The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-07-18
WHO kNOWS:

WHO kNOWS:
THE birds made such Il racket in the
honeysucklc vine outside my window
that couldn't sleep. The moon was
still in the sky, but yelled yet lumi-
nous >plendor in the east told that the
day was breaking--the day of june
that began my twenty-seventh year.
When say that was Il woman, and
add that | was unmarried, and, worst
of all, that had lost for good the requi-
site energy that held forth any promise
in that direction, it will naturally be
thought that shall make but Il sorry
heroine: and it is just because of these
discouraging facts that l want to jot
down this little experience of Il day, as
Il sort of consolation to that suffering
part of my sex who have latent hopes,
long lingering. unfulfilled. at times at
the last gasp. then tlickering up again
with II 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 took it as a piece of in
gratitude that when she came down to
breakfast, and began to enjoy the toast
had so nicely Drowned for her, and
the egg had So nicely poachcd for her,
and to sniff the fragrance of bunch of
ut the risk of a sprained ankle and the
cost of Il shower or morning dew upon
my clean calico-I thought it mean of
mamma to begin about that church fes-
tival before the day had fairly begun.
I'm so glad it's fine weather, Jane, :"
said mamma. with great urbanity of
tone and manner. Il thought I'd get
up early, SD that you could reach the
church in good season; and wouldn't
waste any flowers in the house, dear
I'd keep them all for your table,
You know very well, mammal"
replied. THAT Pm not going to have q
table. I've served my apprenticeship
at tables. Long ago, when 1 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 table, and endured it with great
resignation. Last year had recourse
to switch to exc out my scanty locks,
and was compelled reluctantly to take
the Postofiicc. This year sha' mt have
anything; in fact, mamma, I'm not GO
ing to the festival
Mamma put down her bit of toast, and
turned absolutely pale.
Not going to the festivalr' she
ech Ded, mournfully.
No, mamma" said, beginning al
ready to plead my case. Cant l
have one birthday to myself? Pm
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
cic,y. and neglect your Christian duties,
and refuse to help the church along,
why, of course, have nothing to say,
only must in that case 90 myself"
'You!" [ cried. you'll be sick
for u month afterwards; you haven't
been able to do anything of that kind
for wears"
~ know it, Jane; but if you refuse
to do these things, l must. know
shall he Frustrated with the heat, and
my nerves will be shattered, and you
are young and strong, and still attract
i've enough to compete with any young
lady in the place, and might, 1 verify
believe, if you were not SO obstinate
and headstrong, be surrounded and ad.
mircd as you used to be, and you might,
for my sake, Jane, at least attend these
little entertainments"
Mamma put her handkerchief to her
eyes, and yielded; l 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 favOrite lounge, with a nice
book ut her hand, and palm-leaf fan
close by-for the day was growing hot
Il twisted up my hair before the glass,
with many a sour hooking grimace al
the dark, thin, discontinued face there.
in, put on an ugly brown linen dress, a
calabash of q hat, and went off to the
church.
My mother looked after me, with
such misery i'm her face that I called
back to her I would wear something
nice in the evening.
"Will you wear YOUR rose-colored
crape?' pleaded mamma.
''Will wear spangles, and jump
through a hoop?' ! said. "No mann
ma; I'll wear my black silk"
.And curl your hair?" she coaxed
There is q whole switch ALREADY
curled for me up in my bureau draw
err" replied. "It's nice this no,
weather to have very little hair Of one''
ownr'
Don't scream SOP said poor moth
er, looking toward the Hunters sid
windows.
AS if the Hunters didn't know al
about my failing charms, and no doub
took an inventory of them half yearly
to send abroad to the eldest son. whs
had been away in China these five wear,
and more, and would likely neye,
come back again. At least he haf
written to me to that effect when +,
went away. had the old letter vet Il
a secret recess of that same old burea,
where lay the convenient switch of hair
Time was when needed no curl
shorn from maidens across the seas o
manufactured from home material
l had plenty of my own. Jack Hunte
cut one of them off with his penknif
the night when we parted.
don't know" he said savagely
whether l most hate you or love you
but III keep this to remembct the cir
who hirted and fooled away the trues
smection man ever had for . woman. >
He hacked the curl from my hea<
with his penknifs, and looked at me Q.