The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-07-19

TO a couple Of women who were sitting
opposite me. They resented the inn
portunities OF the news-agent who want
ed TO sell them books. The younger
woman of the two offered 10 lend her
companion book, and the companion
accepted the offer, with a qualifying
question as to the name and character
Of the work. The first literary woman
drew the book out Of her valise and
handed II over.
She took it, looked at 1t with an APP
pearance of great interest and ex-
claimed:
"Ohy yes. .Old Curiosity Shop How
do love Djckens!"
do youP" her friend inquired. II
Just doat on him. 50 love the char
acter Of Little Bell in this book"
"She Is so lovable," said the second
literary woman, but what a monster
that other one-what's his name--the
one with the wooden Lego"
The first woman couldn't recall the
character. "The only man in Dickens
with awooden leg that know Of" she
said, sis named Wagner, who read for
the dustman, in Our Mutual Friend"
No, that wasn't it." said the other
woman; sit was in odd Curiosity Shops
1t was a dwarf with wooden leg-a
queer name-Phillip? Phillip 1t sounds
like that, but somehow that don't seem
TO be it,"
How do you like that other odd
character. Dick-Dick-now can't re-
call his name it's in the same story, too.
Dick-Dick-it begins with S."
\" Stockholm" queried the other, anx-
ious to help her friend out.
No, that isn't it. Swilliver. That's
it. Dick Swilliver."
The other woman instantly recalled
the character when she heard the name,
and then expressed her admiration for
the character Of the sMarchinusr in the
same book, and the faithful care she
took OF this same Dick Swilliver.
And then they talked all over Dick
ens's works, and they discussed the hyp-
ocritical "Mr. Pinchbeck" in Martin
Chuzzlewit, and g Samuel Miller" Mr.
Pickwick's funny servant, and MIR.
Buckle" the detective in "Bleak
House," and old "Mr. Pilkington, the
lawyer in the same novel, and Lady
Paddock" and sighed themselves into
such sorrowful condition over the un-
finished tale of edwin Druid" that
they couldn't talk any more, but put
sold Curiosity Shop" away and wentto
sleep.
AN UNPROTECTED FEMALE.
How hot and dusty it is. How dirty
and grimy every bodylooks. How cross
and unobliging and disgraceful every
body feels. The cars are crowded and
every body is wishing every body else
was out Of the way. The woman in
front Of me has dropped her shawl on
the floor. She Is not young or hand
some, but she is woman. Her face
has harsh, forbidding expression, hut
withal, think can see tender lines
about the mouth. IL Is face that has
seen trouble. Poor woman, perhaps
she has raised eleven children. And
now she has them all, with their hus-
bands and wives, to support. No won
der she looks tired and worn and repel-
liant. II sh. was young and pretty a.
she was thirty years ago, dozen men
would spring forward to snatch her
shawl from the dusty floor and bow
themselves crooked handing it to her.
Now we look at it, and feel too dusty
even to tell her where it is. A CONNER
cial traveller walks down the aisle and
steps carefully over 1t. A woman goes
down the other way and thoughtlessly
steps on it. l feel ashamed Of myself
and pity the poor, homely woman. With
an effort rise from my seat, stoop to
pick up the neglected shawl.
"Madam," say, and-oh II my
sons mother could see that smile,
Madam, permit me; your shawl"
I stopped right there. For, As l pick
ed up the neglected shawl, out of its
voluminous folds fell humping and rat
Ting to the floor paper bag, badly
fractured, full Of crackers, tin can,
some remnants of an ancient lunch, q
six-inch bologna, bit of at one end, and
bottle of milk, the latter uncorking
itself as it fell. The poor neglected
woman did not seem to be transported
with gratitude for my attention. She
snatched the shawl away from me and
said, with apparent vexation:
ssThere now, drat We; looky at ye,
what you've done. Why can't We mind
yer own business and leave other peo-
pies things aloneP"
A ripple Of subdued hilarity passed
through the car, and / resumed my
seat, fully resolved that II the most ex-
travagantly lovely and loving girl that
ever blessed this world of ugly men,
should come into that car and her head
should fall off her shoulders and drop
into my lap, should kick it savagely
out Of the window and snarl-
Keep your lumpy old woodeny
: pumpkin-head out Of the way II you
don't want 1t tromped onto. "-Bnr.
dcfke. IA The Rnxlin1fon Hnfckene.