Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-03-09
'etired to my room and to bed. supperleas,

evening. and IN derogatory terms ferreC
to bis black curly hair. My aunt seemed
10 think black wasn't at all q bad color fol
mans hair. There were many worse
che said, looking in the direction OF my
own burning headpiece. 81 suppose you
wouldn't mind II the fairies could Change
my own coior3" l artfnlly lnsinuated.
"Ahl well, SAID my aunt, "irs no use
wishing for the impossible" fGncied ]
detected n certain Iegretful tone in my
aant's reply, and knowing the change pos
sible, / was now fully decided on making
II.
Having retired early to my room, at
once set about TO carry out my design.
Two composites, provided for the occa-
sion, were placed one on each side Of the
swing glass. The dye was placed into a
saucer, distracted from the Kitchen
dresser; and 1t certainly looked black
enough to satisfy tie most ardent dyer.
4" II is only the fret step which costs, is
the French saying" said to myself as l
immersed the toothbrush Ia the dye.
applied 1t to the front part OF my halr, ana
the die was cast.
But | was bat tyro In dyeing. For,
having taken too large a quantity Of the
liquid, il came running over my forehead
into my eyes and nearly blinded ne. Not
finding anything handy In my hurry 10
wipe the smarting stuff out Of my eyes,
used my SHIRT sleeve, and produced black
stain on t. la my hurry again TO wash
the stain out In the wash-hand basin,
wetted the whole sleeve, and had 10 take OF
my shirt. Misrepresentation recon-
menced operations more carefully, and
with repeated dips and applications sue
ceeded in putting sufficient liquid on to
leave not q spo. dry ur undyed. The tiny
streams OF black running down front and
neck were wiped of with a towel aud,
for the fret time, contemplated the effect
of blsck head of hair on my shoulders.
l scarcely recognized myself. Just then |
caught sight of my still reddish eyebrows.
had forgotten them. This soon, how
ever, carefully remedied, and | was now
completely dyed black.
As nay enthusiasm gradually settled and
cooled down, the latent inconvenience OF
the process became apparent 10 me. Leav-
ing the sundIy black stains on shirt, hand
kerchIef, towel and toilet-cover aside as
minor evils, / now more particularly
noticed the penetrating and by no means
agreeable odor of the herring liquor, and
wondered how long 1t would last, and If
q powerfully scented pomatum would
overcome 1t. The next inconvenience was
a clammy feeling all over the head. 1t had
to be borne, however, and happy l il
cold In the head were the only conse-
quepce.
The third, aud for the time the most
awkward thing was, my being prevented
after all this tronble and hard work, TO re-
tire 20 my bed for fear OF staining the. pill
lows. Here indeed was pickle Of no or
dirary g1xe, bur it had to be swallowed
So putting on an old winter cverceat ]
settled myself down in an easy horsehair
armchair, and resting my legs on two
chairs l covered myself over with the
blankets from the bed, and tried to rest,
peIchance 10 sleep.
Blu: what man having undergone
change 50 tremendous could settle down
to sleep My mind, my brains were work.
ing at high pressure. Thoughts and images
passed through them with the TapldIty OF
lightning and fairly made my head ache.
How wished and Iryed 10 cease to think.
But what with the now awful smell OF red
herrings and the inciplent cold IN the
head, accompanied by freque1t sneeZing,
| spent the worst night ever remember.
just about daybreak, when perhaps for
the hundreth time had got upand settled
myself afresh, nature demanded her right,
aud fell into d deep sleep.
| was awoke TO se.ni-consciouSness by
what appeared the tumbling down OF the
house In my dreams. But in trying TO
tun over l tumbled of the chairs, and
being almost awake l c)mprehended that
the noise proceeded from my aunt's ham,
mering, NO doubt for some time, at my
door, 10 let me know that breakfast was
getting ready. Shaking myself together
at last, satisfied my aupto being awake,
and then truly awoke to the change had
effected In my outer man.
Evening and night are enthusiasts they
charm US into maRy things which the conf
mon sense nlorr ing Stares &C aghast, and
wonders how those transactions CAME
about. 1t La on account of the enthusias
nature of mortal man that artful charity
invites him TO her dInnCrs of an evening
and extracts q golden harvest from his
pockets. Designing people and other idle
vagabonds, most OF them unfit ana unwIl'
ling 10 do O days Lard work, lay their
traps of an evening; gambling hells and
the like even at Light. For evening and
night are enthusiastic. 1t is ever thus -
in love, in conipanionship, In all things.
But morning is a sober, sensible fellow,
and has such a straight way of looking at
things, and Of blowing fellow no when
he has done anything enthusiastically.
Here he was, staring from out the looking
glass at my smudgy head OF hair, my dry
face and half sleepy expression. You
Lad better wash off that muck" he said,
''before you go down. You know what
your aunt isl" Susin's image tried to
Interfere. But he sternly ordered 1t Lack
10 the innermost recesses OF the heart, and
telling me had better wash myself, head
and all, quietly took Inc to the basin. /
had O good wash. The water was as
black as ink, and the towel l used ap
peared as if 1t had been dragged through
the mud. My face looked dirty IN spite
OF the wash the color OF my hair was
nondescrpt,r and felt truly miserable.
A fourth and peremptory knocking OF my
aunt's made me almost jump. dressed
hurrledly. When dressed | again hesl-
tated. No thought now of surprising my
aunt with black head Of hair; that was
all gone. The color was neither red nor
black, but g beastly reeking sort of
smudge like red.haired sweeps IN full
work.
I made, however, q final effort and
eeute que couts presented myself IN
,b. hra.. N faat parlOr