Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-06-17
A MAY-DAY FITTING.
The Trials Of a Poor Widow Who
Moved "Alone."

There IS no day in the whole sea,
which brings sueh anguish to the
hearts of the citizens of New York City
who contemplate change of residence
rs the first day of May. Mrs. Light
lace is citizen of the great metrope.
lis, and Mrs. Lightlaee 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 man Tho
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
done l can do, and l 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 i 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 ..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 ervi-
ces to assist her, she said, with praise
worthy unseliishncss, as she laid her
hand on his arm in true sisterly FASH
ion: You are most kind, my dear
brother, but l must decline with
thanks. l made up my mind whe;, my
dear husband left me" (here Mrs.
Lightlace wiped away from her e .es
tribute to the dear departed) ..t,at !
would never burden any one with my
troubles. Each one has his own &c
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 hs
might devote himself to his own mov-
,ng with an easy conscience; and Mrs
Lightlate would have beer. pleased had
she overheard him telling sister Grim
shaw and Jemima Strong and his wife
that Poor Mary is very sensible
woman; has very good ideas of taking
care of herself"
After many diSappointments house
was secured. and then the all-import-
amt matter OF an eXprcSS-man with his
wagon was to be considered He mus
be reliable and be must be reasonable. =
said the woman of Judgment. If Mrs.
Lightlace had been as wise as she fam
cied herself she would have consulted
brother James on this all-impor.ant
question. as any ore experienced in
the business of May ,aoving knows the
demoralizing influence of that fa:eful
day on the most trustworthy New York
city furniture eNpress-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 to wiring the
last cent possible But Mrs. Liglltlace
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 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 do
ars 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 haggIing. agreed
to ''do the job" at five dollars load.
Have you a large wagon?" asked
Mrs. Lightiace.
..Indade an l have that same, mum"
Paddy.
..And two horsesP" querieG the lady. |
.'Why surely, mGm; two as foine |
bastes as you liver set your two eyes On" /
'.And you'll b. very caIssxi?"