The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-03-24
HANNAH AND I.

NV father had moved into new
place. Prospectively, I enjoyed much
in the dethronement of our household
gods, and the reduction of all our
worldly goods to state of chaos. l
foresaw the delicious suspense, anxiety
and final dismay or rejoicing that would
attend the transit of our looking glasses
and parlor chairs. looked forward to
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 be-
hind 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 large
spoon from out fruit-iar.
When, therefore, I rode up from the
depot 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 huttered spiritedly in the March
breeze, and the 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, run
ming for nails, trotting up to the store
and down to the timers and after the
carpenter, pushing stove-legs into place,
holding up footboards of family bed
steads, lifting the corners of bureaus,
waiting upon the painter and the white.
wash man, getting my fingers pinched,
getting scoldod, getting cold, losing
my handkerchief, having nothing in
particular to eat save little bakers
bread, and now and then bit Of beef
steak cooked sometimes by my mother,
sometimes by my father, sometimes by
Mary Sullivan, and occasionally by all
three. To-, .-.
By the third day I began to see that
the anarchic style of housekeeping has
its disadvantages 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 aud Mary Sullivan stretching a
carpet fitted for a room 15x15 to cover
our new dining-room, 15x16, and walked
out in the back yard to take the air.
As I sauntered down to the front gate
my eyes were greeted by vision OF
youth--I cannot say of beauty-swing
ing upon the gate over the way.
The "vision wore large bombazine
hood, such as was at this time in high
repute 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 species of embroidered pantalets
which, like the dodo of Mauritius, has
since become extinct, had slipped down
and lay like wrinkled bandage around
The top Of her shoe.
Halo" said L.
Hallo!" responded she; ".you're 6
mean, nasty boy y
should have promptly returned
this compliment but for the consider
alton that 7 had just moved into the
community, and everything depended
upon my acquiring a good reputation
Without replying, therefore, I began
refectivcly digging hole in the gate
post with, my jack-knife. The vision y
swung back and forth, and hummed 81
want to be an angel" In giving an
unusually. vigorous lurch outward 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. During the spring and
fall months we had large, swashy pool
therc-!one that appeared to flow from
secret perennial source of muddiness
In the winter months it froze over and
made capital skating. During the sum
mer it gradually dried away, until, al
the pollywog" season, when alone 6
boy can take the highest rational enjoy
ment in a mud-puddle, only a damp
spot in the center of the street indicated
the place from which the water had sub
sided. 1t 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, l returned
the apple with'a bow my mother hat
taught me. She gave it two or thre,
cleansing dashes on her dress skirt ant
then said;
Lend me your knife and I'll Civ,
you half"
She set the apple upon top of tn
gatepost, sayagely jammed the knif
through it, wiped the blade Oh her shaw
and returned the knife with the large
part Of the apple..-s .;-'.ss. -. :.
Thank you," said l.
r." What is your name, boyY
George Hartman. What isyours ?