Morris tribune., 1881-03-31
HANNAH AND |.

reduction of all our worldly goods to state
of chaos. Iforesaw the delicious suspense,
anxiety and final dismay CT rejoicing that
would attend the transit of our looking
glasses and parlor chairs. l looked for
ward to a kind of nomadic existence about
the house during the days wherein we were
getting settled, to the explorations OF I'M
known depths under the closet stairs, and
of mysterious recesses behind the chimney.
I expected to sit and sing IN the best rock
ing chair. to roll my tired limbs on the best
mattress, and to take my dinner with a
large spoon from out fruit-jar.
When, therefore, Iroie up from the depot
on top of the box containing my mothers
best china and glassware, l felt that every
one vino beheld, also envied. The short
ends of my hat band tluttered spintedly In
the March breeze, and anticipatory tremors
in my breast creaked the starched shirt
front beneath my jacket.
At very tender age we realize that this
is a world of disappointments. For the
next few days my life consisted mainly IN
hunting up the hammer, running for nails,
trotting up to the store, and down to the
timers, and after the carpenter, pushing
stove-legs into place, holding up foot boards
of family bed steads. lifting the corners of
bureaus, waiting upon the painter and the
whitewash man, getting my fingers punched
getting scolded, getting cold, losing my
handkerchief, having nothing in particular
to eat, save little bakers bread, and now
and then bit of beefSteak, cooked some
times by mother, sometimes by my father,
sometimes by Mary Sullivan, and occasion
ally by all three.
By the third day began to see that the
anarchic style of housekeeping has its dis
advantages, and TO feel that the springs of
naturally good constitution were wearing
out in the family service. On the morning
of that day [ left my mother and Mary Sui
livan stretching carpet fitted for room
Is bv Is to cover our dining room Is by Is,
and walked out in the yard to take the air.
As l sauntered down to the front gate my
eyes were greeted by vision of youth, i
cannot say of beauty swinging upon the
gate over the way.
This vision" wore large bombazine
hood, such as was at this time in high re-
pute among grandmothers, but was never
calculated to enhance the charms of the
young 4 little plaid shawl was pinned as
kew about her shoulders. One of species
of embroidered pantalets which, like the
dodo of Mauritius, has since become ex-
tinct, had slipped down and lay like wrin-
killed. bandage, along with her garter, around
the top of her shoe.
Halo" said l.
Halo" responded she; you're mean
nasty boyr'
should have promptly returned thi:
compliment but for the consideration that
had lust moved into the community, anC
everything depended upon my acquiring q
good reputation. Without replying, there.
fore, began refectively digging hole il
the gate-post with my jack-knife. The
vision" swung back and forth, and hummet
Il want to be an angel" In giving an unu
sual vigorous lurch outward an apple flew
from her hand and fell into the middle O.
the muddy street.
1 digress here to state that though pop
ular street, that portion of it in front of m,
fathers house generally was muddy. Dur
ing the spring and fall months we had
large, swashy pool thereon thatappearet
to flow from a secret perennial source O
muddiness. In the winter months it froz
over and made capital skating, during the
summer it gradually dried away until, a
the ''pollywog" season, when alone DO,
can take the highest rational enjoyment il
a mud puddle, only a damp spot in tn
center of the street indicated the place from
which the water had subsidized. 1t was nov
at high tide and the apple fell into the ooz
just below it.
"Boy, come over and pick up my apple,
commanded my neighbor.
Conscious of setting that young pagan a.
example of good manners, 1 returned tn
apple with bow my mother had taught me
She gave it two or three cleansing dashe
on her dress skirt, and then said
Lend me your knife and I'll give you half.
She set the apple upon top of the gate
post savagely jammed the knife through ii
wiped the blade on her shawl, and returne
the knife with the larger part of the apple
Thank yoE," said l.
What is your name ,boy?"
George Hartman. What is yours?"
Hannah Ann Farley. You going to liv
in that house,"
Il expect to-"
"I'm glad of it. There's been disagree
able, stuck-up little girl living over there
I thought, when first 1 saw you, you wer
going to be just like her."
This 1 took as Hannah's apology for he
reception. 1t was satisfactory, and W
might then and there have become friends
but at that moment Mary Sullivan came
our front door and called me home. Sh
said the brass headed tacks were all gone
and I must 60 to the store for more. Whe
I returned Hannah Ann was nowhere t
be seen.
The next morning was fortunate enoug
to find ive-cent piece in crack of a bu
reau drawer, and promptly started for
store wherein to spend it. The street
were 20 muddy thought would 60 acros
and leap the neighbours fences. I was i
neighbor Farley's yard when was sharpl
hailed from little window high up in tn
end of the house.
boy, come up herer
How am I going to get up?"
Go around TO the kitchen, and ask m
mother to show you the way"
hunted up the kitchen; and found Han
nah's mother. Prior to this time when
wished to represent female figure upo
my slate I had drawn triangle surmount
ed by an ellipse, and this in turn fnishe
by small circle; hereafter. with Mrs. Far
ley in mind, 1 drew a cylindrical fgur
with small circle on the upper end, and
slight depression representing the waist
line. After once seeing Mrs. Farley
could never wonder that Hannah was for
ever borrowing pin to fasten somethin
on with. There could never be more de
ightful garnet than Mrs. Farley's for neve
could there be woman who could exec
her in the celebrity with which she woul
use up furniture. Such a collection @
mirrors with shattered glasses, bottomles
chairs; dismantled bureaus, and table
standing upon three legs is seldom met!
What do you want to play2" asked Han
nah.
Pirate"
whats pirate?"
explained, and Hannah forthwith be
came the most blood thirsty of pirates.
was in my heart to spare the women an
children; but she refused to listen to sue
aproposition, and felled her victims lei
and right without regard to age or se1
Once she pierced me through the heart, an
/ fell bleeding, dying, hitting my hea
against the chimney, and yelling out in un
feigned agony.
Afterward we were riding PEACEFUL
along over the green fields, and beneat
the calm blue sky, on a two-legged an
very dusty sofa, when party Of brigand
swooped down upon us, and bore us off
q loathsome dungeon behind dismantle
bureau. We fattened ourselves and crawle
out, beheaded the brigands, appropriate
their spoils, and returned triumphant to OF
own homes. We were very dusty and COY
,1ora -,