The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-11-10
AN UPPER WINDOW.
BY KATE W. HAMILTON.

BY KATE W. HAMILTON.
"Yes'm, nice, commogitious, ginteel
departments as you'll find" said Mrs.
Grimp, buzzing about the narrow, dusty
windows like an immense fly, and flap
ping her apron over them IN lieu Of
wings. "And then the hairiness of 'em |!
And the cheapness Of email things
consdered!'
Helen Mayne listened and looked
about her with the least bit Of smile up
on her lips and faint feeling Of home
sickness cropping into her heart Her
vision was not sufficiently microscopic
to discover all the advantages of the
situation as they were announced by
Mrs. Grimp. She had perverse suspi-
cion that she did not like this busy,
narrow back street, this house that
stood in it, or these most excellent
departments" that were for rent.
Nevertheless, she had climbed so many
flights Of stairs that day, and visited so
many low rooms with high recommen-
dations, and narrow rooms with broad
prices, that she was growing weary and
discouraged and the little words "To
Let" began to assume threatening
aspect, and give to the windows in
which they were placed the appearance
of being iron barred. "These rooms
might do" she remarked to herself,
rather doubtfully; and Mrs. Grimp, like
skillful general, caught the words,
and answered briskly: Yes'm. When'll
you wish to take procession ?"
Helen glanced once more at the
mosaic ceilings, and subdued light shin
ing through the stained glass windows,
and the wonderful bouquets of mari
Colds and blue roses that decorated the
paper on the walls, and surrendered.
What else could she do?
The first Of next week." she said,
turning away.
Once across the street, she looked
back with a mOmentary pang OF regret
that Mrs. Grimp's view of the genteel
locality would scarcely be generally ac-
cepted and then suddenly curled her
lip at finding herself caring for the
opinion of people for whose selves she
cared nothing.
Having decided the matter, she was
not one TO turn back, though, to be
sure, in this case, there was nothing to
turn back to; so, after much wear and
lCdl Vi DONll anu NtAdllOll VI SDllll, VIC
upturning Of all things movable, and
the breaking of most things breakable
"a furious skirmish between draymen
and furniture-the family were deposi-
ted, bag and baggage, in their new quar-
ters. A family of four they were, Of
which Helen was the ostensible head
head and shoulders, indeed, since she
was the general burden-b bearer. Next
came Nan, the irrepressible fifteen.year-
old, and, in her own opinion, with more
wisdom slowed away in her curly head
than most people were possessed of at
fifty. The two children, Rue and Mar.
gle, completed, or incompleted the es.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY, it was the
latter.
Nan clambered vigorously over two
tables, pile OF carpet, wash-tub OF
books, and a basket of crockery, and.
gaining the center of the room, seated
herself in the wash-boiler, and surveyed
the scene.
"And this is the result of all your
nominating is it, Nell2 Dear me it is
a street of apartments, sure enough /!
yards, interesting .clothes-lines, and
ding linen gently waving in the sum-
mer breeze. View from front windows
a little mixed-small groceries, small
boys, small dogs, principally. Humph !"
the young lady's nose grew a tritie
more elevated" seems to me the place
has perennial odor of boiled cabbage"
Helen leaned back against the wall
a Ia Ftz James, folded her arms, and
responded simply: at is the best
could do, Man,
Notwithstanding her resolute air, the
faintest suspicion Of tremor found its
way into her voice. Mans quick ear
detected it, and her generous heart re.
pented at once.
" Well, who said it wasn't better
enough p she asked, heroically, emery
ing from her boiler, and drawing off her
breach, sweet friends Those windows
will be deal more CHEEKY when they're
gloves for work "Once more into the
washed and curtained. The paper isn't
very handsome, that's fact but it will
look better with that hole in the chin
ney covered up. Here, I'll hang this
picture of Washington over it. First
in war, first in peace and first-rate in
covering stove-pipe holes"
Hooray " burst forth Master Rue,
seized with a sudden and unaccountable
spasm of patriotism, attempting to stand
ON his head in the middle of mat
tress, and coming down with those joys
OF his heart, his new boots, full into the
basket Of crockery.
- Ruel " calculated Helen.
was maxim purtend twas Fourth
OF july explained the somewhat dis.
comfited young gentleman.