The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-05-21
A MAY-DAY FLIRTING.
The Trials Of Poor Widow Who
Moved "Alone."

Moved "Alone."
There IS no day in the whole year
which brings such anguish to the
hearts of the citizens of New York City
who contemplate change of residence
as the first day of May. Mrs. Light
lace is citizen of the great metropo-
lis, and Mrs. Lightlace is Obliged to
move, consequently that lady is the vic
tim of care and anxiety. 1t is true that
she has moved before; but, unhappily,
familiarity with the operation does
not engender love for it, and in all her
other moves she has had the assistance
of Mr.. Lightlace, and he has made his
last move, with the assistance of the
undertaken, and his sorrowing partner
has to "go it alone," or with the
meager assistance afforded by her lit
tie daughter Alice. 1t was very pro-
voking that her landlord sold the
house over her head, and to man who
was so unreasonable as to wish to live
in it himself, and gave her notice to
eyacuate the premises by the 1st of
May. Now Mrs. Lightlace is both an
ambitious and energetic woman. She
says to Alice ''What Other women have
done | can do, and | am determined
that your aunt Grimshaw and your
cousin Jemima Strong and your uncle
James and his wife shall not have it to
say, as know they will if they get the
chance, that poor Mary is so little fit
ted to fight the battle of life alone /
am going to show them that | am
equal to d1sy emergency" And on the
emphatic "any" Mrs. Lightlace threw
up her head like a ''war-horse seeming
the battle afar of, ;" and Alice looked
the awe she felt over the astounding
spirit of her heroic parent
So it happened that when Uncle
James came, as in duty bound, to his
brothers widow, and offered his servi-
ces to assist her, she said, with praise
worthy unselfishness, as she laid her
hand ON his arm in true sisterly fash
ion: ''You are most kind, my dear
brother, but | must decline with
thanks. | made up my mind when my
dear husband left me" (here Mrs
Lightlace wiped away from her eyes a
tribute to the dear departed) ''that |
would never burden any one with my
troubles. Each one has his own to
bear and must learn to take care of
myself and little Alice here. / shall do
very well"
so brother James went away with
an easy mind, greatly relieved that he
might devote himself to his own mov-
ing with an easy conscience; and Mrs.
Lightlaee would have been pleased had
she overheard him telling sister Grim
shaw and Jemima Strong and his wife
that poor Mary is q very sensible
woman; has very good ideas of taking
care of herself"
After many disappointments house
was secured, and then the all-import-
ant matter of an express-man with his
wagon was to be considered. ''He must
be reliable and he must be reasonable, -
said the woman OF Judgment. If Mrs.
Lightlace had been as wise as she fan
cied herself she would have consulted
brother James on this all-ihportant
question, as any one experienced in
the business of May moving knows the
demoralizing influence of that fateful
day on the most trustworthy New York
city furniture express-man. The only
question which agitates him is how
large a harvest he can reap from the
necessities of his fellow-man, and he
will compass sea and land to wiring the
last cent possible But Mrs Lightlace
was too anxious to establish her reputa-
ton as an enterprising and managing
woman to consult any one. She felt
sure in her heart that these matters
were very easily managed when the
persons were really eflicient;n so she
started on her search in good spirits.
Her first surprise was at the astounding
prices with which they confronted her:
eight, nine, ten, and up to twenty dol
airs a load they asked, with the most
unblushing effrontery. She was almost
in despair. At this rate it would take
all she had to live on for six months
to get INTO her new house At last a
happy chance, as she thought, con-
Quoted her to the stand of Paddy o.
Rourk, who, after some haggling, agreed
TO do the job at five dollars load.
Have you a large wagonPn asked
Mrs. Lightlace.
'Indade an have that same, mum, f"
answered Paddy.
And two horses?n queried the lady.
why surely, mum; two as foine
bastes as youiversety your two eyes on. -
"And you'll be very careful?n
"Yis, mum; you may thrust Paddy
O'Rourk my day in the year." an
swered Paddy II refer you to Mr..
Dennis Mulhgan, of Brooklyn, an Mr..
O'Shaunesay, of Jarsey City; they II till
We that it's mesel is the bye that does
the fair thing. The saints forgive me
If chate wildly woman, an lady at
that!' And Paddy lifted his ragged
hat reverently while uttering his piouS
invocation
So the engagement was made. And
after Mrs Lightlace had charged him
TO be sure and be on time at ten o'clock
and Paddy had called down anathemas
on his head if he should be ''the twin
tieth pace NV half a sicund out NV the
hour" the lady returned home with a
light heart In her enthusiasm she
said to Alice: II Go like the Irish;
they are so full of heart! Now that
poor rough fellow, only think of his
taking notice of my weeds! His man
ner was really-well, yes, it was really
tender" And Mrs. Lightlace wiped
away another tribute to the late Mr..
Lightlace.
May morning dawned bright and
propitious. Mrs. Lightlace said she
felt as If fortune was SmiEnp and the
spirit of the dear departed was hover
ing over her. Alice and she rose with
the dawn and finished the packing of
the last articles in the midst Of the