smile, and it was with face perfectly
radiant with happiness that she greeted
her friends as she passed down Main
street. Mrs. Baldwin told her husband |
all about her walk, and her adventure,
and he (silly fellow kissed her and said:
Bless your heart, dear wife! You are
a perfect sunbeam Who, but you, could |
find anything but wretchedness in How
ard street ?"
Mrs. Jefferson thought she would new
er go near the dirty alley again but on |
talking with some ladies of benevolent |
of the degradation of its in
habitants, she consented, after considera-
bic urging, to 90 as a missionary to the /
60 poor miserable creatures" She supplied |
herself with bundle of tracts; and tax
ing care to wear clothing which would not |
suffer the least injury from dirt, she sal /
lied forth on her mission.
''Dearl dear mel she said, as she en-
tered a domicile, Il should think you
would infect the whole city with feyers
and cholera. Don't you know that it is
wicked for you to be so dirty
Are you a friend to the Savior?" she adj
ded, in a simple tone.
Il don't want to be, if you are" was
the reply.
Here are some tracts l should like to
have you read if you can"
The woman snatehed the tracts from
her hand, tore them to pieces, and threw
them in her visitors face.
Shaking the dust from her feet, Mrs.
Jefferson passed from that dwelling to an
other, making similar remarks, and meet
ing with a similar reception.
''IIere comes that cross woman, who
looks so ugly at baby's sister and -compan-
ons," and she slammed the doOrin Mrs.
Jetferson's face.
" l should think you would be sick, and
should think your husband would
lrink, says Mrs. J. to apale, feeble look
ng woman; 81 am not surprised at it at
Ill. You oughtn't live in this miserable
way"
Mrs. Jefferson did her duty in distrib-