The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-01-23
In the Omnibus---A Sketch

vInelMus HvrcnrS.
In the Omnibus---A Sketch
A mighty woman with a bundle, a eros
woman with baby, an uncomfortable woma,
with dog, an old gentleman with an ca
trumpet, beaming young lady with an cx
panslve crinolinc, and the usual complement
OF nothing particular people, including myself
John Hays, gentleman at large. | would no
have been inside if I could have helped it
nor in an omnibus at all if I could have helped
1t; and, judging from the surrounding faces
we were all in the same plight. We were al
hot, and we all hated one another When E
fellow creature is yisibly radiating the caoric
one already has in excess hatred for him, OF
even her, follows in logical sequence, and We
were waiting for more passengers.
'Please help me in-l'm bIindr It was
the finest, sweetest voice. we all turned to
see little girl lay her hand confdngly on the
conductors arm. I took her from him as fear.
fully as if she had been in truth what she
looked llke-my parian CIytie-the same pure,
sweet face, with the delicate features and
dropping white eyclids; but the sadness of her
pallor was relieved by the vivid dark gold of
her hair, which fell in soft thick rolls upon her
neck.
"lsn't there dog bere?' said size pres
emily.
Yes, darling." said the dogs owner as
she handed it to the child looking uncomroyt-
able no longer; the blind face turned to hers
seemed to charm away its nervousness.
"What a dear little fellow" said the CIvtie
and the rough terrier grew popular.
DO they letyou 60 far alonc?" said the
cross woman.
"Oh, yes" The little creature gave low
glad laugh of triumph. I've been to the
blind school; l can do everything fer myself
now
'WouId you mind saying that again. nv
dear? I'm very deaf" said the old gentle
man. She repeated her sentence, adding,
with an odd, womanish pity, 1T must be 50
sad to be deaf"
L said, involuntariIy, You don't look as
though you were ever sad
Il! ., no, never am, now Envy is we'll"
"Who is Emy?'
"Why, my little sister! Oh, such a little
darjing but she was i'll for long tir1e-so
long"
:, CIytie's voice faltered, as though she were
living over again a great sorrow.
"But she is well now" said
80, yes, quite strong; and it's SO nice.''
"Havc you many sisters and bro.hers?'
asked the young lady.
"No, only Envy, and one brother, baby |
Tom; he's s5ch great, fat fellow, and lie |
laughs-yon can't think how he laughs"
If 1t was anything like the musical rill his
sister sent ripping through the air. I should
like TO have heard that baby laugh
''What does he laugh at?'' said the cross
woman"
ooh, everything; at Envy and me, when we
play Punch and Judy; and at dinner, when
there's dumpllns; and sometimes he lies on
the floor and laughs al himself; and we laugh
too, it's SO funny.'' The little ones nirlh
was infectious; we all joined in, with various
moduIatIons the roar of the deaf gentleman,
who couldn't stop himself, and setting us off
again, little Cytie, cappng her soft gloyed
hand till she made the dog bark, and the con-
ductor looked in to say, "Well, if ever saw
such row."
"Euston road, please" said C1ytie, turning
into business woman all at once
The unwcIcome place seemed to come d.
rectly; as l turned from helping the child out,
saw the cross womans face breaking up in
to tears
Its queer" she said, "but feel like to
cry to see her so merry"
was unplcasanuy conscious of what nv
dear mother used to call the apple in nv
throat, so was grateful to the deaf gentleman ,
tor saying. "Eh!'' and saving tie effort of re-
plying We all fell into quietness, but it was !
curious to notice how torbearing we grew to !
one another; the ch!I's great loss, worn like
flower crown on the head of some pictured
SAINT, made our petty discomlors all melt [
away. The young lady began to play with
he baby, the old gentleman with the dog, c
and L, who object to all gfatuiles, on The pin
',,pie OF never having any money to spare, was l
absolutely pleased when the mighty woman c
banded back her change to her vanquished t
oe, saying:
Never mind the penny, CONDUCTOR {
Even the cross woman grew quite interest
ng over the Renaissance OF youth she had
'noWn when she was girl, who had recov- a
red his sight after being blind for a wear. n
think, if, instead of being plucked SER -
ice candidate, could be a woman with Il
MISSION, | would choose th~t of my uncon- h
cious little CIytie