Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-11-19
LITTLE MISS MOONSHEE.
From the Chambers Journal.

LITTLE MISS MOONSHEE.
From the Chambers Journal. @
q Picture to yourself neat little fig
ure, habited in a rustling brown silk
gown, point lace cap and collar, and
black mittens; a small. elderly lady,
with wild, wandering blue eyes and a
tremulous mouth, whose uncertain
glance and shrinking manner told OF
some terrible shock sustained by the
nervous system in days gone by. Such
was Miss Moonshee when I FIRST made
her acquaintance.
was the daughter of a Melbourne
merchant and born and brought up
in that city, but at the date Of
my story (1872) we had removed to
Richmond, d suburb OF the Victorian
capital. A strong. active girl of II,
was daily in the habit of walking up
to town to attend classes in-street.
During my walk to and from Mel
bourne was more than once struck
by tho appearance of one Of the cot
tages which passed. It was q neat
little place, painted white, with green
varanda posts. The windows which
faced the road We're full OF rare gerani-
ums and ferns. and the trinity kept
garden plot was planted with all man.
ner OF fragrant otd.fashioned flowers
and herbs. 1t was tho lady Of the
cottage, however, who, even moro
than her pleasant surroundings, ill.,
terested me. When the sun shone
she was always to be seen, dressed
in the fashion I have already
described, seated under the veranda
in low chair busily engaged in net
ting. Like Penelope's web, her task
seemed endless, and she seldom raised
her eyes from her work, which engross-
ed all her attention. An old Irish
woman, who was continually lowering
about, either wedding or watering the
garden, appeared to be her only do
nestle. But I was soon to become
better acquainted with both lady and
servant.
One hot January afternoon l was
plodding slowly homeward, my mind
tuil of o certain stiff German exercise
required by Herr H. on the morrow.
In my pre-occupation was in the act
OF passing the white cottage with the
green veranda posts wit bout looking,
rs usually did, to see if the old lady
WAS IN her accustomed place. when
cry Of unmistakable anguish
from the interior arrested my steps.
TO unlatch the garden gate and hurry
up to the front door was the work OF
Il moment. There. however, paused
undecided whether to knock and offer
my services or retrace my steps.
While l hesitated the door was opened
from within. and tho old Irishwoman
presented herself, beckoning me to
enter. Silently followed her into q
prettily furnished sitting room, bright
with pictures, books and flowers.
This much Itook in at the first glance;
my second rested ON the evident cause
OF the old 1rishwoman's distress-the
pale, inanimate form OF her mistress,
which lay stretched on a couch near
the window. The poor lady was in q
dead faint, a phase of indisposition
sufficiently alarming to her faithful
domestic, who, in agony OF tears, ask
ed If it was any use to send for the
doctor.
Now, had had considerable expert
ence in the treating of fainting fits,
my mother being unhappily subject to
frequent lapses into Inconsistencies,
from which, acting under the doctors
orders. had generally been successful
in recovering her. l, therefore, spoke
reassuringly to old Mally, she had
told me her name-and at once set
about applying the restoratives to
the invalid that had found so USE
tul on former occasions. In g. short
time we had the satisfaction of seeing
the poor lady open her eyes and fix a
bewiIdered look on her maid, who was
on her knees by the couch. Her glance
then rested on me with q puzzled ex-
preston.
you have been ill.," explained
gently, land Mally and I have been
trying to make you BETTER"
ut is very good of you to take so
much trouble with foolish old wom-
an. my DEAR she replied in q weak
voice, and the ghost of a smile fitted
over her paid face.
could and foolish" Indignantly re-
peated Mally, furtively drying her
eyes on her apron, and turning a
beaming face toward her mistress.
''Sure It's joking you are, Miss Kath-
leen. And what would Masther Shane
say did he hear you miscalling his
sweet Kerry rose?"
The old Irish woman's words had q
wonderful effect on tho invalid. A
faint pink flush suffused her cheeks,
her eyes shone, so that for the mo.
ment she looked almost pretty. The
change, however, was but feeting.
The color quickly faded, her eyes
resumed their usual expressions; and
murmuring something to the ef-
feet that one is always fair to those
who love one, she closedher eyes, as il
to shut out some disagreeable recol-
lection. Presently she said, in q low,
Interesting voice: Oh, Shane. darling.
why do you linger! Old age is creep.
ing on, and am weary of Waiting
oh, so wearvP' And as she spoke the
tears triokled slowly down her thin
cheeks. -.
was glad when the entrance of the
maid with the tea things reused her.
Desiring Mally TO place the tray on a
small table beside her, the little lady
sat up and insisted on pouring out q
cup Of tea for me. apologizing while
handing me the bread and butter for
what she called her rudeness. II Was
nva,scr>n,n Nth rld ~ AN, rr,o - nv, aaa,