Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-06-17
A MAY-DAY FITTING.
The Trials Of Poor Widow Who
Moved "Alone."

The 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 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 Ego 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 a man who
was so unreasonable as to wish to live
in it himself, and gave her notice to
evacuate 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
damn do I Lott Il
that your aunt Grimshaw and your
cousin Jemima Strong and your uncle
James and his wife shall not have 1t to
say, as l 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 any emergency" And on the
emphatic "any' Mrs. Lightlace threw
up her head like a "war-horse seeming
the battle afar off" 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 deal
brother, but l must decline with
thanks. | made up my mind when my
dear husband left me" (here Mrs.
Lightlace wiped away from her eyes 9
tribute to the dear departed) "that
would never burden any one with my
troubles. Each one has his own tt
bear, and | must learn to take care Of
myself and little Alice here, shall dc
very well.
So brother James went away will
an easy mind, greatly relieved that h,
might devote himself to his own NOV
ing with an easy conscience; and Mrs
Lightlace would have been pleased hat
she overheard him telling sister Grim
shaw and Jemima Strong and his wifi
that Poor Mary is very sensible
woman; has very good ideas of taking
care of herself"
After many disappointments hous,
was secured, and then the all-import
ant matter of an express-man with hi
wagon was to be considered. "He mus
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-importan
question, as any one experienced Il
the business of May moving knows tn
demoralizing influence of that fatefu
day on the most trustworthy New Yorl
city furniture express-man. The onl
question which agitates him is HOY
large harvest he can reap from tn
necessities of his fellow-man, and h
will compass sea and land to wiring tn
last cent possible. But Mrs. Lightlac
was too anxious to establish her reputs
ton as an enterprising and managin
woman to consult any one. She fel
sure in her heart that these matter
were very easily managed when tn
persons were ''really efficient;" so sh
started on her search in good spirits
Her first surprise was at the astoundin
prices with which they confronted hei
eight, nine, ten, and up to twenty do
airs load they asked, with the mos
unblushing effrontery. She was almos
in despair. At this rate it would tax
all she had to live on for six month
to get into her new house. At last
happy chance, as she thought, cor
Quoted her to the stand of Paddy o
Rourk, who, after some haggling, agree
to do the job" at five dollars load.
Have you large wagonpn aske
Mrs. Lightlace.
''lndade an l have that same, mum,
answered Paddy.
And two horses" queried the lad,
why surely, mum; two as foin
bastes as you liver set your two eyes on.
"And you'll be very careful?"
'Yis, mum; you may thrust Paid
0'Rourk my day in the year." al
swered Paddy. Il refer you to NJ
Dennis Mulligan, of Brooklyn, an NJ
O'Shaunesay, of Jsrsey City; they II Ii
We that it's mesel is the bye that do,
the fair thing. The saints forgive N
i'll chate a wildly woman, an lady
lhatr' And Paddy lifted his raggt
hat reverently while uttering his piol
invocation.
So the engagement was made Ar
after Mrs. Lightlace had charged hi
20 be sure and be on time at ten c'cloC
and Paddy had called down anathem
on his head if he should be 1.-THE twi
Heth pace NV half sicund out Nv Il