Richland beacon., 1880-07-10
MY NIGHT LODGER.

Every person said I was a queer little
girl can't remember when they did
not say that. But from all that can
learn, WAS not queer baby. l cried
like any other child, and was quite as
troublesome, so the queerness must have
been nc yuired.
ness lies; when 1 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
fached to my name used to annoy me;
my dolls were the only specimens Of hu-
manity to whom confessed this. To
them I confded all my secrets and my
manifold trials. They were attentive lis
teners-never interrupted me. There
was Rosa, the very large one, she was
my prime favorite, and-Oh, there we're
~ many of them I cannot describe them.
When 1 was eleven years old our folks
tried tO make me think 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 knowing
how l loved them. I used to go t. my
room and, locking the door to keep INV
fun-loving brothers and sisters from in
.truding. would play by the hour with
my miniature famlT. Another favorite
resort Of mine was the garrett 1t was
full of bO1cs, barrels and chests, contain
ing OK: papers. hooks and letters. Many
r. the letters were very ancient, written
by relatives of whom ] had scarcely
heed. There were letters from parents
:, ,children, from brothers to sisters. and
love-lctters. The latter interested ME the
most. although 1 thought they were
rather silly. l suppose I could not ap-
preciate the height and depth, and
length and breadth, of the tender pas
sion.
Filling my pockets with apples, I
would take possession of the garret and
some comfortable old chair, minus an
arm or rocker, and there would sit for
hours, reading. I had passion for
ghost stories, and stories of robbers and
pirates, although they used to frighten
me terribly. When in the midst of n
most frightful story, down would tumble
bundle II 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 lghtning-rod kept up q malicious
racket. declare it is q wonder I didn't
lose nv senses, reading 10 much trash
and hearing 81 many fearful sounds.
But this has nothing to do with nv
"lolger." believe am becoming gar
rulous.
In the first place, ! must tell you papa
was n rich farmer, and our neighbOrs
were "few and far between"
When l was in my twelfth year papa
and mamma made mp their minds to
take q pleasure trip to the far West
This was something unusual; they sell
dom left home. Well, they went; and
NV two sisters, two brothers and myself
had gay time "keeping house."
One day, all except myself and our
seryant girl were invited to 60 to din
ner party. 1 confess I dreaded to have
them 60. =.
"Kate. We will bring you any amount
of candy" said one.
"Now. pet, Won know you ana 0arcn
can stay here Just as well as not. +" said
another.
Don't be a baby, Kitty" said
thir,l
Finally. I resignedly bade them "get
ont of my sight.
Sarah and I were good friends: she
told me stories and sang songs till be-
ean to think it was quite fine thing to
Be left ct home.
Tired of staying in the house, I saun:
tered down the front walk, and amused
myself by indulging in forbidden pleas
ure-swinRing on the gate. Look
inc down the road, I spied . man
coming along. I flew to the house, and,
eetis8ed that he was coming in, I ran to
sarah. Seizing her dress with both
81. YAvN1aiunod-