North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-11-15
gflftt gtcry.
THE, CRACK I'M THE WALL.

I AsHanusome mouse IN an ellglOie street In
Paris with plenty of snowy furniture in the
drawing rooms, and plenty of fine dresses IN
| the wardrobe, but no love, no magnanimity,
except in little back attic, where Charm
ing young girl tenderIy ministered to fee
BILE mother. The house belonged to Mon
sieur and Madame Chatele, the attic was
occupied by the widow and daughter of Mon
| sieur's deceased brother, M. Broussaies Cha
telle The widow Chatelle was, at her best,
| weak minded woman, and when su ddenly
reduced from apparent prosperity to absolute
! dependence by the death of her husband,
| she gave way at once, and become morbid,
fretful and .exacting. Her i'll temper injured
| nobody but herself and daughter, Rosine !;
| for her hostess having permitted her to fur
nish the back attic with such articles as she
had saved from the wreck of her fortune, and
contented herself with sending up three scan.
| ~ meals day, while she worked Rosine
| nearly to death in the various departments
| of governess, laundress and .ady's waiting
| maid. Finally discovering that mother and
| daughter must, soon be supplied with new
| garments, Monsieur took the matter in hand,
and plainly told his unwelcome guests that
he could no longer support them, and that
they must thenceforth look to themselves
alone for food and shelter.
Poor Mdme. Chatelle was overwhelmed
| by lis blow, but it gave Rosipe courage.
From dependent child, she became self
relying woman, and when she crossed her
uncle's threshold for the last time it was
with resolut te step and cheerful cuuntenance
II is true that she did not even suspect the
wasting anxiety, the haunting fears and the
many disappoin tments which lay before her
| but even if she had done so she would have
smiled at them for a moment.
. Her first search was for lodgings, of the
price of which she knew nothing, and with
an aching heart, she descended lower aud
lower in the social scale until she came upon
a vast building. six or seven stories high
| thronged 10 the caves with motely and ill
assorted community. 1t was called"The Fol
| iy," because it was begun on a grand scale,
for private dwelling, and was stopped when
half finished for want of meaus. Ill-ar-
ranged for any purpose, it remained long un-
sold and finally made into lodging house
its thin partitions and mean star-wsys CON-
trasting strongly with its stone walls and
| handsome casem ents.
"A front room on the second floor had
just been vacated, and Rosine, with many
misgiving$, resolved to take it. A thorough
| cleaning, with three or FOUR coats of white
wash to the ceiling and walls which S he affec
ted with her own hands. greatly improved its
condition; and although she had been obliged
to sell part of her furniture to supply more
needed articles, there was still enough to
make 4 contrast pleasantly with most of the
apartments of the "Folly' A bright color-
ed CARPET covered the center If he room and
ardunn6 it stood three or four rosewood
chairs, deep soft lounge, and small table.
One of the recesses upon the back side held
the bed, screened by long Curtains of gIazed
| cambrlc, and the other held the little cook
ing stove, with few little culinrry utensils
which hung around it. The table furn iture
was slowed away in corner cupboard, pret
| tily covered boxes held the fuel and provis
| ions. and upon the wall were five or six of
! Rosine's pretty water color drawings, and a
| small case of choice but well worn books.
Rosine had kept up her spirits wonderful
| fy until these preparations were completed,
\
| for she had no time to think but now came
the hard task of procuring work. She onlu
draw and color with taste and skill she
played the piano gracefully and sang charm
ingly and she embroidered neatly and rap
| idly. Her personal appearance was also in
her favor. Her figure was elegant and her
face possessed sweetness and purity but
these points, which interested for the moment
those to whom she applied, weighed but lit
| tie against the facts that she lived in
doubtful i not pos itively disreputable quar-
ter. The utmost that she could accomplish
was to secure one pupil in each of the branch
es which she desired to teach, at a rate OF
compensation far below that which she ought
in Justice 10 have received +; and dscour aged
by her ill success she tried to obtain other
employments, however coarse and unremun-
erative. This search was rendered nearly un'
availing by Mdme. Chatelle, who exac'ed
from her daughter, as much attention as it
they were independent in fortune, and who
was in o, chronic state OF i'll humor over her
privations and sufferings. Rosine never lost
her patience, She sllenced her own grief to
quiet those of her mother, soothed her with
thousand loving devices, and at night she
sung her to sleep as she would have done
lfretful infant. .,rf. .ls- .s. .g. 81.
Rosine's gentle beauty, and her refined
manner and loving heart were good gifts to
the dodgers in the crazy old buildings To