Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-12-26
A RIGHTEOUS RETRIDUTlON.

patriot immortalized in martin Chuz-
zlewit," is now "beyond the setting sur"
that is to say, in the uttermost re-
gions of Western Manchester-but there
was time when it wss situated at the
opposite extremity of Cottonopolis, from
which I fed, for reasons to be hereafter
stated, with the feeling that could not
put too great a distance between my
self aud it, My former habitation was
asemi- detached villa (of which was also
the proud proprietary in Paradise Row.
My occupation lay in the town, but it
had, in truth, but small charms for me.
1t was there made the wax tsvom which
I derived the major portion o. my in
come, but my honey-and l was very
busy bee at that time-was made at
home after Office hours, still, indeed, by
the pen, but in very different fashion.
My soul was devoted to literature, and
oil the time that I could spare from
Messrs. Bale and Crop, cotton corner
ers, was given to com position. Except
for the interval consumed in getting
home, might indeed have been said to
have stepped from my high stool on to
the back Of Pegasus, which took me
flights which lasted from seven o'clock
to ten.
Let me hasten to say that this express
sion is metaphorical. As a man. who is
still connected Cat all events on one side)
with business should be sorry. to have
it supposed that ever wrote poetry.
No, it was only prose, though prose Gf
I may be permitted to say so) of a high
order. wrote stories for the maya
zines, and leading articles for local
newspaper or two-what, in short, may
be fairly called imaginative literature.
I had young wife and growing fam
lily, and the addition I thus made to my
othcill income was very welcome, yet
not more so than the work itself. With
my quill pen in my hand--I could new
er use steel one, such as suf6ced me
in the city, for these tiights-~my knees
in there snug haven under my writing
table, and good stock of ideas in my
head to draw upon, felt as happy as a
king. 1t is modest pleasure, known
to few and enyiod probably by none,
but, believe me, there is none more sat
isfyinst or supreme.
When our little children had been
put to Led my wife used to come down
and sit with me, occupying herself with
neellework It was understood that
Qike ghosN she was not to speak I'M
less she was spoken to, lest she should
interrupt the flow of composition. I
could trust her for that, implicitly
There are some good women who can
never keep silence when they work for
two consecutive minutes, but must be
always making some mutterel observa-
about their stitches. Clementina was
not one of that sort, which was fortu-
nate for both Of lis.
There might have been two opinions
THAT is, my opinion and that Of other
people) as to whether my work may
have been of a meritotious or valuable
kind, but, such as it was, it required
perfect silence. If there was the least
noise--a coal flying out from the fire,
door banging in the attics---tsll was
over with me; If nightingale had be-
gun to sing in the back garden, should
have been paralyZed; our two maid
servants always went about during
IL g o+ ~
pers.
For month after my purchase Of
Eden Lodge, Paradise Row, the house
in no way belled its name; but in the
fifth week the serpent raised it's head
among the flowers, and Kissed out ::
Sir, You are mistaken about the name
of your residence, this is Purgatory
Villa"
It was about 7 is P NJ, and I had
as usual sat down alone to my beloved
occupation, when from the party wall
ut which my desk was placed there is
sued forth a bang rs II a cannon had
gone off, followed by three Or four
shrill explosions, such as are caused
by rockets. For a moment 7 really
thought they were rockets, and that the
sticks had penetrated my brain, which
indeed was scattered in all directions.
My faithful wife who had felt the
shock in the nursery, rushed down
stairs, and was at my side in an instant.
As she entered the room the hideous
cannonade was resumed, and with such
effect that the hearth brush fell down
{stunned) in the corner Of the fireplace.
and the top Of my ink bottle shut Of
itself with click.
"Merciful heavens" I cried, what
is it p" -~'.".'.' '.' ut
II feared it would annoy YOU" began.
Clementina. in rembling tones. .,s5.>##.
Annoy. me! lIthas destroyed me,a I
exclaimed. "Not another line shall I
be able to write tonight. What is
1t?"
"My dear Charles, I am sorry to say
it is the daughter Of our neig hbor, Mrs.
Brown, who has Just. come home from
school. and is practicing The Battle. Of
Prague Jemima, whom west took with
Eden Lodge, you know, says she does
it all through the holidays. The fool
ish girl nsvsr said a word about it, or I
sm sure yos would never have bought
the house" ss5Es
"But do you mean to say this is to go
ON always. always" exclaimed des-
pairlngly. Hark at it!' #s@
!, ] u 1T was like a magnificent pyrotech-
mic display without the fireworks. No
human being could stand it; nc one
but d iend could have inflicted it
4. ut goes on, Jemiina says" replied
j my wifi tiesp onding - for six weeks
from seven TO ten only on Sundays she
plays sacred music. III. 81
q - r am moi d rlaasinrata narsnn u hIlt I