Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-12
KITTEN.

Ellen Vandecken and her sister Bessie
we're waiting for dinner in magnificent
dwelling in one os the most aristocratic
streets in New York.
Ellen, the elder, was rocking herself in
front of the glass between the windows,
and Bessie was standing tiptoe before the
mirror on the mantle piece, /" fixing" her.
self, as ladies call it-that is, rearrang ing
her dress generally without rhyme or
reason, taking off the bow at her throat,
shaking out her false curis. putting up
her panier, and betting ia her waist.
These two sisters, the only children of
a rich widowed stock broker, were, in
every particular of dress and thought,
girls of the period.
They never quarrelsd exactly, but were
always at variance in their opinions, and
permitted themselves to use that unpless-
ant fraukness which is the bane of too
great intimacy. and the downright con-
tradiction which prevails with relatives
who are not obliged to be polite in the
home circle.
WISH" said Ellen, " that that Kit
ten wouldn't come here any more"
II wish," replied Bessie, 4" that you
would stop calling him Kitten. l don't
see any fun in it. He's not bit like a
Kitten"
"He is, then" laughed Ellen; I" his
hair is light, that is what 1 call Kitten
gray. or drab; his eyes are gray, so Is
his complexion; he wears gray hat,
gray pants, gray gloves; his sparse mus.
tache sticks out just like cats, and he
speaks in purrng voice. Externally
he is very like kitten, but morally 1
think he is more of the mouse order,
without grain of spirit Whenever I
see him siding up to you, without the
courage TO pay you open attention, l
think of such is the kingdom of hen
pecked husbands"
81 hope" retorted the sister, that
when you enter the kingdom Of henpeck
ed husbands, yours may have purse as
long as your tongue, Ell"
/" 1 tell you Bessie, if what pa said
yesterday comes TO pass, ard old Mr..
FarriDgdon's bank breaks, your mild
hammered man will have to take nurse.
maids situation"
And Ellen laughed and rocked back
far enough to reflect the heels of her tiny
boots; but Bessie sighed and said thought.
fully:
q suppose it would 90 very hard
with poor Kitten to work for his living
There is great deal said nowadays
about the young folks of the period; but
no blame is ever attached to the way in
which the old people bring them up
particularly girls-in -idleness. ignorance
and extravaganza. Rich parents take it
for granted that their wealth is going to
last forever, and poor ones that, by hook
or by crook, their children vii! get rich ;
and so they never teach. them anything
that will be of service in adversely; then,
when they are thrown out into the world
| to shift for themselves. they do it badly
enough--the men often by their wits,
and the women by worse. Now there's
poor Donald Farringdon: what earthly
thing could be do to earn his salt, to say
nothing of bread s-or you? or II It's
hard, hollow worldp p
"There you are mistaken; it is not
hard nor hollow, being an incandescent
mass Of"
"Bother your science! There's pa:
let's go down to dinner"
1t was true, he told them during din
ner, that Harrington d Bother has sus-
pended payment; their liabilities were
large, and the merchant princes of yes
terday were the beggars of to day.
How did the meek and 2urring Kitten
bear the blow!