River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-09-27

jackets; the horses nefghed and
pranced; the director of the menagerie
drew attention to " the largest deer OF
the human family ~ and the perlor.
nance was about to begin. p
Little Angela grew white as death,
and chung to her mothers wrist. ooh.
nanny, can't indeed can't Don't
make me do it!p
Mrs. Towcher roughly shook off the
little, warm, DIST clasp, and turned
Grossly TO the child. IT must have Leen
the intolerable heat that ruffled her
serenity for, in the main, she was kind
to Angela, and proud of her beauty and
accomplishments. "Just say that again,
will you? I'd just like to see you back
in out now, when the bills is out. and
Van Bust has given me your first
months salary in advance, to pay for
the toggery on your back Can't do il,
can't your Wen see il you can't. Are
you any better than your mother, that's
toiled and shaved for you ever since you
was born-and your pore paw lyin stiff
and cold in his grave, all along o. the
beasts Are you scairt or is it Jest
some o. your high.fangled notions ?''
Tears streamed down the little girls
face, and sobs shook her small bosom.
Throwing herself on her knees, she fran.
tlcally clutched her mothers skirts, and
wihled, "Oh, kill me, kill me, kill me
but don't make me do it -
Mrs. Towcher's patience was exhaust.
ed, and her anger arose with her voice
" You nasty, lazy, stuck-up little troll.
lopl Take that-and that-and that ~
She struck the child's delicate cheek
/ with her hard hand; and Angela gave
shlyer, and sank in little despairing
heap on the ground-her fair hair fall.
ing over her naked shoulders-the pink,
gauzy draperies growing limp about
her form.
The bell tinkled for the grand en-.
trance. Mrs. Towcher gave Angela a
twitch, saying harshly, "Come along
now III learn you to be balky ~
The band were playing a triumphal
march. The y.caparisoned horses.
tled in with their riders, and a pallid
unearthly little creature brought up the
rear. Her eyes were fixed with an ex-
preston of intense anguish, while every
nerve and fiber trembled. Fear para
lyzed her limbs, and turned to ice the
blood in her veins.
When the signal was given for her to
leap on one foot, and begin her eques.
TRAN vaulting, she sat perfectly motion
less-frozen with terror The ring. |
master gared Economically. His face
grew redder than ever, with anger and |
disappointment and he cracked his |
whip with a warning gesture. A wild |
look like that of hunted fawn came /
into her eyes-then, with a sudden. |
electric spring, she was up in the air
poised lightly on one pointed slipper !
The audience cheered and shouted. |
Their deafening applause sounded like
distant thunder in Angelas ears. The \
surroundings swan IN dim mist before
her eyes and then,-a vision of float.
ing hair, imploring eyes and huttering
robes cutting the ara thud of some.
thing on the sawdust foor-a trampling
sound of hoofs that could not be re-
strained-and woman's shrek MERGING
high over all
Instantly all was confusion and dis
may. The spectators, moved with
deepest sympathy, drew near to the
little bruised and mangled form; and
one tender creature buxom country
woman-put her stout arms around
Maria Towcher, and endeavored. with
homey words OF consolation, to soothe
her 'iolent grief.
But, like one of old, she "rcfased to
be eomiorted." and burst forth with the
words, Oh, my sweet baby Nanny
can never beg her pardon now was
gruH with her, and | struck her the
sweet, deary lamb Oh, my baby my
pretty l'ttle cretur !"
There, there, there. | wouldn't
now Don't give way So poor dear e.
crooned Mrs. Benton, the farmers wife.
F." had darling little boy gored TO
death 10y bull oncet, and kerried on
Jest like you do now, and rayed and
tore, but the Lord fetched me round
so.n
"0h, could bear it betteri if hadn't
struck at her; and the very last words
| spoke to her was sharp and cruel"
moaned Mrs. Towcher. ~ always loved
her, and took care on her, and done
II for the besti ! thought she was
goin 20 be stubborn, and spoil her futur'
prosp cts Oh, deary lambl oh, sweet
angela
The remains of little Angela were
conveyed TO a neighboring cottage, the
house of a Quakeress named lydia
Halliday. In the true Christian spirit
of all.embraciDg charity, she opened
her doors to the little tinseled body ana
the heartbroken mother. To her, the |
claim OF brotherhood and sisterhood
was as strong in painted eircus.rider
rs IN the most straitest of her sect :"
and the broad mantle OF her love was
spread to shield every sufferer, Of what.
aNnr rnrn nNlnr or nnllin.