The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-06-18
MY LAJNDRI;sS.

/ title oi tins article. | could not be Of
Tended; the subject has few destinations,
admit, and yet | choose to offer it for your
consideration. The thistle is a common
sort of plant but as we'll worth studying
perhaps as pinks or violets. Besides, we
have a surfet nowadays of choice allitera-
| tive themes. Indeed, the more | think
about it the more am disposed to plume
myself upon my subieet---to which let me
now address myself.
Nocturne and were walking down the
street. talking with animation about two
beautiful engravings Of the famous statues,
Night and Morning, which had that day
been given her Somehow everything
chimcd with my mood, which was Il very
! pleasant one. The day was splendid, the
air was inspiration, and in the exultant
| spirit which these influences gave, dared
to think of the serene, triumphant face of
| Morning" as but family shadowing forth
the companishships of that wonderful life
which hastens to be mine Far up in the
fathomless blue that marvellous face
seemed outlined, the faintness of the linn
ing only adding to the intenseness of my
gaze. Just then heavy step fell on the
graveled sidewalk; she was crossing the
street not a yard ahead of ns-my lam
dress
When a painful contrast strikes us we
are apt to think
There was no installing the identity Of
this person who had so ruthessly put a
radiant reverie to flight; no mistaking the
heavy mouth, rctreating forehead and up
turned nose--tle faded shawl and worn-out
hood the rounded shoulders and clumsy
step. No, the badges were upon her.
branded into the face by lifelong con-
sciousncss of infororty; by thousand
stiiicd ambitions and tllwarted purposes;
certified by the mode of that life and its
result. Nocturnc turned in at her own
gate and ran lightly up the steps TO her
door. | paused a moment, pleasing my
self by contemplation of the grace which
every attitude and movement of my charm
ing friend revealed from the sprightly nod
which she bestowed upon me AS we parted,
to the last tripping step which carried her
beyond my sight.
How great gulf is fixed between those
two, | thought, as | walked on. Life has
no mystery darker than this.
What would Eve say, | wonder to these
her daughters? and for which would her
mothcrly heart conceive the tenderest love?
Doubtless, with that wonderful instinct of
motherhood, she would love her best whom
Fortune had discarded
Nocturne and Bridget may fairly serve
as types of their respective classes. What
good gifts life dispenses to the first The
commonplace necessities of every day
came not TO her as such, but wear some
amiable disguise. And this disguise is so
complete that hunger-if | may utter a
word SO harsh in ears politc-s made the
cause of an enjoyment which, although
we are not wont to say SO, is keen and by
no means unrefned; while to thirst, its
unromantic congener, we owe our relish
for the fragrant Mocha and the famous
cups (which cheer. but not inebriate. y
The elegant appointments of table
where damask conceals mahogany. and
where china, silver and cut-glass support
yiands cullcd from every zone, and pre-
pared with Il skill which an extensive liter
allure of cook books and centuries of prac-
tice contribute tn perfect, cannot very WV
idly remind one of the physical demand
which sends the beggar from door to door,
or the cabin where poverty dispenses, at
the hands of hard working mother
boiled potato seasoned with salt to each of
the clamorous 'childer' And the merry
jest of a spirited rcjoinder, the tinkle of
spoons and of laughter, which form the
Accomplishments 10 breakfast, dinner and
tea in the houses of ease and elegance are
very remotely allied to those sounds which
betoken the rapid mbibation of fluids and
the energetic mastication of solids at the
tables of the poor In like manner the
tasteful selection of styles and groupings
of colors in dress, considered so essential
by those composing what we call the 'bct-
ter classes" is SO far removed from the
Stitiui VI l'oNciNy thttt w O''i
hardly think the underlying need the same.
Bridget, after great deliberation and fire.
quent consultation with Sympathizing
friends, concludes that she must have a
wooden shawl in order that she may not
catch her deaths cold when she goes to
mass. SO, taking her wallet with its
boarded treasure of $40, she wcnds her
way to town. She enters one store after
another in pursuit of the desired pattern
and prce-both being extremely difficult
to find. She is ilippantly accosted by lily
handed, garrote-collared clerks; is spite
fully cntreated by the same young gentle
men when she meekly suggests, 'Av yc
place, couldn't you let this go dollar
chaper to the likes o me ~ is swept aside
with an impcrious gesture while a more at
tractive customer is served; is jostled on
the sidewalk, elbowed off the crossing,
angrily reprimanded the third time that
she counts her money before paying for
her purchase when it is finally made, and
returns to her cheerless home with the as
sured conviction that this world isn't a
very pleasant place, and her shawl not
= "A a.