News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-01

I was visiting q dear friend of mine
who lived in q crowded city, and who
was always pitying; for, living as dc
in the country, among birds and wild
flowers, plenty of room and fresh air, il
seems as though people must be very
uncomfortable in those cramped tene,
ments and narrow streets. She had
raised one of the front windows and
laughingly drew big arm chair in front
of it and seated me in it, saying:
| 81 want you to get all the air you can,
so you need not smother" Then she
went away to attend to the household
| duties.
[ was in a wayward mood, and moth
ing seemed just right. | watched for a
time the interminable throng that was
passing; some were overdressed, others
shabby. some looked bold and independ-
ent, others careless, and others still had
that sly, sinister look that denotes them
dangerous persons.
My gaze wandered to q huge tene-
ment block opposite; when the white
curtains directly opposite were drawn
up, enc of the windows was thrown
open, and burst of bird song, mingled
with childish voices, was waited across
the narrow street. What relief to my
overtaxed nervesl I drew one long
breath and then sat quietly watching
the occupants of the tenement opposite.
In the window hung a small bird cage,
containing a beautiful canary, and | be-
Geve I never heard bird pour forth
such shrill, sweet music or try in so
many ways to express its delight.
On the window sill stood one or two
Towering plants, and near the window
was slight, girlish figure, wearing
light print dress, and holding in her
arms a child, perhaps year old, while
another, some two or three years old,
stood on chair beside her; she was
talking to the canary, and her merry
laughter mingled with her children's,
who were in high glee.
/ was just giving reins to my imagina-
ton and weaving the most romantic
future for my heroine and her babies,
when my friend entered the room.
Glancing across the street she exclaim-
ed, while her face lighted up with pleas
ure:
''Ah! Mrs. Hall has got home.'
''Has she been gone long?" L inquir-
ed.
"About three weeks. She has been
visiting her friends, I believe; poor
thing, she had better have stayed with
them, said Mrs. Riley.
"Why?" 1 exclaimed, interested at
once.
SIT is the old story that is told so
often, returned Mrs. Riley, after few
moments silence; cher husband drinks.
He is kind-hearted, hard-working
man, but every month, after he is paid
off, he will have spree, and yet L never
heard her say one word about her trou-
bles; she has a smile and pleasant
word for every one, and you can only
tell by her pale, care-wOrn face that she
carries q sad heart"
l glanced with renewed interest at the
window opposite.
Mrs. Hall, unmindful of our observa-
ton, had seated herself in a low rocker
and was singing to the baby, while the
little girl was having q gay time with
the gray kitten.
"There is the shop bell," exclaimed
Mrs. Riley; "now I will show you Mr..
Hail. There he is, that one dressed in
gray pants, and brown coat, and black
velvet cap."
1 looked and saw, instead of the bloat-
ed, redfaced sot I expected, n hand
some man, about thirty; he had mild,
dark eyes, full red lips, partly shaded by
brown curling beard.
There was a sad, hOmesick look upon
his face; he evidently did not know of
his wife s return.
AS ne arrived opposite the tenement
he saw the open window and the bright,
hot
GUS expression came into his dark eyes
with bound he cleared the steps and
was in the little sitting room,
saw him clasp wife and children in
his arms and shower kisses upon their
upturned faces; then the white curtains
were drawn down, and | could only see
their shadows as they gathered round
the tea table, but knew that Joy supped
with them.
During the week that was with Mrs.
Riley | became quite intimate with Mrs.
Hall; she was one of the sweetest little
women / ever saw, but [ could not,
agreeable and gentlemanly as he always
was, help treating her husband with
cold courtesy.
1t was the evening before L was going
away. Daylight was all gone, yet there
was beautiful moon that flooded the
narrow street with a pure, quiet light.
NY friend and l We're sitting by the
window, talking of vanished days and
old friends, when the door of the oppo-
site tenement opened and Mr.. Hall came
out; his wife accompanied him to the
door, and said, in pleading tone:
"Don't be gone late tonight, will
you, Harry"
sDon't be foolish! Ofcourse won't, ?"
he answered "But don't sit up for
me"
She stood looking at him until he
turned the corner.