Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-05-27
A MAY-DAY FLITTING.
Tho Trials of Poor Widow Who
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 a change of residence
rs the first day Of May. Mrs. Light
lace is a citizen Of the great metropo-
lis, and Mrs. Llghtlace is Obliged to
move, consequently that lady is tne 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 il alone" or with the
meagcr assistance afforded by her lit
tie daughter Alice. Il was very pro-
voking that her landlord sold the
house over her head, and TO n man who
was so unreasonable as TO wish to live
in il himself, and gave her notice to
evacuate the premises by the lst Of
NbN 4. uoAh dil
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 il 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 any emergency" And on the
emphatic "any' Mrs. Lightlace threw
up her head like n .war-horse scenting
the battle afar or, 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 seryi-
ccs TO assist her, she said, with praise
worthy unseliishncss, rs she laid her
hand on his arm in true sistcIiy fash
ion; you arc most kind. my dear
brother, Dut / must decline with
thanks. ] made up my mind when my
dear husband left me- (hcre Mrs.
Lightlace wiped away from her eyes n
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 we'll"
SO brother James went away with
an easy mind. greatly relieved that he
might devote himself to his own NOV
ing with an easy conscience; and Mrs.
Lightlacc would have been pleased had
she overheard him telling sister Grim
shaw and Jemima Strong and his wife
that Poor Mary is n very sensible
womani 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 10 be considered. "He must
be reliable and he must be reasonable"
said the woman of judgment Ii Mrs.
Lightlace lad been as wise rs she fan
cied herself she would have consulted
brother James on this all-impOrtant
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 cxprcss-man. The only
question which agitates him is how
large harvest he can reap from the
necessities of his fellOw-man, and he
will compass sea and land 70 wiring the
last cent possible. But Mrs. Lightlace
was too anxious 10 establish her reputa-
tiOn 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 Efficient 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 load they asked, with tie most
unhlushing eilrontery. She was almost
In despair. Al this rate il woe,d take
all she had 10 live on for six months
10 get into her new house. At last
happy chance, rs she thought, con-
ductod her 10 the stand of Paddy o.
Rourk, who. after some hagglinT. agreed
10 ''do the job at five dollars load.
Have you large wagon?' asked
Mrs. Ligntlace.
"lndade an have that same, mum"
Paddy.
''And two horscs?' qucricd the lady.
"Why surely, mum; two as foine
baslesas you iver set your two eyes on
"And you'll BE- very carefnl?'
"lis, rum; you may thrust Paddy
O'Rourk my day in the year" an
swercd Paddy. II refer you TO Mr..
Dennis Mulligan, OF Brooklyn. an Mr.. |
ID O'Shauncsay, Of Jarsey City; they'll ill |
gc that It's mesel IS the bye that does
he fair thing. The saints forgive me
4 chate a WILDLY woman. an lady at |
hAtr' And Paddy lifted his ragged
lat reverently while uttering his pious
invocation
80 the engagement was made. And
ltler Mrs. Lighiiace had charged him
% bo suro and be on time at ton o'clock
md Paddy had called down anathemas
IN his head II he should be ''tho twin
.leth pace NV half sicund out Nv the
lour" the lady returned homo with
ight heart In her enthusiasm she
Iald 70 Alicei II do like tho Irish;
hey are 20 full OF heart. Now that
Door rough fellow, only think OF his
aking notice OF my wcodsl His man
lcr was renlly,-well, yes, Il was really
ender' And Mrs. Lightlace wiped !
way another tribute to the late Mr.. /
-lNhtlace
My morning dagnod bright and
lropiious Mrs. Llghtlace said she
clt 40 II fortune WAS smiling, and the
pirit ~ The -denr departed was hover.
ne o,er hpr Allcp nnd ehe rose wili,
he dawn aud Hnlshga ihe paeklng ~