Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-01-10
In the Omnibus--A Sketch.

A mighty woman with a bundle, a cross
woman with a baby, an uncomfortable wo
man with a dog, an old gentleman with a
trumpet, beaming young lady with ex-
pansive crinoline, and the usual compli-
ment Of nothing particular people, inclu
ding myself, John Hays, gentleman at
large, would not have been inside i'll could
have helped it; and judging from the
surrounding faces, we were all hot and
hated one another When fellow crea-
ture 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 bliad!" It
was the tiniest, sweetest voice we all turn
ed to see a little girl lay her hand conf.
dinghy on the conductors arm. took her
from him as fearfully as if she had been IN
truth what she looked like-my Parian
Clytie-the same pure, sweet face, with the
delicate features and dropping white eye
lids; but the sadness of her palor was re-
lieved by the vivid dark gold of her hair,
which fell in soft, thick rolls upon her neck.
''Isn't there dog here p said she, pres
emily.
Eyes, darling" said the dogs owner, as
she handed it to the child, looking uncom-
Portable no longer; the bliud face turned to
hers seemed to charm away its nervousness.
sWhat dear little fellow" said Clytie,
aid the rough terrier grew popular.
''Do they let you 60 far alone?' said
ho orocc yUo,oap
ooh, yes" The little creature gave
low, glad laugh of triumph ''Pve been
to the blind school can do every thing
for myself now
''Would you mind saying that again,
my dear? I'm very deaf said the old
gentleman. She repeated her sentence,
adding with an odd womanly pity, ut
must be sad to be deaf"
said involuntarily, "You don't look as
though you were ever sad.
ooh, no, never am, now that Envy is
we'll"
"Who isEmy?'-
"Oh, my little sister; oh, such little
darling; but she was i'll for long time
so longp p
Clytie's voice faltered, as though she was
living over again great sorrow.
.'But she is well, 2 said
''Oh, yes, quite strong ;;.and IFS 50 nice =
"Have you many sistersand brothers2'
asked the young lady.
''No, only Envy 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 I
should like to have heard the baby.
"What does he laugh at p said the cross
woman.
ooh, everything; at Envy and me,
when we play Punch and Jndy and at dim
ner, when there's dumplings; and some
times he lies on the floor, and laughs at
himself; and welaugh too, it's SO funny"
The little ones mirth was SO infectious,
we all Joined in with various meditation
of the roar of the deaf old gentleman, who
could not stop himself, and setting off again,
little Clytie clapplng her soft gloved hands
till she made the dog bark, and the con-
ductor looked in to say
"Well, if I ever saw such row."
sEusio road, please" said Clytie, turn
ing into business woman all at once.
The unwelcome place seemed to come
directly as | turned from helping the
child out, saw the cross woman's face
breaking up into tears.
cts queer" she said, ''but I feel like
to cry to see her so merry
| was unpleasantly conscious of what my
dear mother used to callthe apple in my
throat: SO | was grateful 10 the deaf gen
tleman for saying ''Eh p and saving the
effort Of replying
We all fell into quietness, but it was
curious to notice how forbearing we were
to one al another; the child's great loss,
worn like flower crown on the head of
some pictured saint, made our petty dis
comforts all melt away
The young lady began to play with the
baby, the old gentleman with the dog, and
|, who object to all gratuities on the prin-
ciple Of never having any money to spare,
was absolutely 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 over Renaissance of youth she
had known when she was girl, who had
recovered his sight after being blind for
year.
| think, instead Of being pluck civil
service candidate, could be woman
with mission, [ could choose that Of my
unconscious little Clytie
Republics are created by the virtue,
public spirit, and intelligence Of the citi-.
zens. They fall when the wise are Danish
ed from the public councils because they
dare to be honest, and the prohigate are
rewarded because they hatter the people
in order to betray them.
It is said that almost every alternate
section of land along the Pacific railroad