The Portland daily press., 1862-12-08
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Story of Human Nature.


The long walk down town from Madison
street, where Mrs. Jefferson lived. could be
very much shortened by passing through a
dirty alley designated Howard street." Mrs.
Jefferson seldom ayailed herself of the adyan-
tage this crossway offered but, one day. being
In great haste, she said TO herself, II think
will venture TO 90 through this dirty lane"
Accordingly she drew down her face to its
greatest possible length, and with frown on
her brow, set her pretty gathered foot on the
walk. Passing along, bewailing the necessity
which subjected her TO the annoyance of 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 IRON the guns of the accurate marksmen
came in contact with Mrs. Jeflerson's nose
Darker grew the ffown on her brow, and dark
er still as she received the unmistakeable evil
dences that the next aim was taken at her
back. An expression of disgust mingled with
Mrs. Jefierson's frown as she discovered dir
ty little child smiling at her through cobweb
curtained window. The baby's sister saw the
look on her face, and treated her TO q splash
from 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 ladys approach until her fretiul voice
inquired:
"Can pass? %
"Yes, just as quick as we get this mime
done," said one.
''Let her go by, Bill. Only don't tip the cars
over by your hoops,D 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, sau-
cy 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.
Mrs. Jefferson was glad enough when she
reached the broad and decent thoroughfare. but
she could not help seeing the splashes of mud
on her dress; she feared the potato from the
pop-guns had left its mark on her face and her
galter 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 to save time by passing through
Howard street. just behind her trimmed her
little neighbor Mrs. Baldwin.
RATHER uninviting," she said TO herself as
her happy face looked down the dingy alley,
but III try aud see how many smiles can
get from the dirty little folks.p
With grateful feelings in her heart that God
had drawn her lines in pleasant places. she
reached the pop-gun marksmen, who had lust
taken such successful aim at Mrs Jefferson.
NOW for my Smiles" thought Mrs Baldwin.
as she greeted the boys with such a frank and
genial look that it won pleasant answering
smiles from all but one. He was so busy get
ting his pop-gun inio runm1hg order, that he
exclaimed:
.Holdo on, Tom. Don't shoot that lady,
Tom looked up with an expression which
said: 1 will If have mind to- But the la
dy gave him such merry smile that he drew
back little, and Mrs. Baldwin heard him
say:
We'll, I'd rather not shoot her, reckon
The dirty baby was still peeping through
tne coowebs. He caught glimpse of her sun
shlny lace, and instantly commenced such a
growing and capering, that the lady had to
STOP ana look at him, and say aloud:
what dear baby you are
DaDy sister saw the admiring look and
heard the praise bestowed. and hurried to The
door, broom in hand, not this time to impro-
wise shower from the mud puddle; but she
said: Wv '"S
The walk is so dirty for your nice dress .ba,
want to brush it Off for YOU '''''''
The little engine makers were enorossed With
their mud toys, and hesitated about leavinr
their work long enough to let the ladv mass.
but she said, pleasantly:
These are very nice locomotives, boys, I'll
try and not come in collision with them.'
lhe boys made way for her right quickly.
and from the lips of more than one of them
came beg pardon, madam
Every little child was ready to give back
smile Tor smile, and it was with a face perfect
ly radiant with happiness that she greeted her
friends as she passed down Main street. Mrs.
Baldwin told her husband all about her walk
ana her adventure, and he (silly fellow kissed
her and said:
Bless your heart, wife You are a perfect
sunbeam. Who, besides you, could find onve
thing but wretchedness in Howard street %
Mrs. Jefferson thought she would never 90
near the dirty alley again; but on talking with
some ladies of a benevolent association, of the