The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-07-22
The Little Green Pocket-Book.


elor's home in boarding house, but none
the less grateful to his Imagination JUS
then. A fine rain fell, the pavement was
clogged with sticky, half-meted snow
and altogether the evening was as com
fortless as an evening can well be in early
April. when the cheering hope of warm
suns and dry streets is Immediately al
hand
The jingling car came by, crowded, as
always at that hour of the day. Mr.
Singleton had to run half square in the
mud to catch it, a proceeding which in nc
way improved his temper. He clutched
strap and glared gloomily at the ladies
who monopolzed seats, resentful as a
business man is apt to be, of the appear
ance Of women in public conveyances at
half-past five in the afternoon. Keeping
his eyes 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 -
Thirty -Second-Eortieth. The car emp
tied rapidly. AS the last lady left, and
rose to get out, small, green book be-
came visible, half hidden by the folds OF
her gown
II beg pardon - you have dropped
something" said John, picking ii up.
''Sir?"
This book-you dropped it,
The old lady looked acidly, first at the
book, and then at John, The article is
not mine" She remarked trigidly. Then
She got out
MI Singleton was the sole remaining
passenger. His impulse was to hand the
book to the conductor, but glance at
that worthy's face checked him. "Bet-
ter advertise, " he thought; and signaling
the ear to stop, alighted in the mud of
upper Broadway.
His landlady opened the door in a ner-
yous tlutter. "Oh sir, it's YOU at last
There's a telegraphic boy waiting for you
ever so long
Sure enough there sat the boy; and the
result of his message was that in half an
hour John Singleton was speeding on his
way to Western New York by the night
express, n hastily packed sachel under his
feet, and his head full of other business
than that Of finding owners of lost prop
erty The little green pocket book re-
manned behind in the pocket of the office
ure.
There it might have remained for
months, if, diving one day. man fashion,
after some lost article, his fingers had not
happened to encounter it. This was n
fortnight or so after his return.
"Hallo. what's this ?" said he 1t was
q moment before he recollected. "Bless
mel this is too bad | had forgotten the
thing completely | must be looking up
the owner if there's enough in it to pay
tor an advertisement"
lie released the elastic strap and opened
the pages There was no money, no
place for any. The little book was a
diary, shabby, green bound, with no
name on the title-page. Most Of the
leaves were blank, a few only being
scribbled over in a light, girlish hand
writing John glanced over these in
search of a clew, and pretty soon grow
ing interested. drew his chair to the fire
cooked up his feet. and proceeded to read
regularly.
The diary began:
October ). Last night, Alice and Tom
and | went to Dr. Bellows lecture. 1t
was interesting. He said that the great
matter how far off our aims seem, if 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 a corner, and begin to 60 toward
the spring, and it is as if we were there,
because we are certain. That is beauti-
tul. | shall try to recollect it when things
seem especially contrary, rs they do some
times.
"October $. 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 curled the feather with hot pen
knife, and tucked in a little blue bow, and
Tom says it looks gorgeous Tom IS
always funny about my things. The pud-
ding Tom likes SO much
Take eight large baking apples, pare,
core, and lay them in 4 deep dish. Put
a little sugar and a mite of cinnamon in
each Soak teacupful Of tapioca in a
quart of LUX e-warm water for an hour.
pink and tender. Milk and sugar,
"Marianne gave me this recipe. Tom
says he wishes he could have it three
times week, but tell him apples are
very expensive.
November |. I've been to a party,
quite large one. 1t was at the Almys.
Ellen Almy asked me. and papa said
might for once, because it did no harm to
see the vanity OF things. | think the
vanity of things is very pleasant! There
was Il great discussion over what should
wear. Alice invented me a trimming
for my poplin out of mammals old blue
silk, and lent me her locket and pocket
handkerchief trimmed with edgng Alice
is so dear! left my hair down my back
because Tom likes it best SO, and the
blessed boy made me a present of a pair
of new gloves kids, pale yellow, with
two buttons. | nearly cried over them.
the poor fellow has SO little money but
he said Flossy must be swell cost what
it might. | had a rose for my hair of
Alice's bush; and altogether regarded
myself as very fine, until ! reached the
Amys; then, rs papa would say, found
my level, for the girls were gorgeous,
Lily in white silk, Ellen in lovely pink
Grape, with her hair powdered Oh,
can't pretend to remember, but they
looked beautiful! After all. had Just
as nice time, for | danced every dance,
in spite OF my old blue. German included
Such kind, pleasant boy took me in to
supper. and | spoiled my gloves by get
ting ice cream on the thumb. Alice put
on some benzine, but they won't evel
look SO nice again. However. | never
expect to go to any more parties, 50 ex-
cept for their being dear Toms present,
it doesn't matter"
Why, what baby this is" sollo-
quized John Singleton, at this point. 81
didn't know that there were any such
girls LETT"
November TO- Studied, read, prac-
ticed, made gems tor tea Papa called
them capital.
November 10. Ditto, ditto.
"Christmas Day. The owl Tor all his
feathers isa-cold.' just come from church
We decided not to give any presents to
each other this year, but to spend the tiny