The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-01-10
SELECTED SKETCH.
A JEALOUS WORKER.

ScceuLIc StriS, VINO cut tneir uhlr snort auu
part it on one side, never do. Men don't
like oddly. Aud then you have such q way
Of rushing about the streets, at all times and
seasons, and carrying baskets and packages
TO poor people One might as well be
common carrier at once. If you expect to
form creditable alliance, you must conform
little to the usages of society"
Nonsense, Aunt Jemima I" said Chris
ina, laughing, And suppose don't mar
ry, what then ?n 80 sM4k
The three Miss Crackthorpes looked up
from their three crewelframes with the
amazement which q company of respectable
barn door fowls might be expected to feel
when an erratic golden pheasant CHANGED to
alight in their midst and astonish them with
its foreign ways
All their lives they had been trained to
regard marriage as the ultima thule of all
heir hopes and aspirations. They had
painted and powdered, frizzed and dressed,
danced and tennised, with a steadfast eye to
this one end and aim; and here was black
browed gypsy, with hair cut short in her
neck like boy, zig-zag tear in her cam
brio founces, and basket on her arm. ac-
tually presuming to doubt the foundations
Of their platform.
81 know lots of jolly old maids" said
christina coazing the cat to a game of play
over the carpet with the tassel of her para
'ol "There might be worse fates than
hat.r
AZ don't approve of young women MAX
ing light of such serious topics" said Mrs.
Craekthorpe, drawing down the corners of
her mouth, Ia horseshoe shape. q Aal
where are you going now p
"To visit poor Tom Thompson" said
christina, indifferently
q 'sA-man !" said Aunt Crackthorpe.
Well, I've every reason to believe that
he isn't woman acknowledged Christina
''My dear" resumed Mrs. Craekthorpe.
"don't you regard this system of-of mis-
cellaneous running after the poor as ex-
tremely- ahem-perniciou %
Some one must visit the poor, aunt"
said Christina. !" And have leisure, health
and inclination. And promised dear old
Mr.. Montagu, when he went to the Azores
for that ugly bronchitis of his, that none of
the poor Pensioners should suffer until the
new minister came to take his place" .
There ought to be regular corps OF
visitors" said Mrs. Crackthorpe, ito assume
those duties"
"Well I'm member of the corps, Aunt
orackthorpe," said Christina. "Self-ap.
pointed"
"Who is this Thompson creature pr said
Mrs. Crackthorpe.
81 don't know" said Christina, indiffer.
entity. He must be respectable, for he
lodges at Mrs. Sessions cottage. But I'm
very much afraid it's the same poor fellow
who was committed last month for being in-
toxiaated in the streets The nill-hand at
Hopperley's, you know"
But why on earth do you go there p
said Miss Miliicert Crackthorpe 49, =
= Because found his name on a piece OF
paper on my desk" said Christina Carr.
"lf any of the poor desire especially to see
me, they know that they have only to leave
their names and addresses there, and I atn
always willing and ready to respond to, the
CALI 49k own tTEgf# &
But" cried Marianne, the second Miss
Crackthorpe, "a miserable, drinking mill.
hand like that! do think, Cousin Chris
tina, it isn't decent for you to go there /"
, "It is always decent to do all the good
we can in this world" said Christina, CURLY.
I shall talk to the poor fellow, and shall
give him piece Of my mind. They tell me
he is docile and well-inclined when he is not
under the influence of liquor; and who
knows what straw may suffice to turn the
current current of his lifef" 0eIn~fIgc
az don't think it is woman's business, 3"
said Francetta, the youngest blossom. on the
Crackthorpe family-tree, q blue-nosed dam
sci of ssvsn-and-twenty.
"Isn't it a woman's business to do ali
the good she can in the world ?" said Chris.
tina. ..,gn.Fa. 05F8 ffrutt
And then, weary of the catechism to which
she was subjected every time she came to
her aunts house, she rose and took her
leave.
''Won't you be at Mrs. Larkins' Rsthetic
Tea-drinking to-night?" asked Marianne,
stifiy. lar j
mo" said Christina. "rve promised to
show Mrs. Hedges little girls the Afghan
stitch this evening. They can get work in
the worsted stores if they only understand
that t~s .o4rfff tsss..t .-..'
hal 90 upt1 az Ia II
Poets Club az three, shan't / ?" questioned
Millicent, who was literary. tt8 - s
"Oh," haven't any time for the Mod
ern English Poetsl" said Christina. tf'
But Francetta followed her out into the
hall-Francetta, who was not an ill-natured
girl in the main. ~ rs slfftf%
You'd better come to the club, Chrissy,,
whispered she. The ladies are getting uu
Q reception for the new minister, when he
COMES Ma doesn't want you to know, be-
cause she thinks perhaps he may take
fancy to Marianne; but, lal Mariann,
hasn't any cnance at all. at her age and witt
her pimpled complexion. Ministers are lik,
other men, suppose--they like girls tina
are young and pretty"
dare say he's married man, aftei
all, y said Christina, laughing Sand re
ally haven't time to come; but I'm obliget
to You, all the same, Francetta" fEf4
And she went away, half amused, hall
vexed, at the glimpse she had had of hel
Aunt Crackthorpe's tactics.
Mrs. Sessions was quiet little widow
who let the upper bedroom in her cottag
when she could get respectable boarder
She was washing at the back door, wher
Miss Cars light, elastic foot-step touchet
the narrow path that wound between gay
china-asters and rows of purple and scarlet
dahlias.
But Christina saw figure leaning back in
the stuffed chintz rocker in the little sitting
room-the figure of man so she tapped
at tho door, and walked composedly in, with
out further ceremony gBs89~8GB
"You are Tom Thompson ?" said she.
| The ,uan started and rose. He was tai