The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-01-20
PINGIN WINDOWS


PEEPING ~ WINDOWS.
III NAN.
Tie ideas of people in regard TO selfshucss
perhaps O fl r as widely So upon any other mi
nor siu or weakness that cau b. mentioned and
l cairoi txpecf q large clasa to agree With he
IN ny opinions of certain cxp'csso'.s q IT, Sull
I mus hold t. my long-cheri-hsd fancy,
thar the habit OF people, ia gene;nl. bave OF
losing blinds ard d.opping curtains over pleas
ant windows, when evening Twilight deepens 10
90 s-afhght without AID gtshght within, Is
- li-hness annoying aud disappointing to me!
Uuciviiizei aud rude as the confession must
make ne appear in the eyes OF those who so
widely LITER from me, it j. nevertheless the de-
light Of ny evening walks 10 catch glimPses
through forgotten easements, Of happy groups
cozily gathered around the cheerful CRATE or ia
blr laden with books and light evening fancy
work
think the passion with me must have COM
meuced at a very early age, for | distinctly re
member that a lady | was spending the day
with, when very small child, took me from a
nesbbor's window. where | was enjoying tie
scene inside with an impressive lecture upon
tie rudeness and impoliteness Of my act, which
| couldn't understand The reproof, with the
disappointment, sunk deep in my heart; yet
doubt it did much good at all events, ii didn't
cure me.
/ protest against the evening pleasures OF
home being shut SO carefully within the four
walls when without an effort, scarce thought,
they might so easily float out into the night and
the hearts OF the passers by. People think
it ,trar ge fancy to " Ger up and down long
streets, peering into unknown homes and feast
ing upon comforts that only intended tor
the little circle within it may be. Yet when
| think of all the pleasures that come 70 one IN
this way-the beautiful tabeaux and pantOmimes
that enjoy so much-the glmpses Of art upon the
walls that love 10 study, making them all seem,
by aid Of the soft shadows and Imagination,
works Of old masters-the little gems scattered
about here and there to make home attractive to
some dear one,-I cry out against the practice
OF hiding all these things away from the outside
world The sharing them in a manner so simple
costs nothing and who can estimate the good
that may be doae in this way
One freezing winter night, two poor, frost
bitten little beggar children stopped before
large window through which they saw the bright
blaze of a cracking fce.
"Och, Jounie," exclaimed the little shivering
girl, " don't it look good: ?"
90, Wis, don't We wish was in there -
Aud they pressed their pinched faces close to
the friendly pane, rubbing their poor blue fin
gers until they almost forgot that they we're
warmed only by the sight of the cheerful blaze.
Were the little ones inside colder for the COM
fort their uncurtained window gave the wretch
ed ones without? And would not their innocent
sleep have been sweeter that night if they had
known the warmth that went down through
those starved ewes 10 the little frozen hearts,
., II could only 90 softly around, under cover
OF the dark night, to all the great houses, and
throw open blinds and thrust aside the heavy
curtains. Wouldn't il brighten the darkness
Without and wouldn't some poor, tired wan
deFer bless me in his heart?
would creep around to the snug little cOttag-
es, too, where love uestles quietly and draw
up the plain shade just little way, 10 let the
more unpretendng, though no less deep, dOmes
tic happiness peep out.
/ l would be unsparing in my generous efforts,
but, alas this is not given me so | must wan
der on as heretofore, with blessings on the un-
known homes that lcili let me peep in their win
dows
Many a pleasant little romance, many scrap
Of He's history, and more than one pleasant frol-
/ &c. hss come to me through my neghbor's case
ment Even now, can lOOOk over the street
/ and see two little boys, on a visit TO grand
mamma going to bed The nice, proper old
I lady might be shocked if she knew that nurse
forgol, when she lit the gas for them. to pull
down the window shade but lie enjoyed the
gambols ia the little nightgowus. One frolic-
some little rogue always takes the time when
his little brother is quietly saying his prayers, TO
perform sondry gymnastic feats, and never gets
into bed in anv way but by climbing over the
foot board. 1t seems almost Ike having ones
own little nephews coming home, TO watch them
night after night.
- 10, 81
boarding school was reeved-unconsciously on
their psrt-by family that dwelt next door.
The small space between the houses, and the
fact that it vas "only boarding school" per-
haps caused the neglect OF the windows but
be that as It may, not a bliud or a curtain upon
the side next to us was changed at night from
the position held by day.
l. might have been a hOmesick feeling At first
that drew me toward the dear old father and
mother, each in an easy chair upon either side oi
the open FIRE. But twas the young, fresh face
fitting in and out. ever with playful word or
CAV song on her lip, as | could easily see, that
kept me all the long grey twights by the win
dOw OF my little room. used TO think i for
tuuate thing that i" mamma could knit just as
well without looking at her work and that news
upside down was all the same 70 the silver
haired old mar, while they watched the dainty
darling for she never moved but their tender
eyes followed her.
soon found out (all by my freight studies
that she was the only one left at home. Tha
there We're married sons aud daughters, l learned
6 by tie frequert invasoas OF joyous grsndchi
e dren, and papas and mammas dropping in snC
settling down for an evening in the little bacl
paror, all in such homeish way. Bye snC
: bye, made out that my little lady blushed OF
certain occasions, when tidy waiting maiC
handed her card. and then she would dissppea
for the evening, never coming back before
grew tired O. waiting Only once she came in
I clinging in a a tiuud way TO a tall, dark man
and both knelt before the two arm-chairs-
drawn very close together on these lonely night