The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-19
MY NIGHT LODGER.

y
girl. l can't remember when they did
not say that. From all that l can learn,
j was not queer baby. Icried like any
other child, and was just as troublesome,
30 the queerness must have been ac-
quired.
/ can not discover wherein my queer
ness lies; when | ask my friends, they
say;
other folks" q
A very clear and satisfactory defni-
tionl
This having the word "queer" attached
to my name used to annoy me; my dolls
were the only specimens of humanity to
whom l confessed this. To them con-
fided all my secrets and all my manifold
trials.
They were attentive listeners-never
interrupted me. There was "Rose," the
very large one, she was my prime favor
lite, and-oh, there were SO many of them,
/ can not describe them all.
When was eleven years old, our folks
tried to make me think l was too old to
play with dolls. | felt as though life
would have no pleasure for me were my
dolls taken from me. No one knows low
/ loved them. / used to go to my room,
and, locking the door to keep my fun
loving brothers and sisters from intrud-
ing, I would p1sy by the hour with my
miniature family. Another favorite re-
sort of mine was the garret. 1t was full
of boxes, barrels, and chests, containing
old papers, books and letters
Many Of the letters were very ancient,
written by relatives of whom l had
scarcely heard. There were letters from
parents to children, from brothers to sis
ters, and love letters. The latter inter-
ested me most, although / thought they
were rather silly. l suppose | could not
appreciate the height and depth, length
and breadth, of the tender passion.
Filling my pockets with apples, /
would take possession of the garret and
some comfortable old chair, minus an
arm or rocker, and there l would Gt for
hours reading. / had passion for ghost
stories, and stories of robbers and pirates,
although they used to frighten me terri
ribly. When in the midst of the most
frightful story, down would tumble a
bundle of something from the rafters,
making considerable noise, and leading
me to imagine the ghosts and the robbers
had stepped from the book to the garret.
An old apple tree stood by one OF the
windows; it had the greatest faculty for
unearthly creaking and groaning, and
the lightning rod generally kept up a
malicious racket. .....
l declare it is wonder that l didn't
lose my senses, reading so much trash
and hearing so many fearful sounds.
But this has nothing to DO with my
"lodger" | believe l am becoming gar
ruious.
In the first place, I must tell you papa
was healthy farmer, andDur neighbors
were "few and far between"
When was in my twelfth year, papa
and mamma made up thtir minds to take
a pleasure trip to the Car West" This
was something unusual. They seldom
left home. Well, they went, and my two
sisters, two brothers and myself had gay
time keeping house"
One day, all except myself and our SER
ant girl were invited to dinner party.
confess dreaded to have them 20.
"Kate, we will bring you any amount
Of candy" ..... ......
"Now, pet, you know you and Sally
can stay here just as well as not"
Don't be baby, Kitty" were the
words directed to me.
Finally, I resignedly bade them "get
out of my sight"
Sally and l were good friends. She
told me stories and sang songs till | be-
gan to think it was quite fine thing to
be left at home.
Tired of staying in the house, saun-
tered down the front walk, and amused
myself by indu ging in forbidden pleas
ure-swinging on the gate.
Looking down the road, / spied man
coming along. I few to the house, and,
satisfied that he was coming in, ran to
Sally. Selling her dress with both hands,
! exclaimed:
ooh, Sally! there is dreadful-looking
man coming in"
Sally picked up the poker and walked
to the door, while l, initiating her exam
pie, snatched stick Of wood Suddenly
Sally cried: 90
"You little goose, it is Billy Nc
Carthy."
Sure enough, it was Sally's beau. Her
mother was very sick, and Mccarthy was
sent to bring Sally home Immediately.
Here was dilemma. Sally didn't
want to leave me, and unless she started
home then. she might not see her mother
alive. 1t was n,arly time for the rest of
the folks to come home, 80 managed to
raise courage enough to say was willing
to remain alone.
In few minutes Sally was off, and
was left in possession of our great house,
which never seemed 80 large to me before
/ tried to read, but it was impossible; all
the murder stories / had ever heard came
to my mind.
remembered that none Of our doors
could be locked. Papa, who had few
strange. ideas, declared locks were nui
sanee. felt that was doomed.
/ went out to the yard, and, to my