The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-08-17
WHO KNOWS {?

The birds made such racket in the
honeysuckle vine outside my window
that | couldn't sleep. The moon was
still in the sky, but yelled yet lumin-
Gus splendor in the east told that the
day was breaking-the day of June that
began my twenty-seventh year. When
| say that | was "A woman, and add that
! was unmarried, and, worst of all, that
! had lost for good the requisite energy
that held forth any promise in that
direction, it will naturally be thought
that | shall make but a sorry heroine;
and it is Just because of these discourage
ing facts that | want to lot down this
little experience of a day, as a sort of
consolation to that suffering part of my
sex who have latent hopes, long linger-
liz, unlulfilled, ut times at the last gasp,
then hickering up again with a sickly
tenacity most painful to contemplate.
But who knows what day may bring
forth? Who knows?
| went about on tiptOe, not to awaken
mamma; and | took it as piece of in
gratitude that when she came down to
breakfast, and began to enjoy the'toast
| had SO nicely Drowned for her, and to
sniff the fragrance of bunch of honey
suckles that | had scrambled for at the
risk OF a sprained ankle and the cost of a
shower Of morning dew upon my clean
Calico thought it mean of mamma to
begin about that church festival before
the day had fairly begun.
"Im so glad its fine weather, Jane"
said mamma, with great urbanity of
tone and manner. :" thought I'd get
up early, so that you could reach the
church III good season; and | wouldn't
waste any flowers in the house, dear
I'd keep them all for your table"
" You know very well, mamma" | re-
piled, " that | am not going to have
table. I've served my apprenticeship at
tables Long ago, when | was young
and fair, | wore white, with my hair
curling about my shoulders, and had the
flower table, and enjoyed it. Later on,
| put my hair up, and had a fancy la
BILE, and endured it with great resigna-
ton. Last year | had recourse to a
switch to exc out my scanty locks, and
was compelled reluctantly to take the
postofiice. This year | shan't have any
thing; in fact, mamma, am not going
TO the festival"
Mamma put down her bit of toast, and
turned pale.
Z" Not going to the festival" she said,
mournfully.
"No, mamma I said, beginning al
ready 70 plead my case. Cant | have
one birthday to myself? l am twenty
seven years old to-day"
"Oh, hush, Jane" said my poor old
mother. You scream so, the Hunters
next door will hear you, and blurt it all
over the place. | am not deaf. If you
choose to give up all chance of-of So
ciety, and neglect your duties, and re-
fuse to help the church along, why, of
course, | have nothing to say, only |
must in that case go myself"
Your ] cried. You'll be sick for
a month afterward; you haven't been
able to do anything of that kind for
years"
Il know it, Jane; but if you refuse
to do these tnings, | mast. | know |
shall tie Frustrated with the heat, and
my nerves will be shattered, and you are
young and strong, and still attractive
enough to compete with any young lady
in the place, and might, / verify believe,
if you were not 50 obstinate and head
strong, be surrounded and admired as
You used to be, and you might, for my
sake, Jane, ut least attend those enter
tainments.'
Mamma put her handkerchief to her
eyes, and | yielded; | groaned in flesh
and in spirit, but | yielded. After /
had tidied up the work, and settled
mamma in the cool shady sitting-room,
upon her fayorite lounge, with a nice
book in her hand, and palm-leaf close
by-for the day was growing hot-I
twisted up my hair before the glass, with
many sour hooking grimace at the
dark, thin, disconnected face therein,
put ON an ugly brown linen dress, cal
abash of a hat, and went off to the
church.
Ny mother looked after me with such
misery in her face that | called back to
her that would wear something nice in
the evening
VIII you wear your rose-colored
Grape" pleaded mamma.
Will | wear spangleS, and Jump
through hoop@' | said. No, mamma /;
III wear my black silk"
And curl your hair?; she coaxed.
There's a whole switch already curled
for me up in my bureau drawer" | re-
piled. Its nice this hot weather to
have very little hair of ones own"
Don't scream sol" said poor mother,
looking toward the Hunters side win
dowS
As If the Hunters didn't know all
about my failing charms, and no doubt
took an inventory of them half yearly to
send abroad 10 the eldest son, who had
been away in China these five years and
more, and would likely never come back
again At least he had written to ME to
that effect when he went away. | had
the old letter yet in secret recess of
that same old bureau where lay the con-
venient switch of hair.
Time was when | needed no curls
shorn from maidens across the seas or
manufactured from home material. |
had plenty of my own. Jack Hunter
cut one of them off with his penknife
that night when we parted.
u don't know" said he, savagely,