The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-24
vIOLA's CHOICE.
BY LIMA EDWIN.

oncie DAD, our coacnman, VINO, Instead OF dri
ing on this occasion, got inside and took me vii
him. was too much of 6 child, only eight yea
old. and too sleepy to be much Interested Ia II
me tier, granted that whatevs r they did was RICH
as had never known q mothers care.
remember that Birdie and were often told
our father who was far away; but one thing a
wsys troubled my young brain, why Birdie wa
taught to call our nurse by her name, while ws
instructed to call her Auntie, and sometimes Sd
would h say, 9ou are not not my sister we on
and was kindly treated by Aunty Coons. wa
satisfied.
Nothing of note occurred until the midnight de
psrture from home: Uncle Dan held me in hi
arms until we reached the railroad station, whe
he placed me in the keeping of woman who b
said was my mother.
Sill too sleepy to comprehend what was goin
on, remember no more until awoke next da
story attic of q tenement house the close, mar
row apartment seemed so different from Oh,
country mansion where / bad hitherto dwell
that sat for some time rubbing my eyes, snt
doubling whether was yet awake.
Twas aroused from my imaginary dream by the
entrance of the woman who had the night before
taken me out of Uncle Dams arms. " Good
morning, child" she said. al hope you rested
well IT'S rather late for little girls to rise, but III
forgive you this time, as we Travelled so far last
night, but hereafter six O'Clock must find Won up
your mothers poor, and you must help her get a
| lives?' / ventured to ask.
The loud laugh and reply that came to this
mace my heart tremble "Aunty-big house
that's not your aunty, neither is the big house
NINE CHILD and to getyou out of your fine no.
tons, might as well tell you the truth. I'm
your mother, honey. think it must be nigh unto
eight years ago you was born /; you see your
father cleared out and left us, and didn't know
Coons and asks her to keep you She didn't care
much about i at first, for she had had Lord
Purdy's little infant TO nurse, but being good.
hearted, finally concluded to keep you until you
were eight years old. You are eight years old
now and your mother had to take you home, and
right glad am, for you are nice little girl, and
can help me now bit."
OF course, at that time did not understand
half she said, but every day it grew upon me.
only knew then that she was nv mother. and that
l should never see the great old stone house,
Birdie, Auntie, or any one again and instead of
The green fields had played In I must conane
myself to the narrow pavements, and from day
to day sell the number of papers given me to dis
pose Of.
1t was long time before could find the
strength or courage to approach the passing
crowd and solicit them to purchase my Journal,
Express, or whatever had but finally sue.
ceeded-if not in being as bold as Mary McCartv
or Nike Donahue-in selling my papers.
MY mother did not treat me unkindly-in fact
she often used to praise me for being so smart.
and after | had washed the dishes and com pletsd
pleased with my time, and often felt very lonely
and sighed for the compsnionship of Birdie bat /
shrank from the bad children daily met, for
could not listen to the vile, bad language they
used. l had been taught to read, so often
amused myself by perusiDg the old papers left
from my stock.
Things went on In this way for about nearly
TWO years, when l heard OF a night school. / |
asked and obtained my mothers permission to |
attend. seemea to have a natural talent to &C. |
complish everything that was given me without |
much study. and advanced so rapidly that in two |
years time knew almost as much as my teacher,
who, by the way, was kind. good soul, and see.
ing my eagerness to advance made bold to visit /
my mother and ask her to allow me to attend day
school. This she consented to do on condition /
that should rise early enough to dispose of nv
morning papers. and to this l eagerly assented.
got Into good position in school through the
Influence OF my former master.
Here 1t was for the first time that had nv
feelings wounded. Ny Dress though clean was
decidedly unique. | knew nothing about sewing.
y fashion-in fact, never gave my dress
hought; but now when the girls passed me and
urned up their noses at my Oldfashioned high
lecked and tight sleeved Dress felt mortified and
unhappy. But there was no remedy, so had TO
ubmit. |
But had my revenge, as I surpassed every one
n school In my studies and took the premium, and
D one year more would have graduated; but lust
4 this time my mother was taken i'll, so had to
cave my school, and, as we had no intimate
ecided to move and open little shop for the
rofitable.
My mothers patience and kind words to me at
bis time, really drew me nearer to her in heart
ban had ever been before, and she seemed to |
ling to me-, often imploring me never TO leave
er. VI course did not at the time understand
er feelings, but assured her of my love aud
are, which faithfully fulfilled for many a year.
Or she never left her room again, except on her
rutches.
opened my little store and was so successful
nat soon opened larger one, where EMPLOYED ,
clip. In the meantime did not neglect myself,
Ut employed an instructor In music and Iangua. Z
es. was not unhappy, but led quiet life, vet ,
lere ever seemed to be something which could !
OF obtain. | was now in my nineteenth year,
ith comfortable home and my means daily in. i
'essng, yet there began to grow upon me a
stlessness which could not well control. 4 .
One morning, returning from my usual walk / | =
ltered the store, which | seldom did now. One
my clerks was praising the merits of some h
'ok TO gentleman who seemed to hesitate !
'out the value. | listened for few moments,
I'd finding that he was right, called the clerk and
dered the book to be sold at the pentleman's
ice. AS spoke our eyes met What was it =
at seemed to oil my soul with trembling plea. n
re. stood as spell-bound until he paid his hill !.
ID left. us '-' !
g A queer man." said my clerk to his assistants :,
comes here every day, parleys and talks about u
g price, finally pays il and leayes.r "
|
rsation. then gave some order and went out a.
ain. For many days eagerly watched for the y
I'm and face Of the "queer man who came | +
cry day." but week had elapsed ere saw ~
n again, and this time not in the store. had II
en- out TO make some purchases. and as / left =,
} establishment, saw him assisting lady from a NJ
rrisge, evidently a noblemans equipage. n,
was there in her face that puzzled me " "
ad seen it before, when and where! | could ~
{ decide. She brushed past me, but a sudden ~
q OF the horses brought me face to face with
J carriage occupant, who gave sudden start, So
ich attributed to the carriage movements W
e same afternoon, however, he called at the ~ ~
re again, buying large collection of books: az ~
left an order and address for them to be sent 81
cad the card" Francis Leon, Is street. - =.
ldon." So after all be was not a nobemsn. va
annot say why, but l felt pleased he did NJ NJ
seem so far away from me. heard the sS'
TX say: Is
Nothing but an artists studio after ALL and ~.
queer gentleman painting pictures, aud how -,
lilar that portrait looked to me-where have NJ
q il ~ WI
lot being able to answer the question, their ~
les separated them, and almost regretted il ~
so, for could have stood all day listening 10 W
thing about this man. | now Thought of ~
hing else, but did not blush for nv thoughts. s'o
they were pure and sincere. / did not then ~