The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-15

the aid of her son Sam and some old sash and
glass that had been lying about in the barn,
evolved the coveted outlook for Miss Patch
what unbounded delight the humble creature
perienced. 'Lor sakes;' said she, ''iest to think
that will have front winder to set to; I wish
mother could ha' lived to see it; lor me- to think
IN goln' to have front winder" If the aver
age woman, who is rolling in wealth of front
WINDOWS, is tempted to question the sanity OF
MISS Marthy's feryency, let her keep, but for
one day, faithful chronicle of her numerous
errands to these out-looks the world. and
read the record at set of sun. 1t will doubtless
bring her speedily to grant that front windows
are not only desirable possessions, but unfailng
dlvarslon," and without them life would be
bowling wilderness. The woman with
front window cannot help seeing a good deal
that goes on in the world. Her first observation
is an early one, to read the weather prospect.
Soon she looks again to see if the postman has
had the audacity to pass by on the other side,
The gate bangs and again she looks to see the
lce-man bearing in the diminutve lump of fri
gidlty, which is yet large enough to keep up
perpetual frgidity between herself and the ex-
acting belle of the kitchen. The milkman rings,
and again she looks to see if his call is attended.
The grocery wagon ratties up to the gate. the
horse is left without hitching and begins to walk
off up the street; the driver calls out, whoa,
boy" but boy doesn't whoa until he reaches the
nelghbors choice tree which he chews indus
triously until the driver reappears. The butch
ers wagon comes dashing up The woman at
this vehicle, for. it is generally
half full of children, all ages. sizes and sexes,
from the two-year-old to the boy learning to
drive. The butcher is jolly good fellow, and
serves his country by taking his own and the
neighbors' babies with him in his daily rounds.
The express wagon comes charging up to the
gate, and the driver narrowly escapes being
slaughtered in cold blood for having brought to
the wrong house package intended for Mr.. W. P.
Somebody on another street Express packages
are among the keenest delights of life, and it is
very tame household that would not resent
such cruel disappointment The butter-woman
arrives in her oldfashioned carryall. She
climbs out over the wheel with her neatly Gov
cred crock, delivers the golden treasure, climbs
IN again, remarks 'gee-up' to her staid old
steed, and leisurely vanshes. 1t is lovely
Indian summer day, and the woman at the front
wndow-(who is sewing-dont imagine her idle
all this time) envies the butter-woman her ride
out into country. She wishes to good
ness the butter would ask her
to go out with her; she would
go, wholly and rashly reckless as to whether
there would be any prospect for getting back
home again or not. Just at this alarming junct
ure in the reflections of the woman at the
window. kindling wagon breaks down in COM
ing around an opposite corner, and in few sec
onds large and enthusiastic crowd of small boys
and dogs are assisting the dis
tressed driver with their hilarious pres
ence and valuable suggestions When
the drivers patience is exhausted he puts the
crowd to flight but it retires only to a safe dis
lance, to still further harass the poor man by
yelling, Hey, mister, did you ever get left2 Did
you ever get leftg Goody, goody, goody! your
wagons broke down.! The street-cars stop oc-
casionally, and the woman at the window. being
human, always looks to see whether it is some
one getting off or on, and if so, how many where
they come from, if getting on; and where they
window drifts this endless panorama,
sometimes all going one way; sometimes
going both ways at She has reserved
seats to all the gorgeous fall sunsets, and to all
the beautiful receptions given by the waning
moon. When times are very dull she even finds
the cow in the lot opposite genuine ''di.
varsion." This foolish cow has a large
lot full of toothsome pasturage, but she
goes round, and round. and round the
fence inclosne her, evidently in the hope that if
she perseveres, she will some day find place to
get out, and roam at fancy. The woman at the
window decides that are more like folks
than she had supposed, and wonders how many
acres of sweet clover would make this one per
fectly happy. By this time children are troop
ing home from school, heads of families are
plodding home to dinner; the street cars are run
ming more briskly, and stopping oftener; and as
the woman at the window folds up her work she
sees that she has accomplished more than she
had anticipated. Remembering the SORROWS of
mis- Marthy" she thanks the goodness and the
grace which on her birth have smiled, and gives
all the credit of this pectcd industry to the
stimulating influence of her front winder."
EMMA CARLETON,