The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-10-25
A STORY OF HUMAN NATURE.

Mrs Jefferson seldom availed herself of tn
advantage this crosswsy offered, but, one day
being in great haste she said to herself; g
think will venture to 60 through this dirt
lane"
Accordingly she drew down her face TO it
greatest possible length, and with frown up
on her brow, set her pretty gathered foot Of
! the walk. Passing along, bewsiling the neces
sity which subjected her to the annoyance o
| such miserable spectacles and offensive odors
| she approached group of boys amusing them
selves with pop-guns. Half dozen voices
shouted "POp goes the weasel" and the pota-
toes from the guns Of the accurate marksmer
came in contact with Mrs Us nose. Darker
grew the frown on her brow, and darker still
as she received the unmistakabe evidences
that the next aim was taken at her back. Ar
expression of disgust mingled with Mrs. Jeffer.
sons frown as she discovered dirty little chic
smiling at her through cobweb curtained
window. The baby's sister saw the look or
her face and treated her to splash from q
mud puddle by the door.
"You nasty thing" said Mrs. Jefferson but
was interrupted by another splash from the
puddle by the door.
Some boys were making miniature locomo'
tives Of mud on the walk They did not no.
tice the lady's approach until her fretful voice
inquired:
''Can pass?"
eyes, just as quick as we &c. this injine
done," said one.
Let her go by, Bill. Only don't tip the cars
over with your hoops" said another.
The boys considered this very witty re-
mark, and they sent forth long and boisterous
shouts, which were anything but musical.
Howard street was full of dirty, ragged,
saucy children, and it needed only passing
glance to see that they lived in places too
filthy to be honored with the name ofhome.
Mrs. Jefferson was glad enough when she
reached the broad and decent thoroughfare, but
she could not help seeing the mud splashes on
her dress; she feared the shots of the pop guns
had left their mark ons her face, and her gaiter
boots had not been at all improved by coming
in contact with the dirt. The faces of those
.'horrid children" seemed to haunt her, too.-
She went home the furthest way round re-
solving, whatever her haste might be. never
again to try and save time by passing through
Howard street. Just behind her tripped alnog
her little neighbor, Mrs. Baldwin.
"Rather uninviting," she said to herself, as
her happy face looked down the dirty alley,
"but I'll try and see how many smiles l can
get from the dirty little folks"
With grateful feelings in her heart that God
had drawn her lines in pleasant places, she re-
ceived the pop gun marksmen, who had just
taken so successful aim at Mrs. Jefferson.
''Now for my Smiles" thought Mrs Baldwin
as she greeted the boys with such frank and
genial look, that it won pleasant answering
smiles from all but one. He was so busy get.
ting his pop.gun into running order, that he
H.. Al a.
claimed,
"Hold on, Tom. Don't shoot that lady"
Tom looked up with an expression which
lady gave him such merry smile that he drew
back little, and Mrs. Baldwin heard him
say:
"Wel, Id rather not shoot her. reckon"
The dirty baby was still peeping through
the cobwebs. He caught glimpse of her sun
shiny face, and instantly commenced such a
growing and capering that the lady 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-puddle: but she said:
1.-The walk is so dirty for your nice dress
that l want to brush it off for you."
The little engine makers were engrossed with
their mud toys, and hesitated about leaving
their work long enough tc let the lady pass;
but she said pleasantly:
"These are very nice locomotives, boyse I'll
try and not come in collision with them
The boys made way for her htkNaickly,
and from the lips of more than one IF ther
came '.beg pardon madam
Every 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, wife! You are perfect
sunbeam. Who, besides you, could find any
thing but wretchedness in Howard street,"
Mrs Jefferson thought she would never 60
near the dirty alley again; but on talking with
some ladies of benevolent association Of the
degradation of its inhabitants, she consented,
after considerable urging, to go as mission
airy to the poor miserable creatures" She
supplied herself with bundle of tracts, and
taking care to wear clothing which wonld suffer
the least injury from dirt she sailed forth on
her mission.
''Dear! dear me ~ she said, as she entered
infect the whole city with fevers and cholera
Don't you know it is shamefully wicked for
you to be so dirty: Are you friend of the
SAVIOR" she added in simple tone.
Don't know. | don't want to be ifyou are
was the reply.
Here are some tracts shoald like to have
you read if you can"
The woman snatched the tracts from her
hand, tore them to pieces and threw them in
her visitors face.
Shaking the dust from her feet, Mrs. Jetfer.
son passed from that dwelling to another,
making similar remarks and meeting with a
similar reception.
"Here comes that cross woman, who looked
so ugly at baby's sister and companions" and
she slammed the door in Mrs. Jefferson's face
II should think you would be sick, and
should think your husband would drink" says
Mrs. j. to pale, feeble looking woman; ''Im
not surprised at it all. You oughtn't to live
in this miserable way F"
Mrs. Jeifrson did her duty in distributing
her tracts, but she had the satisfaction of see.
ing most of them follow her into the street
and the rest were consigned to the flames