The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-03-13
ALON H.

swollen as any that guSn from woman 9 eye
crept on little farther, waited, trembled, ant
then swelling as the bosom swells with signs
ran down the maiden's cheek. and fell upon the
faded chintz. Through and through,an through
again, slipped the nimble needle, shining with
the never-endng attrition of muslin and liner
and silk. The Argus eyed Misunderstanding
better than steel, though worn to the polish o.
siyer--clicked against the needle, pressing il
through the close fabric into the callOused fin
ger-tp. fretted and. notched and blackened by
many another needle-point, during many wea-
ry day and many weary night.
A cooking stove, one chair, two beds, few
dishes on a shelf in the corner, q broom, a
large stone pitcher, q bonnet and shawl a few
pieces of stove furniture, half dozen plants in
rough wooden boxes on the window sill, four or
five books on the one table-these comprised the
furniture.
The room was elevated far above the noise
and dust of the dirty street-above the usual
flight of city pigeons even: in the fifth story
and the roof in sloping had cut off a corner OF
the ceiling. The little low windows--a pair of
stunted ones-did the best they could with the
sunlight, but were too much crowded by the
falling roof to accomplish much.
Had you slipped noiselessly in-which you
could not have done. in TACT, for the sagging of
the door and its heavy scraping upon the
threshod-you would have been struck first by
LuS DaISHoSSs anu lHeu Og Tie SIuBuiAF uOdbH6SS
of the attic room.
A little black and white kitten would have
glanced up at you from a soft bed of cotton in
its own corner or skipped frightened upon
smailsr bed OF the two an still figure in the
window would have presented only bowed
head, out busy fingers and worn aud faded
print.
But if your tread had been heard on the stairs
and mistaken for that of an old man, just be-
Al. .to1I
heard a springing step upon the attic floor, the
door would have scraped open with good-na-
tured growl, pair of black eyes would have
sbone at you from face wreathed in smiles, and
possibly in the shadow and haste, you might
have got pair of arms about your neck. A: any
rate, you would have followed tall, little fig
uYe into the room, and on taking your seat
would have found yourselfv is-a-vis with as OK
pressive and proud a face as ever shone from
voluptuOus plush, airy laces, rustling silk, and
sparkling dIamonda.
Indeed while the tear-drops were falling I'M
der the pressure Of thoughts which the heart
could not possibly hide under its lifting lid,
step was heard upon the stairs the staircase did
creak like the stage drivers horn, with the news
of a coming, the door did open. and pair of
white arms were flung passionately around the
neck of white haired old man.
Jennie had been crying of thoughts aroused
W d DIIC4 "oih LIZ POPN'OGS StASVh SAASh NAtOA
noon.
She avoided these better thoroughfares when
she could, hurryIng along where the streets are
narrow and dingy-where the glistening of silk
and the tremble Of plumes is seldom seem
where bright eyes and fair faces radiate only
from faded and worn surroundings. But this
afternoon her errand TO the store had taken her
through one Of the comely streets. Indeed it
stood on the very corner Of Main street around
| uvb al ti1ou cd hour
She had seen poverty, comfort and wealth
plainneSs. comeliness, beauty-stupidity sense,
! intellect
! Sitting at herIow window in the dull unseen
| " room woIn tired, disc uraged with the labors
! and forebodlngs Of life, JennIe's thoughts could
! DO no less than bring tears. She was thinking
| OF the happiness which Roated about her in the
crowded street, of the laughing eyes Of the
! naughty tread of faces trimming with cease
| less merriment and conscious BE- auty. She had
seen hundreds in that one treet-hundreds of
N aidens to whom she was consciously superior.
And this not egOtism in the weeping girl.
Does the doe imagine itself snail, or the eagle
faLcy Itself blue Jay Was it wrong that all
this beauty, all this innate refinement, all this
spirit, and taste, and mentality should pine and
sorrow for want of that appreciation for which
we all long and strive? And If Jennie wept
that her scant and faded calico had drawn forth
sneers, as though it We're herself and not the
accident Of covering; and if she wept that sim
pie minded and narrOw-thOughte girls carried
themselves proudly, and won attention, while
she slipped meanly into by-ways, and shrunk
from the observation which was only cold and
! contemptuous, can we blame her? She was
woman, with woman's beauty and a woman's
power. But, alas Jennie was Gagged with the
dust of labor, her young life hidden, and dull,
! and sad,
! Besides an incident at the store had wound
/ ed her severely, and re-awakened her consci-
BUSINESS Of weakness and semi-degradation-
! Ii was this She had taken bundle of work to
! the inspecting clerk, and thence had been di-
rected to the cashier with ticket for her pay.
! On former occasions she had suffered from Gu
rious and wicked glances while passing the
clerks Of several departments, as we'll as from a
peculiar tone in which the cashier addressed
! her To-day she was either more painfully SEN
sitve or the g.ances of admiration were more
dsgustingly prominent; and the CASHIER after
! fumbing long as possible, handed her the
silver she had earned with careless but insult
| ing remark. Jennie flashed with indignation,
| threw the money upon the counter, and curling
| her lip with scorn LETT the desk. A hand touch
ed her arm, and kind voice said, Wait mo-
ment, Miss Deli in so assured and command
ing way, that she involuntarily paused. The
gentleman topped up TO the cashier, struck him
a smart blow the side of his face with the
palm of his hand, tipping him over, took The va
Gated stool at his desk, and by the time the fell
low had picked himself up, had balanced his
account, and was ready for him with the residue
OF his wages. Then leading the fellow to the
door by the arn he kicked him into the street.
All this was done 20 coolly, with so much ease
and gentlemanly decision, that Jennie could
take no exception to even the last act of the
drama.
My store will be safe in he future, Miss Dell,
but | will not put you to the inconvenience Of
bringing your work. | will send a boy for it,
and directing lad to take the lady's bundle,
! Mr.. Brewer bowed Jennie out of the store be
lore she had time TO Cry do anything more
than thank him with glance, which, breaking
from her LAT indignation, was curious inter
minglug Of pride and gratitude.
The incident had recalled for the hundredth
time terrible consciousness of her unprotected
situation, and she felt more keenly than ever
the utter helplessness of poverty. Sometimes
the blood Of proud ancestry dashed to her
cheeks and throbbed at her temples but the
next instant woman tears chased each other
down heI checks.
i am so glad you have come father. have
been so very lonely and then l was fearful some
thing had happened
, The old NJ an bent little TO kiss the eyes Of
his Misunderstanding her eyes was the emPha-
Sis OF his affeclion-and his lips we're mostened
by tear which Jennie had unwillingly left
there in the haste of dashing them away to meet
his comin- step.
What is this, daughter? Crying, my child ?
You are not sick, dear? Why, thought my
brave girl never cried, however dark the day
m ght be :; and, with hand Oh each shoulder,
the whiJebaired man held the brght-faced
, daughter arms length before him, gazing low
ing inquiries into her eyes.
Not trace of sadness was in the beaming
face Of the daughter now SO, af er meeting his
gaze laughingly moment, Jennie slipped TO
his arms in her hands, and SAID,
oh, nothing of any moment, father. We wo-
men have little foolish thoughts and troubles OF
our own when we are left alone all day But
D when father comes back again, Jennie is happy
enough, isn't she Z and the girl looked into his