Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-01-08
In the Omnibus---A Sketch.

In The Umnl DuS---A Sketch,
4 mighty woman with bundle, a cross wo-
man with baby. an uncomfortable woman
with dog, an old gentleman with trumpet,
beaming young lady with expansive crino-
line, and the usual complement of nothing
particular people, including myself, John
Hayes, gentleman at large, would not have
been inside if l could have helped it and
judging from the surrounding faces, We were
all hot and hated one another. When a teI-
low creature is visibly radiating the caloric
one has already in excess, hatred for him, or
even her, follows in logical sequence, and we
were waiting for more passengers.
:" Please help me in, I'm blind :" Tt was
the tinicst, sweetest voice VIC all turned to
see little girl lay her hand confidingly on
the conductors arm. l took her from him as
iearluly as if she had been in truth what she
looked liko-my Parian CIytie-the same
pure, sweet face, with the delicate features
and dropping white eye-lids; but the sadness
of her palor was relieved by the vivid dark
gold of her hair, which fell in soft, thick
rolls upon her neck.
Isn't there dog here ?" said she, pre-
sently.
Yes, darling" said the dogs owner. as
she handed it to the child, looking uncom-
Portable no longer; the blind face turned to
hers seemed to charm away its nervousness.
What dear little fellow said Clytie,
and the rough terrier grew popular.
g Do they let you go far, alone 2" said the
cross woman.
'Oh, yes" The little creature gave a low.
glad laugh of triumph, live been- to the
blind school; can do everything for my
self now'
"Would you mind saying that again, my
dear! I'm very deaf" said the old gentle
man. She repeated her sentence adding with
an odd womauly pity, 1T must be sad to be
deaf"
1 said, involuntarily, 'You don't look as
though you were ever sad"
we'll"
"Who is Emy?"
',Oh, my little sister; oh, such darling;
but she was i'll for long time-so long :"
.Clytic's voice taltcrcd, as though she were
living over again great sorrow.
''5ut she is we'll now,' said.
ooh, yes, quite strong, and it's so nice"
"Have you many sisters and brothers ?''
asked the young lady.
.'No, only Eny and one brother, baby Tom;
he's such great fat fellow, and he laughs
you can't think how he does laugh"
If it was anything like the musical thrill
his sister sent ripping through the air
should like to have heard the baby
"What does he laugh at ?" asked the cross
woman.
'Oh, everything; at Envy and me, when
we play Punch and Judy; and at dinner
when there's dumplings; and sometimes he
lies on the floor, and laughs at himself; aud
we laugh, too, it's so funny"
The little ones mirth was so infectious, We
all joined in with various modulations of the
roar of the deaf old gentleman, who could
not stop himself, and setting off again, little
Clytie clapping her soft gloved hands till she
made the dog bark, and the conductor looked
in to say:
''Weil, if I ever saw such row."
"Euston road, please said Clytie, turning
into business woman all at once
The unwelcome place seemed to come di-
rectiy; as turned from helping the child
out, L saw the cross woman 5 face breaking
up into tears.
''It's queer" she said, ''but feel ike to
cry to see her so merry"
was unpleasantly conscious of what nv
dear mother used to call the apple in my
throat; so l was grateful to the deaf gentle
man for saying "Eh - and saving the effort
Of replying
We all fell into quietness, but it was Gu
rous to notice how forbeuring We were to one
another; the child's great loss, worn ike
flower crown on the head of some pictured
saint, made cur petty discomforts all melt
away.
The young lady began to play with the ba-
by, the old gentleman with the dog. and ].
who object to all gratuities on the principle
of never having any money to spare, was alb
.solutely pleased when the mighty woman
handed back her change to her vanquished
foe, saying:
Never mind the penny, conductor"
Even the cross woman grew quite inter
esting oyer reminiscence of youth she
had known when she was girl, who had re-
covered his sight after being blind for a year.
think, Instead of being a plucked civil
service candidate, l could be woman with a
mission, could choose that Of my uncon>
s,iOus little Clytie.
RATs.-It has been discovered th.r4 r.t.