The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-08-30
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 a veiied vet lumin,
Gus splendor in the east told that the
day was breaking-the day of June that
be- gan my twenty-seventh year. When
say that l was woman, and add that
was unmarried, aud, worst of all, that
/ had lost for good the requisite energy
that held forth any promi~e in that di-
rection, it will naturally be thought that
shall make but sorry heroine; and j!
is Just because of these Encouraging facts
that / want TO jot down this little expe-
rience of q day, as a sort of consolation
to that suffering part of my sex who
have latent hopes, long lingering, uufill-
ed, at times at the last gap, then flicker
ing up again with sickly tenacity most
painful to cOntemp plate. But who knows
what day may bring forth? Who
knows?
| went about on tiptoe, not to awaken
mamma and | took it as a piece of in
gratitude that when she came down tC
breakfast, and began to enjoy the toast
had so nicely Drowned for her, and tC
sniff the fragrance of a Rnnch of honey
suckles that | had scrambled for at the
risk of q sprained ankle and the cost OF 3
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.
"Pm so glad its fine weather, Jane,
said mamma, with great urbanity oil
/ tone and manner. Z" ! thought I'd gel
up early, so that you could reach the
church in good season; and / wouldn't
waste any flowers in the mouse, dear
! I'd keep them all for yeur table"
"You know very well, mamma" re-
piled, "that | am not going to have 4
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 q fancy
table, and endured it with great resigna
tion. LAST year l had recourse to E
switch to exc out my scanty locks, and
WAS compelled reluctantly to take the
postoffice. This year | shan't have any
thing in fact, mamma, | atn not going
to the festival" ;"
Mamma put down her bit of toast
and turned pale.
" Not going to the festival" !" she said
mouTnfully.
{" No, mamma / said, beginning al
ready to plead my case. {" Can't 1 have
one birthday to myself2 / am twenty
seven years old to-day"
"Ob, hush, Jane" said my poor old
mother. g You scream 50, the Hunters
next door will hear you, and biurt it all
over the place. l am not deaf If you
choose to give up all chance of-of So
ciety, and neglect your duties, and
recourse, | have nothing to say, only
must in that case go myself"
You !" | 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 re use to
do these things, | must. know | shall
be prostrated with the heat, aud 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 so obstinate and head
strorg, be surrounded and admired as
you used to be, and you might, for nay
sake, Jane, at least attend those enter
tainments."
Mamma put her handkerchief - her
eyes. and | yielded; groaned in flesh
and in spirit, but l yielded. After
had tidied up the work, and settled
mamma in the cool shady sitting room,
upon her favorite lounge, with a nice
book in her hand, and a palm-leaf close
by-for the day was growing hot-I
twisted up my hair before the gla- s. with
many a sour mocking grimace at the
dark, thin, discontented face therein,
put on an ugly brown linen dress,
calabash of a hat, and went off to the
church.
NV mother looked after me with such
misery in her face that l called back to
her that / would wear sonnet hing nice in
the evening?
"Will you wear your rose -colored
crape?" pleaded mamma
"Will | wear spangles, and jump
through hoop?" | said. mo, mamma;
I'll wear my black silk"
"And curl your hair p she )sxed.
There's a whole switch already curled
for me up in MY bureau drawer" | re
piled. "It's nice this hot weather to
have very little hair of une's own
"Don't scream so ~ 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 to the eldest son, who had
been away in Chiua these five years and
more, aud 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 a secret recess of
that same old bureau where lay the con-
venianf switch Of hair
Time was when | needed no curls
shorn from unaidenS across the seas or
manufactured from home material |
had plenty OF my own. Jack Hunter
cut one of them of with his penknife
that night when we part d.
don't know" said he, savagely
+" whether | most hate you or love you
but I'll keep this to remember the girl
who firted and fooled away the truest
affection man ever had for woman.
He cut the curl from my head with
his penknife, and looked at me as if he
was halt tempted to do me further
butchery and God knows l didn't care
then if be had drawn the knife across
my throat ] should not have resiste
him.
"Don't go, Jack cried out at lsst,
holding the ige of his coat. s. Don't
go, anyway 81 far as Chins ii you do,
shall commence 10 dig q hole when you
get there They say that China Is righ.
ander US. and ri begin with a little pick
and shovel IS soon as We get news OF your