Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-10-17
APPLES.

Madam sat in the sunny window
sewing. The needle twinkled in her
rapid fingers, and the scarlet stuff she
stitched, glittering in the sunlight, shed
reflected lustre on her black hair, her
tintleSs face, the bits of coral in her
well-set ears.
\ high window this. into which the
sunlight streaming illumines the sitter
very high-the topmost in the ramb-
ling. jambling, weezy old tenement.
Madam prefers 10 be on the top
story, she says. One is there away
from lhe dust and noise of the street.
Also, it costs less. Also, she will tell
you gayly, she can see the tops of the
sails. and the sun-lit masts of the ships
that come and 90 at the wharves, to-
ward which this dingy street looks
down. The ships bring wealth and
plenty to somebody. Some of them
come from France All, beautiful
France, 1t is like being poet, or hav-
ing fine Imagination, to own win
dow one can see the world out of.
Should any one pity madam or Off
cially offer sympathy, she will shrug
her shoulders magnificently, spread out
her hands, and say: ''What will you:"
glancing toward her window as though
the world were at her feet. Has she
not her sunshine, her sewing, and her
little Fifine, who fits up and down the
ladder-like stairs like butterfly? FL
fine has black eyes and a dancing
smile. Fifine is madam's poem, her
princess; she does not know poverty.
They had been poor in Paris, but Fifine
had never gone hungry; they wanted
many things in Paris, but Fifine had
always her gay frilled dresses and her
tiny polished slippers. Was not her
father professor: was not her mother
lady: Should they, then, associate on
equal terms with that degraded and de-
grading thing called poverty Nay,
indeed, ii might own the house, but it
should not sit AT the board.
Ii was poverty that had driven this
family, thOughtlessly thoughtful, to-
America. Prof. Pierre would come
here and teach the people French. Ii
was wide country, roOmy country,
and the people needed education. Prof.
Pierre set sail and died on the passage.
''Ah. but he was a Scholar" says
madam, signing. IF he have live"
.madatn's English is not quite so per-
feet as her French). 1--WE shall by this
time have the little maison chdmpetre,
the pretty place in the country, and
the little school. which we have talk
and dream of So much in Paris. For
there is much room in America-ah, so
much of room, -
She says madam, looking down on
the dingy, crowded street and the
swarming tenements-
She looks up, smiling from her work,
rs light footstep comes flying along
the ladder-likc stair.
so come the angels" said madam,
devOutly, rs Fifine dances in She has
her tiny apron full of red apples, which
tumble and roll out upon the floor. The |
sunshine, cleaning upon madam's scar
let sewing. seems TO recognize the ripe |
round fruit, and glOwS anew at having |
met il elsewhere in sweet familiar or
chards and on sIrnny slopes of far-away |
hills.
"All for yOu, manan," cries Fifine,
looking down on the treasure. "And
oh , maman, he will give me ride in
the great wagon out TO the beautiful
country and the little old mother."
Madam's cheeks flush, her eyes scin-
tillate with an angry light.
What is it you say, Fifine? And
who gave you these:"
But the child only answered BREATH
lesslv and confusedly. The apples were
delicious. and Fifine was happy, but
madam did not like strangers or
strangers gifts. She sat anxiously at
the high window next day, looking
down for Fifine as she came from
school.
The street was long and winding,
grimy and decaying; but people
swarmed in it as if life was not unde-
sirable. They throve in the scents and
sounds and sitting air; they laughed,
they chatted. they congregated in the
doorways; and looking
their poverty square in the face, shook
hands with il, a it were.
But the street had its pleasures, too,
once in awhile. and its pictures. As at
this instant. when madam, looking
down from the high window; saw
wagon-load of apples come jolting
along. ruddy. shining. and mellow. \
boy in a brimless hat and blue shirt
sat in the midst of the heap, and tall,
young fellew, with trousers
tucked in his boots, walked alongside,
hand in hand with child, who danced
about him, with her golden hair flying
and her pretty feet twinkling. as she
pointed up, to the far window where
madam sat.
In one sudden moment she saw the
little one caught up, deposited in half
full basket. and both, lifted on the
young mans shoulder, disappeared in
the house.
Up stairs they came, tramping,
and Fifine, eager, joyful, and
breathless, was deposited at the door.
"Oh, maman,'' she cried, clapping