River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-02-24
DEB.
nY ELIzAnrrn srrARr rnLI.rs.

heard. Deb was startled by the knock,
and frightened by the young lady. 1t
was not often that visitors came TO Brick
alley, and il was still less often that Brick
alley had visitor that knocked.
This was young lady for whom Deb's
mother did fine washing. Deb's mother
wiped her hands and placed a chair and
the young lady sat down. She was
straight lady, with strong feet, and long
brown feathers III her hat, and soft brown
gloves upon her hands. She had came,
she said, with that Cluny set, she found
she should need for party that very
night indeed, she was IN so much haste
for 1t that she had hunted Deb
mother up-which waSa matter of some
ditliiculty--as she never had the lest
idea where she lived before, a, d
how crooked the steps were Blu
the lace was very yellow, as she saw, and
would she ee sure to have it done at 9
o'clock tonight! and
And then turning her head suddenly,
the straight young lady saw poor crook
ed Deb in her high chair, with wonder in
her eyes.
III wonder if frightened her, thought
Deb, but she only wondered, and did not
speak.
''ls this your"
Eyes, said Deb mother, "the eldest,
Fifteen. Ill try my best, a'am; but |
don't know as | ought to promise" She
spoke in business. like tone, and turned
Cluny laee--a dainty collar and pair
OF soft cufis-about in her hands in
business.like way. A breath Of some
kind of scented wood struck in a little
gust against Deb's face. She wondered
how people could weave sweet smells into
piece of lace, and if the young lady
knew; or if she knew how much pleasant
er it was than the onions that Mrs. Nc
Mahoney cooked for dinner every day in
the week but Sunday, upon the first floor.
But it gave her quite enough to do to
wonder without speaking.
"Fifteenr' repeated the young lady
standing up very straight, and looking
very serry. GLOW long has she been
like-thati"
"Born SC" said Deb's mOtherj she 5
just sat in that chair ever since she has
been big enough TO sit at all, Would
/
But you never told me you had a
crippled child"
The young lady said this quickly.
"You have washed for Inc three years,
and you never told me you had crippled
childl'
"You never asked me, Miss, said Deb's
mother.
The young lady made no reply. She
came and sat down on the edge OF Deb S
bed, close beside Debs chair. She seem.
cd to have forgotten her Cluny lace. She
took Deb's hand up between her two soft,
brown gloves, and her long, brown ieath-
eIs drooped and touched Deb's cheek.
Deb hardly breathed, the feathers, and
the gloves, and the sweet smells of scent.
ed wood, and the young lady's sorry eyes
such very sorry eyes,-were SO close to
the high chair.
Fifteen years. repeated the young
lady, very slow, sin that chair that no
body ever-poor little grill But you
could ride" said she suddenly.
IL don't know ma am, SAID Deb. 81
never saw anybody ride but the grocer
and the baker. | amt like the grocer
ana the baker.
lyon could be lifted, | mean, said the
young lady, eagerly. There is somebody
who lifts youl
Mother sets me, generally said Deb.
"0nce when mother was very bad with a
lame ankle. Jim MeMshoney set me. lie S
first floor, Jim MeMohney.'
II shall be back here" said the young
lady, still speaking very quickly. but
speaking to Deb's mother now. ''ln just
an hour / shall come in an easy sleigh,
with VAIN robes. If yOn will have your
daughter ready to take ride with lne, |
shall be very much obliged to YOU
The young lady bad finished her SEN
tence as if she did not know what TO say,
and so said the truest thing she could
think Of, which is what we are all IN
danger Of doing at times.
"Well, I'm sure sad Deb's mother.
"Dabitra tell the lady
But Dabltra could not tell the lady, for
she was already ont of the door, aud
stairs, and away into the street Aud in
deed, Deb could not have told the lady -
has never told the lady-can never tell
the lady.
II ali of the blue summer skies. and
gold of summer sunlight, aud the shine OF
summer stars fell down into your hands
at ynce, for you to paint scrap.books
with, should you know what to say!
Into the poor scrap-book Of Deb's life
the colors Of heaven dropped and blinded
her on that bewilderng, beautiful, bless
cd ride.
4 :... -. L,,,,. tha sintob mas thara
with the easiest cushions, and the warm.
est robes. and bells-the merriest belis!--
and the straight young lady. And Jim
McAahoney was there; and he carried
her down stairs to set Der. And her
mother was there, and wrapped her all
up in an old red shawl, for Deb had no
"things" like other little girls. The young
lady remembered that, and she had
brought the prettiest little white hood
that Deb had ever seen, and Deb's face
looked like a bruised ay.lily bed between
the shining wool, but Deb could not sec
that; and Mrs. McNlahoney was there,
pairing onions at the door, to wish her
good luck, and all the little McMahoneys
were there. and All the children who did
wonder; and the grocer turned in at The
alley corner, and the baker stopped as he
turned out. and every body stood and smil.
cd to see her start The white horse paved
the snow, anG held up his head-D,b had
never seen such q horse, aud the young
lady had gathered the rcins into her
brown gloves. and the sleigh bells cried
for jy,-how they cried! 20 and away
they went, and DeD vas out Of the alley
IN a mnu.e, and the people IN the alley
hurrahed, aud hurfahed, and hurrahed 20
See her 60.
That bewilderus, beautiful, blessed
ride } How warm her little white hood