The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-05-24
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THE LILY ON THE DOORSTEP

felt like a lady that morning / was
a lady, thought, after all quite as much
so as Mrs. Jones, whO lived in the greaI
eupola house on the hill. Quite as mucl
of lady, said to myself, briskly, as j
busted up my little shop and arranged the
sheeny ribbons and gay striped goods in
the window, The window was hung with
pretty lace curtains and there was globe
Of gold fish in it that sailed about as cour
teously and busily as though they were
getting their living as head clerks.
1t was sweet soft autumn morning
the village street was grassy and quiet
aud l hummed tune as glanced cheer
lily out at little Toddles, fitting about in
her scarlet ribbons under the old willow
outside Bless her little rosy face why
shouldn't | be happy when I've her to
look after?
was happy and hummed that old
snatch Of tune and nodded gayly tc
Toddles, wondering vaguely to myself
what was going to happen that l felt SC
uncannily bright. Nothing--simply moth.
Ing; things were done happening me long
since. My way was straight and narrow
my days quiet and uneventful.
As | slipped my coffee that morning
remember that held the cup up to the
light aud felt certain sense of satisfac-
tion 10 the translucence Of the rare bit Of
china. 1t is so pleasant to know that one I:
own election may keep one aloof from the
ugliness aud squalor of poverty.
1t doesn't take much to keep one per
son, of course, | don't count Toddles fol
anything. II need but the odds and ends
of things-a bowl of bread and milk, a
cup Of coffee, with now and then lively
bit Of ribbon-to keep the little one going
famously.
Yes, always wanted to be lady. And
as sat 10 my bright little room half
felt inclined to forgive Richard Gray the
heart-brcak no gave me long ago, And
o God it was heart-break. But il he
had married me, perhaps he would have
shut me up in some gloomy city house, to
be lady after his fashion, to stiflo for
want Of a BIT Of fresh air, to walk softly
under thousand petty conyentionalities
and to cease being my own mistress.
All that | never could endure. So il Is,
perhaps, us well that Richard left me and
went off somewhere-God knows where.
You sec, like it--my little shop.
There's something SO delightful in seeing
the pretty girls of the village, with now
aud then fine lady, handling over my
dainty wares, and trying the tints of scar.
let aud blue and orange with many a laugh
and many glance in the mirror. call
il my reception when they pour in Of a
holiday afternoon. / love colors; | love
grace and beauty, and perhaps | might
have been bit Of an artist, in my way,
if Ia ever had the opportunity. Richard
used to say so. But ali he said many
tlatteriDg thing aud many false in those
old days. And If l ever dreamed Of any
higher life than contents me now--well,
I've giycn up dreaming.
For there's Toddles, so round and sweet
aud soft and real She leaves mo little
time for building air, castles.
You see love the child as il she were
my very OVID. FSr she came to me one
day, about four years ago, wee baby
thing, curled up 10 heap on my doorstep
when went 70 open the shutters. Wher-
ever she came from never knew. Tod
dies never explained; sho just stretched up
her little fat arms and gurgled aTodod-
doddle, and that was her sole introduc-
ton.
Il was surmised that The child had been
dropped BY somc travelling circus passing