American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-04-13

The gendarme proceeded to state the
| charges. Madame was accused of having
pulled up the carpet and made unpleasant
disturbances, by stamping and pounding
on the bare floor with Il view to annoying
her neighbors; and she had procured "a
| frirhtfully noisy and discordant hand
organ, which she used for the same often
| sive purpose. What had she to say for
| herself :? These were the charges.
| Say for herself, indeedl Charges, in
deed! Mrs. Cuttlewent felt all the blood
of her distinguished ancestors stir in her
veins; Mrs Cuttlewent was Justly indig-
nant; but Mrs. Cuttlewent condescendcd
| to explain.
She was afflicted with cold feet Mrs.
Cuttlewent felt herself shocked and out
ragged to be obliged to refer to her in
trinity, but Justice must be satisfied, and
her innocence must shine like the day.
Mrs. Cuttlewent had discovered that .firic-
ton was spec fic for this infirmity,
and she practiced it on the bare floor
bebause her habit of thrift and economy
would not allow her to destroy, thus
wantonly, her good carpets. The gend-
arme must himself be aware of the ne
cessity of keeping the feet warm to re-
tain health. 4t 81
The gendarme could make but one re-
ply to this appeal-to confess the truth of
Mrs. Cuttlewent's general remark, an ac-
quiesce in its particular application.
"But the organ, the organ, madame ?"
he adventured.
"Why, the organ l keep for my amuse-
ment. selected it myself with great care;
the tone suits me perfectly; like the airs
great benefit to me in developing the
muscles of my arms. And, I assure
you," she added, with animation, g for
its size it is really an instrument of great
power !
"But, madame this poacetm instru-
ment is what your neighbors complain
Of" ....
rs it possible Why, how tastes
differ! They dislike my musical
while I have as great dislike to
Their musical instrument, which, doubt
not, they think very fine! And SO they
object to my organ, and actually COM
plain of it to the police! / never thought
of making such a fuss about the annoy
ance their piano gives me. 1t really seems
to me they have sent you on a FOOLS err
rand"
cit seems so, indeed" thought the arm
of the law, as he took his departure.
But, judge of the feelings of the De
Saintvilles when they found the law could
not touch their enemy, and when they
thought of her enjoying her triumph and
her organ in undisputed possession of the
field. Mrs. Cuttlewent might be, and
doubtless acas, in the wrong, morally, but
the law could not reach her. AS she said,
she was ga law-abiding Citizen" and, as
such, she took care to keep just within
bounds. with a nicely which must win
for her admiration.
After this battle, day in and day out,
at seasonable and unreasonable hours
Mrs. Cuttlewent pursued her harmless re-
creation, grinding out ear-torturing
sounds on her ''musical instrument"
There was no ordering her to ''mOve on"
as is the privilege of us happy citizens of
New York. Mrs. Cuttlewent would not
move oI-no-not for shilling-nOt for
threats-not for the De Saintvilles! And
she never ceased her devoted labors until
the De Saintvilles were actually driven
to find new lodgings and retire from the
field
Then she sold her organ at some loss
to herself C'she had grown tired of it,
she said; "she feared it was getting a lit
tie out of tune'); called on the new Occu-
pants of the apartment, by whom she was
civilly received; and lived peaceful life
for the rest of the time of our acquaint-
ance with her.
When I made her a farewell call before
returning to America, l found the poor
oiu CohiihCu " hCi Shili Win an AZ
tack of rheumatism.
81 have felt it," she said, ever since l
was SO imprudent as to sit on the bare
floor in my night-clothes; but l don't re-
gret it, my dear, it was military necessi
ty," and she laughed low chuckle. "Still
do not advise you to try it."
Ipromised to heed her advice, and babe
her adieu; and that was the last time
saw Mrs. Appleton's Journal.