The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-02-05
A Flood, and What Came Of It.

Once upon time, not very long ago,
there was o yJuog damsel called -.
But perhaps i'd better not mention her
name; she's changed it now, in any case,
call her Mollie Muldoon-sweet Mollie
Muldoon. Now more delightful crca-
ture it would be hard to find, for she
ha1 that Incompatible nature that
blends the child with the woman; and
whereas she could romp and play like
kitten in seasons Of frivolity, you might
in a-tlire and serious extremity search
the wideworld over for a wiser OK maturer
Judgment. She had the most wonderful
knack Of taking a shabby house, and
going over it from top to bottom, with
touch here aud brush there, and a
little adornment over yonder, so that,
when she was through, the metamor-
phosis would be staItliug, and one would
declare that uoder the kilt plaits of her
house dress she concealed the wand of 9
fairy.
Ev ry body knows that poverty and
pride are like oil and water, and won't
20 together very well; and it could not
be denied that Mollie's beauty and grace
were sadly suited TO the stinted means
Of life doled out to the widow Muldoon
and her two children. When Mr.. Null
doom was living they had all the luxuries
That his handsome salary and generous
heart could devise; but the bountiful
heart became Id in death, and the
handsome salary ceased long before
Mollie was old enough fully to enjoy
either the one or the other. 1t was only
q mercy from heaven that Mrs. Null
doon's father outlived her husband, and
was able to allow her a small income, or
heaven knows what would have become
of sweet little Mollie, with her yearnings
nfter fashionable furbelows and sur
foundings.
Poor little Mollie Many time I've
seen her beautiful eyes filled. with tears
OF rage and modification over an abor-
tive attempt at making o dress with
puffs and frills out of small pattern:
but out she came pre- sently with some
old under-skirt of her mothers, or
aunt's or grandmother and with few
touches of her magic fingers the whole
fabric would fall together, colors aud
all, as gracefully as ra nbow, and then
her eyes. would shine again, and her
true pride Of genius.
{" Just look at that Mollie Muldoon, u
said Fanny Sharp, as Mollie went by
"she's ruiping her mother, the way
she dresses.
"Pride goeth before fall" croaked
OLD Granny Sharp.
It was only week or so after that
heard from Mrs. Muldoon's own lips the
confirmation of a rumor that had been
going about for months-that Mollit
was actually engaged to be married &c
young Adolphus Dacre. The Dacres
had been given over by our whole little
community y long since. They had
treated the church scandalously, hiring
the best pew, and never paying penny
on it; the grocer had refused to give
them any further credit; the butchers
cart drove1r right by their door; anC
Mallory, the milkman, had been seer
sitting upon the front gtoop OF the
Dacres, waiting, he said, for one of two
things Ibis money or the liver of Mr.
Dacre.
"And Of course, . said Mollie, " S,
longsas these miserable tradespeopl'
neld on, and treated the. Dacres viii
respect, the whole aristocracy of Bah
bleton followed suit; but now that th,
butcher ,apds baker and candlestick
maker have'giNep them upP-
"1t's a case OF the rotten potato,
said her seventeen year -oldS brothe
Have yoS too turned agains
Dolph 2" said Mollie. ~
"I ~ replied the lad, With inocl
tragedy. Never AS a friend o
mine, he's A ], and no mistake; but
don't take much stock in Dolph as
brother-in-law. It's. all he can do {
keep himself in chuck.
Mamma, will 'you make Jack sto
talking slang 2"
81 beg pardon, said Jack; "what
meant to say was that under existin
circumstances Mr.. Adolphus Dacre fine
it exceedingly difficult to supply b
own individual necessities, and positiv,
ly declines any inducement to take
the matrimonial racket"
"Dechnes meW said Mollie, wit
seornful emphasis.
"Declines the whole feminine gener
tion," said Jack.
That very day, which was a freeziI
one in December, Mollie was seen dow
upon the skating pond executing Wi
marvellous grace and facility the init
cate evOlutions of the outer edge, al