Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-08-21

is not very presentahle, but
10, lie can't walk yeti" exclaimed
Donna Isabella.
could not begin to relate all the
sport we had about that family. We
had them all, one after another, except
ing George the Third. who could not
walk, and the. baby. There was no end
TO the harmless jokes We perps-
trated upon them, there was no end to
the laughter their ridiculous names ex-
cited in us; as I said before, it took 80
little in those days to make us laugh.
| We loved each other 80 we'll, Louis had
| nice salary, and / Was released from
duties which had become tlresome to
| me. There was absolutely no cloud up
on our lives, no shadow even of skele-
| ton in our closet.
o, how very, very happy we were!
How wonderfully beautiful was life!
How unrealized were sorrow and care,
and then as the summer wore on there
came to me a new Joy, wonderful
mystery, and l saw in Louis's eyes
deep reverence that had not seen be-
fore, and his tones were more tender
and we prayed together oftner and our
joy was OF {. quieter kind. I thought
then that J. had only imperfectly I'm
derstood what happiness was before.
A great wish sprung up in my heart
then to do something for Gods sake.
HE has done so much for me, love,
I 1nust do something for Him." l said
to Louis.
"What better can O woman do for
God than to become q good mother?'
asked Louis, with shower Of kisses.
eyes, I know, dear, but my heart goes
out 50 to all mothers now. and more
than all to the poor wretcheG ones with
brutal husbands ones who are ILL.,
treated, who have to be overworked and
poorly fed and clothed; and to the hope
less ones, the ones who have to look for
ward to the time when tho vices Of the
fathers will appear in the children. O.,
l wish I could do something for these,
if its ever so little"
II don't know of any ono you could
DO anything for said Louis retiectiyely.
"Ive never been in the parts Of the city
where the very poor dwell, but I will
go; / will find soue one for you to ail,
my darling"
go, how good you are, Louis; how I
wish every woman had as good a hus-
band as Ihave"--but I won't tell any
more of our foolishness.
That day. a. the time drew near when
Donna Isabella was to bring the milk,
the thought suddenly came to me that
perhaps I could do something for
them. That they were very. poor I
knew, for had seen many evidences Of
it about the children. That there was
some reason why Donna disliked to
mention her father I had seen also.
So resolved to go back with her that
night and discover a way to help them.
When Louis came the dinner was on
the table-a full half hour before the
usual time.
"I'm going home with Donna isabella,
love. I'm gong to help them If can.
We should always do what is just at
hand to do, 1 think
So we hurried our dinner and Louis
wiped the dishes for HE. Yes, he real
ly did He often wiped the dishes in
those days. and we had such good times.
I used to think it just the incest thing
in the world to have Louis in the kitchen
helping me. He used to look SO comical
with one of my large working aprons
on, standing bent forward so as not to
let the towel touch his vest--he was
very neat in his dress. I remember
once we had been talking such nonsense
and laughing so much that did rot
observe that my pan was very near the
edge Of the table. AL at once down it
came, and all the water ran over my
nice clean floor. You should have seen
Louis jump. laughed until l had a
pain in my side: then [ cried hysterical-
ly. Then Louis got frightened and
started for doctor, with the apron still
on. screamed for him to come back,
and he came. I pointed to his apron,
and then fell to laughing again. He
took me in his arms and begged me
stop. but / could not. I laughed and
cried until I had not strength enough
left to raise my head. Louis was as
pale as death. He told me afterwards
he thought had gone mad. 1t WAS
his first experience with Mysteries.
But, O yes! I was telling about 60
ing home with Donna Isabella. went
home with her, and found, O! such a
home Of misery. There WAS actually
not one comfort there. The mother
had terribly worn, hopeless look on
her face. There were nine children,
with not clothing enough fer four on
them ALL There were two rooms, and
Just inside tho second lay the father in
drunken sleep.
There was pile of yellow-covered
books on the shelf. I picked up one
"The Primrose Princess Of the Painless
Prairie" Another-"The Imprisoned
Earl and His Faithless Bride" Anoth-
Clifford Mounttowers Haunted Cas-
tle."
"You read these?" I asked tho WON'T
an.
20, yes," she answered, Frightening
up, chat is, I don't know how to read,
but DOME and Prince Albert read 'e1n
to me. He-indicating the drunken
sleeper-didnt want 'en to 60 to school,
but I made him b'lve they could earn
more money bymby of they went to
school sum frst, and DOME she ken
read all them books just splendid. He
says I've made 'em 'bove Their stations
g;vin' on 'em good names an sendin'
'em to school"
My soul tainted within me as I an
swered:
lit is right to send them to school,
but you won't have to spend any more
money for books; books you will like,
am sure. I will send them by Donna il
you'll let me, and she can read them tc
you"
Eyes, had to take the money I got
fer the milk, that is some ov it, fe1
these. thought eff he spent so much
!, fer drink, it wouldn't do no hurt fer me