The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-03-08
In q Jersey City Street-Car.

Jersey Ferry waiting for the starters Sig
nal. A lady entered, dressed in widows
weeds, with heavy Grape vail over her
face, and carrying in her arms sleeping
child apparently nearly three years old.
Every man was absorbed in his paper, or
contemplating his boots, and woman
finally rose and gave her seat. She
threw back her vail, and at once every
man turned his eyes from his paper or
boots, and contemplated her. Two, who
were seated near me, made comments:
Handsome woman"
"Yes. If I'd seen her face I'd have
given her my seat.'
"Widow, evidently"
"Should say so; wonder if that's her
child"
Don't know Her hairs white;
bleached, may be."J
"Y-e-e-s, L should say so, her face
looks young"
just then, putting her hand up to push
loose hair-pin into place, the powder
came floating down upon the soft puffs
and frizzes upon her black garments; and
she coollv brushed it off with her hand
kerchief. "Whewn' excl3 lined one of
the takers, and SO near were they to her
I think she had overheard the CONVEX
sation and sent the powder floating down
purposely. The woman, who had given
up her seat, was one of the inquisitive sort,
and she evidently felt that she had earned
the right to ask questions.
Your babyy'
Eyes"
"What's the matter with his legs:''
"He is wearing instruments to straight
en- them. After a fit of illness they
bowed out, and think it such mis-.
fortune for boy to grow up with crook
ed legs that l am trying to straighten
Them"
Each man Immediately either crossed
his legs, or drew the knees close together.
"Any more children
Yes, another boy, the age of this, and
little girl four years old"
Husband been dead long,"
"AbOut nine months
"Reckon you don't care about marry
ing again ?"
"Well, l haven't thought of it YETI
cts a mighty responsible thing
though, for woman to bring up family
all alone, specially boys"
eyes, suppose it isl
Left pretty we'll off?''
must admit that this last question
staggered me, and wondered if the clear
musical tones, raised little above the
natural key, thought, would he heard
in indignant response. Every man was
on the Qui viue for her answer; two OF
them knew were married ard had fam.
lilies. Even the conductor paused to
listen. A queer light came into her eyes,
her lips twitched, but she said quietly,
yes, tolcrably; have about $50, 600 q
year income.'
La, sakes! you don't say so; and you
a ridin' in this boss car, and nobody
a-glvin' you a seat till l got up. Well,
neverr'
Such sheepish looking lot of men
The boots were again matter requir.
ing attention.
swell, l shouldn't think you'd ride in
| boss car if you wuz wuth SO much
I'm sure wouldn't"
81 am going to see friend not so well
off as am, so thought it would be bet.
ter taste to leave the carriage and nurse
at the ferry. Conductor, will YOU stop Al
the next corner on this side of the street
please. if you can"
The conductor pulls the bell furiously
but the driver, not realizing that $5O, OO(
a year wanted to get off. ran over, accord
ing to law, to the opposite crossing. Al
he did so, every man in the Car sprang t.
pull the bell-strap, and the conductor
swore roundly Seven men got out to as.
sist her, each one anxious to take the
child. All the rest looked daggers be.
cause they were too far up the car to dc
the same. Each Uf these seven insisted
upon carrying the child, still asleep. fol
her to her destination. She quietly but
firmly refused. The two fathers of fami.
lies were extremely anxious, but all to nc
purpose. The lady walked off with her
boy in her arms, and I saw two of the
seven, who did not return to the car,
watching her to see where she went. ]
don't know about the rest of it, but am
inclined to believe, from the expression of
that ray-haired woman's face, that the
$50, 900 part was mythical, and only added
to test the men who had not offered her a
seat l did not mean to have occupied SO
Characteristic that 1 couia not forbcar
telling tn Y. Cor. Cleuelund Herald.