Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-09-10
HANNAH AND I.

My father had moved into a new place.
Prospectiveiy l enjoyed much in the de-
thronement Of our household gods, and the
reduction of all our worldly goods to a
state of chaos. l foresaw the delicious
suspense, anxiety and final dismay or re-
joicing that would attend the transit of our
looking glasses and parlor chairs. l looked
forward to q kind of nomadic existence
about the house during the days wherein
we were getting settled, to the exploration
OF unknown depths under the closet stairs,
and of mysterious recesses behind the
chimney. I expected to sit and sing in
the best rocking-chair, to roll my tired
limbs on the best mattress, and to take my
dinner with q large spoon from out of a
fruit jar.
When, therefore, I rode up from the de-
pot on top of the box containing my
mothers best china and glassware, l felt
that every one who beheld also envied.
The short ends of my hat band Auttered
spiritedly in the March breeze and the an
tIcipatory tremOrs IN my breast creaked the
starched shirt-front beneath my jacket.
At 4 very tender age we realize that this
Is a world OF disappointment. For the
next few days my life consisted mainly in
hunting up the hammer, running for nails,
trotting Up to tne store, and down to the
timers, and after the carpenter, pushing
stove legs into place, holding up footboards
of family 5edsteads, lifting the corners of
bureaus, waiting upon the painter and the
whitewasa man. getting my fingers pinched,
getting scolded, getting cold, losing my
handkerchief, having nothing in particular
TO eat, save q little bakers bread, and now
and then bit of beefsteak, cooked some
times by my mother, sometimes by my
father, sometimes by Mary Sullivan, and
occasionally by all three.
By the third day began to see that the
anarchio style of housekeeping had its ad-
vantages, and to feel that the springs of a
naturally good constitution were wearing
out IN the family service. On the morn
ing of that day l left my mother and Mary
Sullivan stretching a carpet fitted for a
room Is by Is to cover our new dining.
room, - 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.
The "visioR" 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. a little plaid shawl was pinned
askew about her shoulders. One of a spe-
cies of embroidered pantalets which, like
the dodo Of Nautilus has become extinct,
had slipped down and lay ike wrinkled
bandage along with her garter, around the
top of her shoe.
Halo" said l.
"Hallo!" responded she ''you're a
mean, nasty boy -
I should have promptly returned the
compliment but for the consideration that
had Just moved into the community, and
everything depended upon my acquiring a
good reputation. Without replying, there
fore, l began refectively digging hole in
the gate.post with my jack knife. The
% vision swung back and forth and
hummed /" ] want to be an angel. In
giving an unusually vigorous lurch ont.
ward an apple flew from her hand and fell
into the middle of the muddy street.
| digress here TO state that, though a
popular street, that portion of it in front
OF my fathers house generally was muddy.
Daring the spring and fall months we had
a large, swashy pool there-one that APP
peared to flow from a secret perennial
source Of rnuddiness. In winter months
it froze over and made capital skating.
During the summer it gradually died away
until, at the "pollywog" season, when
alone boy can take the highest rational
enjoyment in mud puddle, only damp
spot in the center of the street indicated
the place from which the water had sub
sided. Il was now at high tide, and the
apple fell into the ooze just below it.
Boy, come over and pick up my apple, "
commanded my neighbor.
Conscious of setting that young pagan an
example Of good manners, | returned the
apple with q bow my mother had taught
me She gave it two or three cleansing
dashes 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
It. wiped the blade on her shawl, and re
turned the knife with the larger part OF tn,
apple.
THANK you, said 1.
"What is your name, boy -
George Hartman. What is yours
Hannah Ann Farley. You going t.
live in that house ?"
'eI expect to.
- m slaC OF II. lueIe DOcH us
agreeable, stuck.up little girl living owe
there. l thought when first l saw you
YOU we're going to be just like her.
This took as Hannah's apology for my
reception. It was satisfactory, and W,
might then and there have become friends
but at that moment Mary Sullivan came
to our front door and called me home. Sh
said the brass. headed tacks were all gone
and / must go to the store for more
When | returned Hannah Ann was no
where to be seen.
The next morning was fortunate enough
to find five-cent piece in the crack of 1
bureau drawer, and promptly started To-
a store wherein to spend 1t. The street,
were go muddy thought would go across
and leap the neighbors' fences. was II
neighbor Farley's yard, when was sharpl!
hailed from a little window high up in tn,
end OF the house.
"Boy, come up here "
"How am going to get up?
eco 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 upol
mvslate had drawn triangle surmountet
by an eclipse, and this in turn finished b.
small circle; thereafter, with Mrs. Far
lev ia mind, Idrew a cylindrical figur
with a small circle on the upper end, and