The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-09-23
My Night Ledger.

Every person said | was a queer little
girl. ! can't remember where they did
not say that. But from all that ! can
learn, l was not q queer baby. | cried
like any other child, and was quite as
troublesome, so the queerness must have
been acquired.
/ cannot discover wherein my queer
ness lies; when | ask my friends, they
say, "'Why-well, you are different from
other folks" A very clear and satisfac-
tory definition.
This having the word "queer" at
tached to my name used to annoy me;
my dolls were the only specimens Of hui
manity to whom l confessed this. To
them | contded all my secrets and
nv manifold trials. They were atten-
tive listeners-neve interrupted me.
There was Rosa, the very large one, she
was nv prime favorite, and-oh, there
were so many Of them | cannot describe
them.
When | was eleven years old our folks
tried to make me think | was too old to
plav with dolls. | felt as though life
would have no pleasure for me were my
dolls taken from me. No one knowing
how | loved them. | used to go to my
room, and, locking the door to keep my
f~un.loving brothers and sisters from in
truding, | would play by the hour with
my miniature family. Another f~avorite
resort of mine was the garnet. 1t was
full of boxes, barrels and chests, con-
tanning old papers, books and letters.
Many of the letter were very ancient,
written by relatives of whom l had
scarcely heard. There were letters from
parents to children, brothers to sisters,
and love letters. The latter interested
me the most, although | thought they
were rather silly. l suppose | could not
appreciate the height and depth, and
length and breadth of the tender pas
sion.
Filling my pockets with apples, |
would take possession Of the garnet and
some comfortable cd chair, minus an
arm or rocker, and there | would sit for
hours, reading. | had a passion for
ghost stories and stories Of robbers and
pirates, although they used 20 brighten
Inc terribly. When in the midst of a
most frightful stony, down would tum-
bic a bundle Of something from the
rafters, making considerable noise, and
leading me to imagine that the ghosts
and robbers had stepped from the book
to the garnet.
An old apple tree stood by one of the
windows; it had a great faculty for un
earthly c~roakins and grooming, and the
lightning rod kept up a continuous rack
ct. | declare its a wonder 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
rulous.
In the first place. must tell you papa
was a rich farmer, and our neighbors
were "few and far between"
When | was in my twelfth year papa
and m made up their minds to
take a pleasure trip &c the far West
This was something unusual they sell
dom left home. Well, they went and
nv two sisters. two brothers and myself
had a gay time excepting house
One day, all except myself and our
servant, girl were invited to go to a din
ner party. l confess | dreaded to have
them 60.
"Kate, we will bring yeu any amount
of candy" said one.
Snow, pet, you know you and Sarah
can stay here just as well as not, SAID
another.
"Don't be a baby, Kitty said a
third.
Finally | ~resignedly babe them 'get
out of my sight"
Sarah and l were good friends she