The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1863-07-25
THE CAKE-SELLER OF
BEEIkMAN STREET.
BT MRs. r. D. GAGE.

The sun was Just coming up and taking
its first peep into the city, as a woman
came stumping up Beekman street, who
Immediately challenged my attention,
and made me forget the coming bright
ness Of the day, and she folly Of men and
women that sleep away this the most
beautiful and soul-inspiring Of the twen-
ty-four.
Was it anything strange to see woman
coming up Beekman street, the noisy
thoroughfare of thousands ..
Yes. For at this surise hour this woman
was alone; not another human being
treading those cold gray stones in sight.
Her outward seeming, too, was strange
On her head she carried board three feet
long and eighteen inches wide, which sup
ported an old nail keg. She was lame
and seemen to walk with difficulty but
still she carried her load steadily. In one
hand she held large market basket, and
the other carried or half-dragged box
sixteen inches square. Her dress was old
and patched. but it was clean.
Clump, clumps clump, she game up the
street, with her board, keg, box and
basket, until exactly opposite the window
of my "own hired" apartment, and there
she pumped down, and put her box upon
the step of large business house oppo-
site. No, not the step, but within the
space between two columns of said bull
ding, which made little recess for her
use. Next her basket was released from
her weary grasp then up went the freed
hands and the keg came down carefully
upon the step beside the box; and last,
the long board left its perch above the
black, genteel hood, and took its place
upon the keg; and straightway there was
table filling all the space between those
columns, except that which was occupied
by the box. Now the white cloth that
covered the contents of the basket be-
came table-spread, and was laid neatly
over the board, and hid the old nail-ke eg
from the gaze ofthe passer-by. And then
the treasures of the basket one by one
found their place upon the clean side
table-sponge-cakes creenl-cakes, ginger
snaps, pound cakes, crullers, jumbles, and
know not what, until inviting groups
fiocked the white cloth, corners, inches,
and center, with tempting variety.
The basket disappeared under the shad-
ow of the table, and when the whole was
completed, the lame woman looked it
over with earnest scrutiny, adjusted a few
refractory cakes, and then, placing her
hands upon her hips. she surveyed the
whole with evident satisfaction for mo
ment, before seating herself upon her
box, to wait the coming of her custom
ers. Only one moments rest did she
give those busy hands. No sooner seated
was she. than her sewing emerged from
her pocket. The needle was threaded.
and the work spread out upon her hap.
All! what a revelation was bound up
in that bit of scarlet calicol In It's folds
Law the parts of tiny slip which revealed
to nv motherly vision baby child just
.tottering alone, for whom those busy fin
gers were plying that needle and
thread" ,....-.' '.'
Il drew my chair and writing-stand near
the window. and rs n1y pen scratched over
the paper, ever and anon my eyes wan
dered out of that narrow room, through
open windows, down to this trader by the
waysids. >:
Stitch, stitch, stitch, went her needle
the hand only stopping 70 pick up q
penny or make change for little yellow
lsaper, ~ cake after cake disappeared. -
How / wished more people would pause
before that inpromptu stalll Why did
they y,ass ksv and trade with that red
faced creatare opposite, whowas scolding
or eoaxina every pAsser-by : s:7.{
There. the skirt Of that haby-slip is
done, and edged with strip Of white
braid asoand the ibettcEn. She holds ~
trS and banks as 20, and chs light OF love
afows all over her houeiy. care-aaaTke
fase. Nov conas the waist and sleeves
mayhap her stitches are nos as we'll sss'of
her; work such as weuld take presniuEas
at fairs, but is viii do. -.
The great clock chimes twelve. pen
ny from her pocket hays ~ RpI'ie from