River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-07-15
MY NIGHT L0DGER.

Every person said l was queer little
girl. | can't remember when they did
not say that. But from all that l can
learn, / was not queer baby. | cried
like any other child, and was quite as
troublesome, so the queeness 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" 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 speci-
mems of humanity to whom | confessed
this. To them / confided all my secrets
and my manifold trials They were at
tentive listeners-never interrupted me-
There was Rosa, the very large one, she
was my prime favorite, and-oh, there
were so many of them | cannot describe
them
When l was eleven years old our folks
tried to make me think | was too old
to play with dolls. | felt rs though life
would have no pleasure for me were my
dolls taken from me- No one knowing
how loved them. used to 60 to my
room and, locking the door to keep my
ftln-loving brothers and sisters from in
truding, ] would play by the hour with
my miniature family Another favorite
resort of mine was the garnet. 1t was
full of boxes, barrels and chests, contain
ing books and letters Many of the let
tiers were very ancient, written by rela
tives of whom | had scarcely heard.
There were letters from parents TO
children, from brothers to sisters, and
ove-letters The latter interested me
the most. although | thought they We're
silly. | suppose / could not appreciate
the height and depth, and length and
breadth, of the tender passion.
Filling my pockets with apples, |
would take possession OF the garnet and
some comfortable old chair, minus an
arm or rocker, and there | would sit for
hours, reading. | had q passion for
pirates, although they used TO frighten
me terribly. When in the midst of a
most frightful story, down would tum-
BILE bundle of something from the raft
ers, making considerable noise, and
leading me to imagine the ghosts and the
robbers had stepped from the book to
the garnet.
An old apple-tree stood 10y one of the
windows; it had the greatest faculty
for unearthly creaking and grooming
and the lightning-rod kept up mali
cious racket / declare it is a wonder
| didn't lose my senses, reading SC
much trash and hCaI ng so many fear
full sounds.
BIT this has nothing to do with my
'.lodger." believe am becoming gar
rulous
In the first place. ] must tell you pa
pa was a rich farmer, and our neighbor'
were few and far between"
Wien | was in my twelfth year papa
and mamma made up their minds tC
take a pleasure trip 10 the far west
This WAS something unusual; they sci
dom left home. Wet, they Went: and
my two siIers, two brothers and myself
had q gay time keeping house.
One day, all except myself and oul
servant girl were invited 10 so to din
ner party. / confess | dreaded to have
them SO.
kate, we will bring you any amount
of candy" one said
Now, pet, you know you and Sarah
can stay here just rs Wei a. not, +" said
another
Don't be baby, Kitty" said a
third.
Finally, l resignedly babe them get
out of may sight
Sarah and | were good friends; she
told me stories and sang songs till | be-
gan to think il was quite a fine thing To
be left at home.
Tired of staying in the house | saun-
tered down the front walk, and amused
myself by INDUCING in a forbidden
MISUNDERSTANDING on the gate Look
ing down the road, spied a man
coming along. flew to the house, and,
satisfied that he was coming in. / ran to
Sarah. Selling her dress with both
hands, | exclaimed
ooh, Sarah! there is a dreadful-lOok-
ing man coming into the house,"
Sarah picked up the poker and walk
ed to the door, while |, initiating her ex-
ample, snatched stick of wood. sud
denly Sarah cried
you little goose, 1t is Bill Nc
Cartyl"
Sure enough it was Sarah's beau. Her
mother was very sick, and McCarty
was sent to bring Sarah home immedi-
ately
Here was a dilemma Sarah didn't
want to leave me, and unless she start
ed home then, she might not see her
mother alive. 1t was nearly time for
the rest of the folks to come home, so
managed 10 raise courage enough to
say that | was willing TO remain alone.
In few minutes Sarah was off. and j
was left in possession of our great house,
which never seemed so large to me be
fore. | tried to read, but it was impos-
sible; all the murder stories had ever
heard came to my mind. remember
ed that none of ow doors could he
locked. Papa, who had few strange
ideas, declared that locks were NUS
ance. / felt that WAS doomed.
| went ont to the yard, and, to my
dismay, discovered that the sky was
overcast and "A storm near at hand. |
could see the rain coming faster and
faster it was soon at the house.
Oh, how it did rain
On each side of our yard was brook;
pretty and peaceable in pleasant wealth
er. bat very little rain transformed
them both into raging torrents. As
stood at the window / saw first one
bridge, and then the other, swept off. |
knew now that I must stay alone all
night: il would be impossible for my
brothers and sisters to get home.
Travellers, or, az Sarah called them,
'trampers, often stopped al our house
over night, as there was no public
house near. Tony horror, / saw one
of them coming across the field. Should
| hide? No, that was not to be thought
of Without stopping to knock, the
great rough man walked IN.
Can | stay here all nigh 2
/ dared not refuse him, 80 as firmly
rs / could, answered,
Yes.
He seemed surprised AT seeing no one
but myself. and questioned me much.
/ told him my brother was upstairs
writing; that We two were alone. This
was the first thing that entered my
head to tell him. Such a yIilianOus
countenance As that man had
His hair was eut close 10 his head,
leaving his huge ears in bold relief.
Wicked-looking eyes, and brutal
mouth, completed his general express
sion Of ferocity
Bedtime came, and / directed the
man to a room upstairs in the servants
department: not the upstairs : whea
had said nay brother was. Now that
there was real danger, / was calm and