The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-09
POOR LITTLE MISS MOONSHEE

Picture to yourself neat little figure, habited in rustling brown silk gown, point-lace cap and collar, and black nit tens 8 small elderly lady with mild, wan dering blue eyes, and tremulous mouth, whose uncertain glance and shrinking manner spoke of some terrible shock sus- tained by the nervous system in days gone by. Such was Miss Moonshee when l 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 (IS77) we had removed to Richmond, a suburb of the Victorian capital. A strong, active girl of seventeen, was daily in the habit of walking up to town to attend classes at school in - street. Dur ing my walk to and from Melbourne l was more than once struck by the ap- pearance of one of the cottages which I passed. It was neat little place, painted white, with green veranda posts. The windows which faced the road were full of rare geraniums and ferns; and the trimly kept garden-plot was planted with all manner of fragrant old-fashioned flowers and herbs. It was the lady of the cottage, however, who, even more than her pleasant surroundings, interested me. When the sun shone she was always to be seen, dressed in the fashion have al- ready described, seated under the yer anda in low chair busily engaged in netting. Like Penelope's web, her task seemed endless, and she seldom raised her eyes from her work, which engrossed all her attention. An old lrishwomau, Wha .llxy k4,m~.r~ ak4 either wedding or watering the garden, appeared to be her only domestic; but was soon to become better acquainted with both lady and servant.
 One hot January afternoon I was plod- ding slowly homeward, my mind full of a 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 without looking, as usually did, to see if the old lady was in her accustomed place, when a cry of umistakable anguish from the interior arrested my steps. To unlatch the garden gate and hurry up to the froat door was the work of moment. There, however, 1 paused, undecided whether to knock and offer my services, or retrace my steps. While 1 hesi.1;ei the door vas opened from within, and the old lYishwoman presented herself, beckoning me to enter. Silently fol- lowed her into prettily furnished sitting room, bright with pictures, books, and flowers. This much took in at the first glance my second rested on the evident cause of the old lrishwoman's distress the pale, inanimate form of her mistress, which lay stretched on couch near the window. The poor lady was in a dead faint, phase of indispositiou sufficiently alarming to her faithful domestic, who, ia an agony of tears, asked if it was any use to send for the doctor.
 Nov. 1 had had considerable expe- rience in the treatment of fainting fits, my mother being unhappily subject to frequent lapses into unconsciousness, from which, acting under the doctors orders, had generally been successful in recovering her. l therefore spoke reas- suringiy to old Mally-she had told me her name-and at once set about apply ing the restoratives to the invalid that had Scs.d 90 useful on former occasions. In short time we had the satisfaction of seeing the poor lady open her eyes and fx bewildered look on her maid, who vas on her knees by the couch. Her glance then rested on me with puzzled expression.
 You have been i'll !" explained gently, and Mally and have been trying to make yos better"
 at is very good osyou to take 70 much