New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-14

no mentaiiy less iaDorious occupation. tie
lied just as they come in view of Acapulco,
md lay buried there, far from home and kim
ired. Poor Mrs. Adds came ashore with an
lching heart, but with strong spirit, resolved
o labor for the living of her children. the
Youngest OF them nearly an infant, rather than
Undertake the voyage home again. Her father
had been poor clergyman she had no friends
IN her native land capable of assisting her.
W hen one has to lose caste and work for a liv-
Ing, 1t Is less hard to the mind to do it in
strange place. She did not know the work
would be quite so mental, but she had put her
shoulder to the wheel and took what came
AT first nothing offered-perhaps her visions
were too high. She could only clasp her three
children to her heart and pray to be helped to
provide for them, not to die of starvation. Mr..
Evans, who had been one of her fellowpas
sengers on board the Sierra Nevada, that had
brought them up from the Pacific, and who had
seen her husband laid in Mexican soil, was very
kind to her In her desolation.
Washing was paid for well in this place, for
washerwomen were scarce and the notion
came to her that she could set up in the calling
1t no doubt caused her pride a cruel blow !;
herself bitter heartache perhaps struggle
yes or no, with her spirit. But she resolved on
it, She thought she would get day help for the
hardest Of the labor. Mr.. Evans and one or
two other gentlemen who had been witnesses
to her mslortunes dubbed together to set her
going. They found her cheap pretty house,
furnished, on Russian Hill, and placed her in
it. 1t overlook, d the entrance to the bay, and
had a nice sweep of smooth ground around it,
enclosed by high pailing on which the linen
could dry.
They went with her to take possession of it;
Mr.. Evans and Mr.. Harley, the latter carry
ing the baby, Willy. What with one busy
preparation and another the day had waned,
aud the evening was drawing on when they
started. TWAS long, toiling walk up Pacific
street; and taking a winding path over the
brow of the hill, and descending a little on the
side that fronts the Golden Gate they stood
before the cottage. 1t was little one storied
place; with garden in front full of rank,
overgrown geraniums and trailing Australian
vines, struggling on either side the straight and
weedy path.
This can all be done up nicely, you know, y
said Mr.. Harley, cheerfully. "fhere was no
time for it before you came in. 1t has been
empty and neglected for so long that it looks
rather wild"
Mrs. Adds answered in the same cheerful
spirit; she was so grateful to them that she
would not show any regret. But as she was
crossing the porch to enter the doorway a
shivering chill struck her that it was impossi-
L
not dark. Those kind friends had had it
lighted-a lamp burned on the table; fire
burned in the open CRATE what could have
given her that shrdderipg chilli The children,
however made amends for her silence, for they
were loud in their delighted comments on the
new house, and their surprise at its odd fur
niture.
The room was O small. square apartment,
with an open crate and front and back win
dow. Its floor was covered with checked mat
ting. and there were two or three curiously-
colored rugs laid over it. Besides scarlet
sofa and two large chairs, much worn and
faded, were some tiny Chinese tables, and a
little cabinet placed on one of them. To the
right door opened into a smaller room con-
tanning only bed and an old walnut clothes
press. Out Of that was another room, built
sideways, and in the shape of the letter l. it
had two French windows and cheerful look
out citywards A small kitchen completed the
house.
"Being night, it looks little dull" observed
Mr.. Evans, as they went through the rooms,
land smells earthly; but that's owing to its
having been shut up so long,"
1t did smell earthly. The very air seemed
close and heavy, and Mrs. Adds thought it
might be that which had caused her strange
depression of spirit. Everything needed for
departed, leaving grateful hearts behind them.
The days went on, and the feeling of oppres
sion, as Mrs. Adds expressed it, wore lighter
by degrees, but she always had a sense Of it
more or less. Only when she was at work she
did not so much feel it. Her kind friends had
exerted themselves to get her plenty of work.
1t was hard at first, but she had help, and got
reconciled to it. The little room leading of
the parlor was made play-room for her child
line III ob; tbal To-
shaped room was made the bed cham.
Der.
SO she worked and prospered, and began to
put by nice little sum every month toward
repsying Mr.. Evans and the other gentlemen
what they had advanced her. Her expenses
were not large. The rent of the house was re-
low, and she sometimes wondered at
it, hoping that Mr.. Evans was not paying part
Of it himself in secret. He said he was not,
but she could not help fearing it. They had
no near neighbors, but farther down toward the
Laguna was q settlement of Spanish people,
whose children would come up and peep Gu
riously through the garden rails. That their
house had been inhabited by Spaniards, who
must have quit it in a hurry, was evident, for
the furniture was all Spanish.
When it first was Mrs. Adds could never
trace or recollect that she heard her
children allude to some one they called "the
lady" She grew accustomed to hear them talk
Of her but when she at length asked an ex
planation of who the lady was, there seemed
20 be some mystery in the answers. The child
zen only saw the lady ''at moments" they
said they would look up from their play and
zee her by them, and when they looked again
The would be gone, they did not know where.
"Does she come into the garden, Nancy?'
lsked Mrs. Adds of her eldest girl, most in
elligent child.
"She comes indoors as we'll, mamma"
"COme indoors as well What does she
ayg"
'"She never speaks at all,'' was Nancy's an
wer. Mamma, she just comes and goes
ike the shadows In the garden"
This was very strange. That it was some |
'erson from the Spanish settlement at the La
una, who came up to indulge her curiosity, |
drs. Adds felt sure of. The next leisure hour |
he had she walked out that way, taking
Nancy, and bidding her point out the lady ii |
he saw her. Mrs. Adds did not altogether
Ike the idea OF strangers entering her home
t will without asking leave.
1t was bright, sunny afternoon, and all the
panish people seemed TO be outside their clus
Or of huts enjoying it. The women were sew
long, exchanging pleasant looks and mods
18th these people, as is the custom in an unso-
hiscated place like San Francisco, and nodded
nd smiled back again.
'Do you see the lady, NancyY' she asked
a low tone.
mo- mamma / can't see her anywhere"
All at once, as it were, Mrs Adds became
ware Of certain curiosity in the manner and
'oks Of these people as they regarded her, far
eyond the natural curiosity excited by stran
ers. II was, as she afterward expressed it.