Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-08-01

~ mrs. r. D. 0A0E.

ito srss peep into the city, - . woman
cane ssunbaing up Beckmsn street, whe
imnediasely challenged ny attention, sod
made NJ forge, the coming brightness o.
the day, and the folly Of men and women
that sleep away this the most beautiful
and soul.inspiriog Of tho swenty.iour.
Was It anything strange 10 see woman
coming up Bsekman street, the noisy
thoroughfsre Of thousands1
Yes. For 1t this sunrise hour this wo
man was alote; 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
supported an old nail keg. She was lame,
and seemed to walk with difficulty; but
still she carried her load steadily. In one
hand she held large market basket, and
the other carried or halEdragged . box
sixteen inches square. Her dress WAS
old and patched, but it VA. clean.
Clamp, elump, clamp, shs ca.s up the
street, with her board, keg, box and bas>
ket, until exactly opposite the window Of
my "own hired" apartussn., 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 build
ing. which made little recess for her
usa Next her basket WAS released from
her weary grasp then up went the freed
hands snd the keg came down, carefully
upon the step beside the box; ADD last,
the long board left ito perch above the
black, genteel hood, aud took ito place
upon the keg and s.raishtway there va.
. table filing oil the space between those
columns, except that which Was occupied
BY the box. Nov the white cloth that
covered The contents of the basket became
. table spread, and Was laid neatly over
the board, and hid The old nail keg from
the gaze Of the passer.by. And then the
treasures Of the basket one BY one found
their place upon the clean .ide.table-
sponge-cakes, cream. cakes, ginger-snaps,
pound cakes, crallers, juubles, and know
no. what, until inviting groups aocked the
white cloth, corners, inches, and center,
with tempting variety.
: The basket disappeared uudor the shad'
ow of the table, and when the whole was
completed, the lame woman looked it over
with earnest scrutiny, adjusted few re-
fractory cakes. and thea, placing her hands
upon her hips, che surveyed the whole
with evident satisfaction for moment,
before seating herself upon her boz, to
wait the coming Of her customers. Only
one moments rest did she give those busy
hands. No sooner seated was she, than
her sewing emerged from her pocket. The
oesdle was threaded, and the work spread
out upon her lap.
Ali what revelation vss bousd up 10
that biz Of scarlet calico! In ito folds Lay
the parts Of . tiny slip which revealed 10
my nosherly vision baby child jass tot.
tsrins alone, for whom those busy fingers
were "plying tha: needle and thread"
] drew my chair aud writing stand near
The window, and - ny pen scsa.chsd over
tho paper, ever and anon ny eyes wan
dersd oos Of that narrow room, through
opsa wiudows, down % this trader b. shs
waysids.
Stitch, stitch, stitch, went bss nssdls-
The hand only stopping 70 pick Up > penny
o make change for ) little yellow paper.
- cake altss cake disappeared. How
wished noes people would pause bsfers
.has impronpta stall! Why did thsy pasa
Aer and trade With that red faced creaturs
Opposite, ~ho vas scoldiog o. eoaxinl
every PaassE.byf
Thsrs, 10 skies of thss baby slip i
doss, asd sdgsd With stliP Of whitl