The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-01-03
WHAT l DISCOVERED.

of mankind is man. and l believe
Pope, with IN addition. have always
been convinced that the study of man.
kind. when supplemented by the study
Of womankind. is the legitimate occu-
patton of gifted souls like my own, and
consequently have shaped my life
upon this conviction.
To be sure, l have not had large OPP
portunities for prosecuting my studies,
Vet when was true genius ever fettered
by the narrowness of its surroundings?
Although was compelled to pass the
first forty years of my life in one street,
in one house in that street. vet tlatter
myself that l made the most of my linn
tied field of observation in every way,
and that what l did not know about
the men and women and children-yes,
and even the cats and dogs-of the
neighborhood was not worth knowing.
Last year, however, circumstances
unconnected with my present story
made it necessary for me TO change my
residence: and all the Inconvenience
uf removal We're Overbalanced BY the
prospect Of new subjects for study, and
wider opportunities of knowledge.
BY the LIST of May was comfortably
settled in my new home. and my small
household Consisting of two servants
and mysel) was growing accustomed
to the new surroundings.
OF course my opposite neighbors at
tracted my first regards, and kept me
almost constantly at the window. The
two houses directly across the street
were SO entirely different. One was a
w.ll-built. spacious. elegant mansion,
with ample drapery of lace and damask
at every window, with an imposing col
ored waiter and staff of other servants,
where grocers' and butchers carts de-
livered daily their well-filled hampers,
where well-dressed guests came and
went continually, where lights shone
brilliantly every evening, and where
everything indicated the possession of
ample means. The other house was
small. mean-looking, too narrow for its
height. and apparently overcrowded if
one might Judge from the swarm of
children it held. No curtains at those
windows, no shades to speak of, and
only one servant, who brought home
the slender purchases in a dilapidated
basket. and who certainly looked
overworked. Evidently the Barretts
were rs poor as the Browns were
wealthy.
a few more days satisfied me as to
the occupants of these houses. Mrs.
Brown was widow, with an only son,
to whom she was quite devoted, and
who was certainly an estimable young
with an aged father and eight children,
of whom the oldest was a girl of TWEEN
tv, uncommonly pretty, who assisted
her mother by teaching. A brother,
two years younger, was clerk, and
Mrs. Barrett sometimes did fine sew.
ing by way of eking out their scanty
resources.
These details satisfactorily gathered,
/ began to turn my attention in other
directions, when a mysterious circum.
stance made it impossible for me to
think of anything else than the Browns
and Barretts.
1t happened in this wise. Twas sit.
ting by my parlor window after dark,
with no lights in the room-as l am
fond Of doing, because the dimness is
favorable to meditation when
CHANGED to see young Mr.. Brown come
out of his own house and ascend the
Barretts' steps.
One of the children admitted him.
and he went into the parlor, where i'm.
mediately a light appeared. Some one
drew down the shades, but they were
very thin, and could see the shadows
of the inmates SO clearly that there was
no installing them as they were thrown
upon the linen.
There sat Mrs. Barrett on one sid,
of the comfortable, sewing diligently
and opposite her, with their chair
close together and their heads almos
touching, sat Lucy Barrett and Mr.
Brown.
This discovery-for I felt it wa
nothing less-amazed and excited m
beyond expression. Here was evident
~ a love affair, and how angry Mrs
Brown would be if she knew it! To b.
sure, the diligent use of my opera glas
enabled me to see some books on tn,
table, from which the young coupl,
pretended to be reading, but tina
amounted to nothing. Poetry mos
likely; and was not poetry always tn,
natural language of love-makingP
Well, my sympathy with Mrs. Brow,
kept me on the watch for nearly tw'
hours, and during all that time Mrs
Barrett sat quietly sewing, and appar
emily unconscious of the way in whicl
those two heads came togetherove tn
book before them.
But at last Mr.. Brown rose to 60, an
then the mother seemed to wake up
for she went with him to the door, in
stead of letting her daughter go. .
quite expected she would. But th
moment his back was turned, what doe
that girl do? Drops her head down o.
her folded arms on the table, and seem
to be having good cry, as If sh
couldn't bear to part with HIM s'evel
then. Presently her mother returned