The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-01-16
MRS. TRlPIT.

said Bob Morris; IF that ism just like
girl! Now, that's what | call real
downright silly!'
Poor Betty's lips began to culver, and
grandma, seeing there was about to be
shower, said:
"Well, now, children, that reminds
me of story"
Frowns and tears alike disappeared,
as the children gathered around Grand
mothers Chair, in delighted anticipa-
ton, and SO she began:
''When | was little girl was very
foolish and silly-indeed, great deal
more so than Betty-and the evening
was time of great trial to me. My
brothers and sisters were all a good deal
older than T. And we were no sooner
gathered around the fire in the even
ing, than they would begin to say: oh,
Sis, run up and get us some corn to
pop!' Bring me my slippers, little one,
or 'RHn down and get us some apples;
there's good girl / was an obliging
little thing, and had not the heart to re-
fuse, and so | would GO in fear and
trembling, and come running back
pale and breathless; for all of the dark
places cellar, garnet, long shadowy
hall and bedroom, had their terrors for
me.
81 had never told my fears to any
one, for my mother was too busy to
have much time to talk quietly with me,
| hrofboTsc oY1 oic
they would have laughed at my
troubles.
THAT dear old kitchen! can re-
member just how pleasant it looked in
the winter evenings.
"My mother usually sat knitting or
sewing by the light of candle at lit
tie stand, and the children gatherd
around the hearth, popping corn, eat
ing butternuts, roasting apples and
telling stories.
''To all this I was obliged to say fare
bedrooms never knew the warmth of a
fire, and the bare painted floors were
only covered here and there with
strip of rag carpeting for rug. Hav-
ing said my prayers at my mothers
knees, bounded up the narrow stair
way by the faint light from below, and
sprang into bed. The door was left
open little crack until | was sup
posed to be asleep, then it was closed,
and all communication cut off. Children
have their trials and discipline as well
as grown people.
And the door was shut FoEmany
years l never heard ;hat portion of the
parable of the foolish virgins without a
vivid picture of that firesde with all
light and warmth, and the cold sense of
Punishment coming over me as them.
''About this time | read a story which
took strong hold of my fancy. | do not
remember the title, but it was about boy
who was naturally timid, and who DETER
mined to overcome his foolish fears and
be very brave The way in which all
his hobgoblins melted into thin air, or
proved to be some familiar objects seen
in new light, when he marched up to
them, was very amusing and encOurag-
ing. This story made a deep impress
sion upon me, and [ resolved not to be
outdone by this boy.
II now began to discipline myself to
go about alone in the dark, and if | saw
anything mysterious, to 90 boldly up to
and examine it.
"There was closet opening out of
my room, and one night, after l had
gone to bed, saw that the door was
open, and just inside there seemed to
be standing tall, queer shaped old
woman. Though | was very much
frightened, / hesitated but for moment,
and then jumped up and ran toward
be, / would slam the door in her face
and shut her in; but as l came near to
her, | saw that my old woman was
nothing but a big portly ragbag hang
ing from nal; over this hung a stiff
log cabin SUN bonnet with a long cape,
and beneath the bag protruded an old
pair of boots.
''Many laugh did my brothers and
sisters have over my old woman, when
/ told them about her. Tom named her
Mrs Tripit, and said he thought she
was remarkably we'll developed for a
lady who fed entirely upon cold
Il pieces
"a few experiences like this gave me
great courage, but the worst was yet to
come. One warm summer night, | had
been out to play with a friend, and
coming home late, bad gone to bed tired.
1t must have been in the middle of the
night that / woke with a start-perhaps
from bad dream = and saw a tall,
white object at my bedside. In the dim
starlight I could not distinguish the
outlines, but it would advance and re-
cede, and then stand still. 1t was a
mysterious appearance, and well cal
culated to brighten child, and my
first impulse was to cover my head
with the bed-clothes, but that | had re-
solved never to do again.
"'Now is the time to be braver / said
to myself, and though my heart seemed
to stand still, and [ grew cold from
fear, yet with resolution which even
now | look back upon with wonder,
gathered myself up and sprang at the
object. Whatever it was, l determined
to do battle. Before | reached the floor,
the mystery was made clear to me.
There was a terrible crash, and the
voice of my mother from below, called:
'My child! what has happenedP"
! Nothing" [ answered, | only fep
over a chair, that's all. .
; Eyes, it was only an old high backed
rocking-chair, over which a sheet had
!, been laid to air, and the summer night
; wind had gently waved its long folds tc
: and fro, and out of this my fears had
: conjured a strange and ghoStly figure
AS | clambered back into bed, half cry.
5 ing with the pain of my bumps and
5 bruises, and half laughing in the cx
2 element of triumph, resolved that in
+ future the darkness should have no ter
ror for me.
land how about Mrs. Tripit9' saiG
Bob.
} '.Well," said grandma, ''Mrs. Tripf
and | were on very intimate terms for {
I long time. Many piece of faded rib
, bon for my dolls, ard many scrap o
bright calico for my patch work, wa
2 furnished me by her. And / soon came