New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-03

/
resuming his CHEEKY whistle ~ he VEN
along.
And sure enough home che was. 'Whel
he had threaded his way thgoagh . leSy
riath of Westminster bywsye, and at las
reached the corner of the narrow street il
which were his lodgings. and Involuntary
cast his eyes up to the second floor window
though he saw her standing before him ths
she had managed to reach home fret. M
MISUNDERSTANDING with kindness as she
| might,be-could provide such heart vel
come to honest Abel as his daughter Polly
Why, the very coalsseemed to born brighter
and send forth more ruddy glow wher
abe had coaxed them into a flame. The re
Election of their CHEEKY warmth showed
itself upon the drawn blinds, and bespoke
the comfort and love fostered within the
humble lodging shared by Abel and hi
daughter.
Was Felly handsome9 No. Was she
prettys Scarcely that, for her features
lacked harmony. You had to look below
the surface to discover what made Polly
the idol of her fathers heart, and the cause
of anxieties unspeakable to honest Tom
had light brown hair, which formed itsell
into natural curls and danced about hel
head in tho most provoking cOquettish
fashion. Her eyes we're soft liquid blue,
her nose eighty relrousss, and her lips like
no other wOmans in the wOrld-at least SO
Tom Smith thought.
So much for Polly's outward characters
! tics. In temper and resolution she was the
| counterpart Of her father, and her judg-
by most girls OF her age (eighteen). She
was of Industrious habits. was thoroughly
-dOmesticated, ard, above all, possessed
G. heart which as warmly responded
to the appeal of the suffering as
it echoed the joys of those it loved
Polly's usefulness was not confined to the
two rooms on the second floor. She had
served her apprenticeship to the millinery
business in the house possessing the ser.
vices of her father, and, strange to say,
Tom Smith was one of the young men who
served" at Messrs. Lsostring g. Tools.
Of course the love affair was kept very
quiet; and sometimes poor POlly's heart
tnumped with fear lest the secret should
be discovered. for in the eyes of their en-
plOyes Loostring & Tool were terrible peo-
pie indeed. Abel and his daughter, how
ever, kept nothing from each other; SO that
the simple hearted old warehouseman y as
speedily made acquainted with the state of
affairs, and by no means disapproved OF the
match, though he devotedly hoped it would
not ba brought to an issue until he was
freed from the burden which had so long
kept him, by his own free will, almost pen
niless.
The ascent of Mr.. Webb's apartments
was to stranger an experiment attended
with many difficulties. As in most poor
localities. children we're in great force: and
on wet days it was the pleasing custom of
the Juveniles belonging to the house in
which Abel resided to employ their infau.
tile leisure in games upon the stairs or on
the landings of the two floors. The house
was let ont to several families; and, as the
ladies of the establishment more closely re-
sembled Leah than Rachel, 3 degree of
mireh and reckless gayety pervaded what
might be termed the lungs of the house.
The children, too (being naturally of
hospitable and social disposition) were in
the habit of inviting neighboring juveniles
to share their exhilarative pleasures-a cir
cumstance tending in no small degree to in
crease the NOISE commencing at day bre ak
and ordinarily ceasing about midnight.
In total darkness it was certainly con-
fusing to have ones ears saluted with q
very babel of voices; to find the balustrades
occupied by aspiring young gymnasts; to
place ones foot upon a warm yielding macs |
forth a yell of remonstrarce, speedily |
bringing from the retirement of the wash. |
ing tub and ironing table toiling, perspiring |
or to lose ones balance by tread |
ing upon marbles or other awkward OBJ |
structiODs by the way With these little |
difficulties, however, one soon became IA |
miliar; so that when Abel Webb had opened |
the street door he speedily reached his own |
apartments.
How cosy the little place looked It was |
4 pattern Of neatness and domestic COM |
tort. The table was laid for supper, a nice |
crisp loaf being fanked BY q piece of |
fnlo lo<o In |
to make it look more than it really was),
and, yes! really gigantic cucumber. |
Polly, who was kneellng before the fire.
plying the bellows and melting
the Goals to perfect fury of flame, had not
lighted q candle, and certainly none was
wanted. The bright blaze brought into full
view the nettle-geranium occupying the
table in front of the window; it lit up the
photograph of the miid.looking woman
POlly's mOther) on the other side of the
room; it showed the brass- knobbed piece of
furniture, to outward view bureau, but to
The initiated frequenter of Abel's apart
nents nothing more nor less than turn-up
Dedstead. in which the father himself slept;
md it reflected it's brightness upon the side
board, with its ornaments Of ware, q few
books, and the Old-fashioned wOrk-box,
so many relics dear to Abel and
lis daughter; among others tiny bsby's
hoe, once worn by that boy (now dead on
whom Abel had lavished such q wealth of
oaternal love.
"Why, you're rather late, father, amt
youY" inquired the girl, springing to her
feet, and giving old Abel euch q sounding
kiss that it might almost have been heard
IN the pavement outside, if anybody had
'een curious enough to listen. "I've been
homo long time"
swell. Polly, Eye been TO the savings
'ank, and afterward to Aldermanbury-yOu
Know where. l took five pound ten; and
line slipped by and twas seven O'Clock
fore knew where l was Almost"
Heaven bless Mr. Baker for those kind
words" responded Polly, giving her f4ther
mother hearty kiss as she unwound the
voolen comforter encircling his neck. Then,
lfter a pause, che asked, docs not that
make ninety pounds you have paidp'
"Yes, ninety pounds. It's a good deal,
int it! All saved, too, by you and me,
'olly."
20 father, don't do much to it, If you
weren't to deprive yourself of comforts,
Why, we shouldn't have paid off twenty of
Don't say that, Polly. If it was not
or your earnings, how could ! put my
wages into the savings bank, as l do nearly
very month ~
well, ua0uy, GEAR, you Know It's only
ou I've got to live for" said the girl
reilly.
What's that you say 2" replied old Abel,
ighly pleased with his daughters remark,
ut determined not to be hoodwinked.
How about Tom Smith Dye mean to
ay that You don't care for himW
Hush y Don't speak SO loud"
Polly blushed, and looked halt frightened
oward that corner of the room where the
ig bureau cast it's shsdow.
''Why, there's nobody can hear"
Eyes, father, the children might; and