The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-08-07
Who Knows?

The birds made such a racket in the
h~oneysuckle vine outside my window
that T couldn't sleep. The moor was
sill in the sky, but a veiled yet lumin-
Gus splendor- ~ hi tEld that the
day was breaking-the day of June that
began my twenty-seventh year. When
I say that I was a woman, and add that
I was unmarried, and, worst of all, that
I had lost for good the requisite energy
that held forth any promise in that
direction, it will naturally be thought
that I shall make but a sorry heroine;
and it is just because of these discourag-
ing facts that I want to jot 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-
ing, unfulflled, at times at the last gasp,
then Pickering up again with a sickly
tenacity most painful to contemplate.
But who knows what a day may bring
forth? Who knows?
went about on tiptoe, not to awaken
mamma; and I took it as a piece OF in
gratitude that when she came down to
breakfast, and began to enjoy the toast
T had so nicely Drowned for her, and to
sniff the fragrance of a bunch of honey
suckles that T had scrambled for at the
risk OF q sprained ankle and the cost Of a
shower of morning dew upon my clean
calico-I thought it mean of mamma to
begin about that church festival before
the day had fairly begun. .
"Tm so glad it's fine weather, jane"
said mamma, with great urbanlty OF
tone AMI manner. "l thought Ia get
up early, so that you could reach the
church in good season; and I wouldn't
waste any flowers in the house, dear
I'd keep taem all for your table"
"You know very we'll, mamma re-
piled, "that I'm not going to have a
table. I've served my apprenticeship
at tables. Long ago, when l was young
and fair, I wore white, with my hair
curling about my shoulders, and had
the flower table, and enjoyed it. Later
on, I put my hair up, and had a fancy
table, and endured it with great resigna-
ton. Last year T had recourse to q
switch to exc out my scanty locks, and
was compelled reluctantly to take the
post-ofice. This year [ sha'n't have
anything; in fact, mamma, I'm not going
to the festival"
Mamma put down her bit of toast, and
turned absolutely pale.
"Not going to the festival" she
echoed, m%ournfully'
"No, MAMMAL said, beginning al
ready to plead my case. "Can't I have
one birthday to myself? I'm twenty
seven years old to-day"
"Oh, hush, Jane" said my poor
mother. "You scream so, the Hunters
next door will hear you, and blurt it all
over the place. I'm 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. T have nothing to say, only I
must in that case 60 myself"
"Youl" I cried. you'll be sick for
a month afterward; you haven't been
able to do anything of that kind for
years."
"I know it, Jane; but if you refuse to
do these things, 7 must. I know I shall
be 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, I verify believe,
if you were not so obstinate and head
strong, be surrounded and admired as
you used to be, and you might, for my
sake, Jane, at least attend those little
entertainments"
Mamma put her handkerchief to her
eyes, and I yielded; I groaned in flesh
and in spirit, but I yielded. After ]
had tidied up the work; and settled
mamma in the cool shady sittlng-room,
upon her f~ayorite lounge, with a nice
book in her hand, and a palm-leaf close
by-for the day was growing hot
twisted up my hair before the glass,
with many soul hooking grimace at
the dark, thin, discontinued face there.
in, put on an ugly brown linen dress, q
c,labash OF a hat, and went off to the
church.
NV mother looked after me with such
misery in her face that I called back to
her that I would wear something nice in
the evening.
"Will you wear your r~ose.colored
Grape ?" pleaded mamma.
CIVIL / wear spangles, n Jump
through a hoop ?"I said. "No, mamma
I'll wear my black silk"
"And curl your hair ?" she coaxed.
"There's a whole switch already
curled for Inc up in my bureau drawer
I replied. cts nice this hot weathe,
to have very little hair of ones own 7
"Don't scream so p said poor mother
looking toward the Hunters side win
dows. ,
As if the Hunters didn't know al
about my failing charms, and no doub
took an inventory of them half yearly t.
send abroad to the eldest son, who hat
been away in China these five years an!
more. aad wonld likely never come bacl