The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-10-19
VOLUME 90.


past and the consciousness OF degraded
present, the forced aud -hollow mprth OF .
haunting fear, a creeping dread wtich ever
pointed with mockiug fuger to the Ger
tain horror of dishonored grave. 1t was
laughter without purity without JOY, with
ont sympathy, without generosity 1t WAS
untouched 10y I. single CLEAN from the com
ing DAY of peace aud good will it had in
it no element of truth aud hope, and 50
nothing came Of it but darker sin aud
deeper sorrow. I## ,.#IsH
street was looking its worst one mid
summers afternoon when bright little
woman stepped daintiIy along the broken
sidewalks She was not handsome but her
eyes were full of tender meaning aud her
fresh lips looked ready to drop pearls-pcarls
Of goodness and love Her pretty chintz
dress fitted her trim figure to perfection,
and her thinlble clinked pleasantly against
the coins which she had received foI her
days work in one pocket of her coquettish
apron. A neat needle-case peeped from
the other pocket and substantial pair of
scissors glittered at her belt. All the popu-
lation was abroad, and all stared and won
dered at the unusual spectacle; the eler
boys giving vent to prolonged whistles and
oaths meant to be playful and compliment
tary, a kind of greeting which would proba-
bly, have taken more active form but for.
the tact and good nature of the stranger
At length, she stopped before one Of the
Imore decent houses, shook her head scanned
1T a second time, and then with slight
nod of recognition tripped lightly up the
stairway. s.. 81. .9aa- s.
Norah Graham was country born and
bred, and an unfortunate day it was when
her widowed mother moved to the Inanufac-
turing town, ineitea to that ill judged step
IbyogIowing accounts of extravagant\ wages
! and light work. She found the mills where
alone high wages were to be obtained; i'll
sutferabe from their heat aud dust and
noise; aud without acquaintance or recon-
mendatiops Of any kind she could not make
her way among strangers. She fell ill with
disappointment and grief and her small
means bearly sufficed to furnish her grave
in pleasant cemetery. Norah far excelled
her mother in inward characteristics and
outward graces, and no long time elapsed
before she obtained employment as seam
stress. As she Increased in skill her remu-
neration increased, and now after FIVE years
of steady diligence she was still young and
bright and had laid aside trifie against
possible sickness and mischance Norah
had converted all her patrons into friends,
but they were recent friends. None of them
mad known her IN her happy childhood,
none had known the father, whom she so
loved and reverenced, to none could she re.
veal the heart-his.ory, which, beginning in
sunshine. had ended in darkness and tears.
i 49, The new did not replace the old, aud she
IN ,alf. ~
lcountry life, and to seek "A renewal of the
lsIightest of early ties. She was in this
mood when she learned that the Eows-her
favorites among old time neighbors
met with with successive misfortunes 1 aud
had finally established themselves in Y
street Norah easily sdiviued the cause of.
their rapid descent from the farm house in
Burton, shaded by elrrs aud naples, to this
Irepulsive, spot for countless memories -
crowded upon her of Jack. Low ouuging
lazily about the bar of the little inu and of.
/ Mrs.-Eow's good nature nduntiHltt with
them came, also, r6co'lcctions Of aprons tnll
of luscious pears, baskets of red checked ~
Piles, brInluilIg pitcherssot new cider. ard
eais OF purple pop cortraNvicii found their
way from the farm to the cottage, anu these
awoke thrill of atfectonate gratitude
which could he satisfied only by an effort III
their behalf. Il have but little to give, 8
she said to herself 'sbut can lodge aud
breakfast with them,and pay thenthe same
that pay my present iandlady." q
, Norah was welcomed by Mrs. Low with
tears Of mingled pain and pleasure :. aud
her proposal was after a few faint deniaIs
i thankfully accepted The best of the Door
rooms was assigned her, which she furnish
ed neatly, and which she consecrated by
countless beautiful deeds of generous self
denial. Many a long hour, after her DAYS
~ DIRK was done, she piled her needle for the
little Lows, without a thought of payment
and many and many a time her pleasant
chatand pleasant singing kept the father
from the grog- shop and sent finn sober. to
bed She gave new courage to the desponde
ing mother, showed her how best to man age
ner small and uncertain income, and taught
her to make her home tidy and cheerful
despite the balefal power Of place aud cir
cunstance Quietly, also, her influence
penetrated to other families, but her rchief
success was among the children. Tathem
she gave her Sabbaths' denying her self all
the sacred pleasures of the house of PRAYER.
and when the summer melted into autumn.
and the evenings grew long, she gathered
II them by classes in ber,war chamber and
taught them charming things so charming
ly that many began actually to thirst for
knowledge, and applied for and obtained ad
mission to the city schools. ~ .-
At length thescoId winds swept bracingly
, through I street, and the SHOW draned f
with fleecy folds. White, gIittering, all im2
tpurities covered from sig,nt and, scent. it
waited for the coming Christmas The
! stars looked the glad tidings from the
depths OF their purple silence, the air breath
: ed it III its frosty sleep, the Rielle murmur-
: ed it from between its icy banks. ieven the
: very houses seemed to FEEL it. Sa,thonr Ii
J weakly and without voice Here and there!
also,a little heart leaped at the Thought. and
young eyes flashed with the promise of the
approaching festival. Norah Graham was
botn busy and Joyful She was trimming 6
tree Tor her. Su'lday School children. 1t
was real Tee, which had been given her
oy pa. ron, and she was hanging up not
Only streamers and flags, but shoes. anc
bookings, and mittens and conltorters arIt
j jackets aud caps and beside these she hat
/ frosted cakes and great lunches Of grapes
'e and strings Of figs, pyramids Of apples, anc
II bags of candy, TO saysnothing Of books anG
/ pictures not a few How her pulses beat
d how her blood went racing through he
k veins! how quick and light were her move
Y ments how her hand tremblei with pleas
l. ure as she labeled articles after articles AN,
g tied them to the glossy holly boughs am,
le how prettily she turned her head, now thi
l. way and now that to observe the effect @
N her handiwork The minutes flew by, an,
lie the hours as we'll till the last ornamen
d found its place; and then such a vivid pic
Is ture Of the morrow's JOY rose before her
Re such a thrill Of love for the forlortlittie one
4 Sho9were to be her guests struck through
Mt her heart-sthat SHE laughed aloud. Z
S, clear, sparkling laugh it was. aud While
is yet filled the chamber with its iuiniita,fl
| h.. - Al