The Van Buren press., 1875-07-06
MISCELLANY.
The Little Green Diary.

The Little Green Diary.
John Singleton stood on the street cor
ner, waiting for his car. Business hours
were over; he was going home-a bach
elor's home in boarding house, but none
the less grateful to his Imagination just
then. A fine rain fell. the pavement was
cloggcd with sticky, half melted snow,
and altogether the evening was comfort
less as evening can well be in early April
when the cheering hope of warm suns
and dry streets is Immediately at hand.
The jingling car came by, crowded. as
always at that hour of the day. Mr..
Sing Teton had to run half a square in the
mud to catch it, proceeding which did
not improve his temper. He clutched
strap, and glared gloomily at the ladies',
who monopolzed seats, resentful as bu-
sness man is apt to be, of the appearance
of women in public conveyances at half
past five in the afternoon. Keeping his
eye on the straw under foot, he paid no
attention whatever to his neighbors-if,
indeed, one can be said to have such in a
horse railway carriage.
Sixteenth street-Twenty fourt h
Thirty second-Fortieth The car emp
tied rapidly, As the last lady left, rose
to get out, small green book became
visible, half hidden by the folds of her
gown
Il beg your pardon-you have drop
ped something said John, picking it up
Sir?'
This book-you dropped it,
The old lady looked acidly, first at tho
book and then at John. "Thc article is
not min.," she remarked frigdly. Ther
she got out. ...-.---..-- .a..--..
Mr. Singleton was the sole remaining
passenger His impulse was to hand the
book to the conductor, but & lance at
the worthy's face checked him Better
advertise" he thought, and signaling the
car to stop, alighted IN the mud of upper
Broadway.
His landlady opened the door in ner
vous hutter 'Oh, sir, it's you at last
There's telcgrsphic boy been waiting
for you ever SO long
Sure enough there sat the boy and th'
result of his message was that IN halt an
hour John Singleton was speeding on his
way to Western New York by the nigh
express, a hastily packed sachel undel
his feet, and his head full Of other busi
ness than that Of finding owners tor los
property. The little green pocket-booh
remained behind in the pocket Of the Of
Zee coat flung aside at the moment OF de
parture
There it might have remained for many
months, if, diving one day, man fashion
after some lost article, his fingers had moi
happened to encounter it. This was
fortnight or so after his return.
Halo! what's this 2 he said. twas
moment before he recoilected. Bless
me thi. is too bad. Ihad forgotten tht
thing completely. must be looking VI
the owner, if there's enough in it to pay
for an advertisement.
He released the elastic strap, and open
ed the pages. There was no money, nc
place for any. The little book was d
ary, shabby, green bound, with no name
on the title page. Most of the leaves
we're blank, only 4 few being scrbbec
over in light, girlsh hand. writing. Johr
glanced over these in search Of clew
and pretty soon, growing interested, drew
his chair to the fire, cooked up his feet
and proceeded to read regularly.
The diary began:
October 5.-Last night Alice and Ton
and went to Dr. Bellows lecture. II
was interesting. He said that the great
thing in life is direction, that is, that no
matter how far off our aims seem, II our
faces are only set toward them we are
sure to get there some day. In the very
middle OF the cold winter, he said. We
turn corner, and begin toward the spring
and it is as if we were there, because we
are certain. That is beautiful. shall
try to recsllect it when things seem espe
cially coatrol,y, as they do sometimes.
October 81 have been making my
winter bonnet. or rather warming over
the old one, for it is Alice's turn TO have
the new this year She ought to always,
she has to see such stylish people in the
houses where she teaches. The old brown
felt doesn't look bad, considering it is its
third appearance. I've steamed the vel
vet, and cured the feather with hot pen
knife, and tucked in a little blue bow and
Tom says it's gorgeous. Tom is always
funny about my things.
The pudding Tom. likes so much
Take eight large baking apples, pare,
core, and lay them in deep dish. Put
little sugar and might of cinnamon in
each. Soak teacupful of tapioco in
quart of lukewarm water for an hour,
then pour on, and bake till the apples are
mink and tender. Milk and sugar
Marianne gave me this recipe. Tom
saws he wishes he could have it three
times a week, but tell him apples are
rer y expensive.
November 1--we been to party
quite a large one. IL was at the Almys'.
Ellen Amy asked me, and papa said
mipbefor once, because it did no harm
to see the vanity Of things. ] think the