Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-26
JENNY'S FIRST AND LAST.

Jenny's hands were blue with cold.
Jenny's tiny features were pinched and
white, and her big, wistful eyes stared
hard out of the garnet window down long
way to the street-where the snow fell
thick and white and fast, silently, gently
covering multitude of unsightliness, but
not hiding the glittering display in the
shabby toy shop across the way, nor dim
ming the charms OF doll babies, cornuco-
pias, candy dogs and elephants, or pink
and sugary rabbits. Jenny gazed and
gazed, her eyes growing larger every mo-
ment, while I-Jenny's mother-I stitched
away only the harder on the shirts that
fell fast upon my work.
"They's got new toys cross the way,
mammal she exclaimed at last. "Why
has they got new toys%'
Because-because Christmas will soon
be here, Jenny"
Mamma, what is Christmas ?"
"Why, Jenny you know-mamma has
often told you-the beautiful story, and
the star in the East, and the shepherds
that watched their focks by night, and Of
how they brought gifts to the infant
Saviour"
eyes" she nodded solemnly Mamma,
gifts is Christmas presents, amt they :?
Mamma, do you think we'll get any Christ
mas presentsw
/ dropped my work and took her in my
arms; / know not what words l tried to
make my baby comprehend that all was
right and for the best, and that maybe
some angel would come Christmas morning
and bring her a gift. | rocked her until
finally she fell asleep, and then, laying her
on our mattress, | went back to my work.
What thoughts, what memories | sewed in
with those coarse cotton shirts Memories
of the days when Jenny's father wooed me
and made me his wife; of the happy days
in the old theater in Baltimore, where l
was always sure g an engagement, and he
too; of Jennys birth six years ago, and
then of that horrible day that left her
without father! The treacherous trap
in the pantomine, and dull fall, and the
white, marred face that would never smile
or greet me more on earth and the weary
time since-the struggle, the heart-break,
that | must give up utterly, and as is often
the way when we are driven to the verge
of desperation, hand was stretched out
that promised some ling like aid. Chill
dren were wanted for the ballet in the new
opera; pretty children, and those possess
ing some talent and knowledge of dancing.
Jenny had all these. Moreover the child
was delighted-overjoyed at the prospect
of making some money. The children of
the very poor SO early learn the meaning
of that phrase.
Mamma, will buy you Christmas
present. will buy you a new cloak and
a hat and muff and gloves, and then
some steak and apples and-and-per-
haps," Jenny faltered wistfully, perhaps
there might be a penny over to buy me
pink sugar dog Do you think there will
be, mamma ?"
''Indeed there WILL" / cried, scarcely
able TO restrain my tears-tears of NOR
tifcation that | was obliged to let my
child go Oh and earn this paltry sum that
] was not able to- l had tried, Heaven
knows how hard, to no purpose. So got
her little frock ready with some money the
manager advanced to me, took her to re-
hearsals, watched her spiritual, lovely
face, her grace, her aptness that won even
the admiration of the other mothers who
waited as | did at the wings to wrap their
darl;ngs warmly and carry them home
oftentimes through storm and sleet, long
distances in their tired arms, to homes
where no cheer of freight or of good food
awaited them.
The night of the performance came
Jenny, with a bright spot on both her
pearly cheeks, wild with excitement, went
on and was so perfect in her steps, so grace
full, so beautiful, so tiny as to elicit muir
muir of admiration and then applause from
an audience that was brilliant and critical
In the extreme.
/ caught her to my heart as she trippec
off-and as l carried her home half-sleep
ing in her dreams, twice or three time
have Christmas presents, you'll see, you'll
seel shall make lots of money for you
mamma p
Joy cometh in the morning" though
of that verse as | woke late the next morn
ing and found strip of winter sunshin,
lying across Jenny's closed lids Perhaps
the child's success and engagement bode,
brighter future for us both; perhaps
might be able to obtain position myself
Who knew? And then could teach her
and, better than all, give her hom
other than this dismal room up FIVE fight
of stairs.
But my "joyr was of brief duration.
Jenny slept late and long. let her
while worked away, busy, happy scheme
fitting through my brain. At noon sh
woke, and after her frugal breakfast / sug
gested her lying down bit, as she mus
not forget the performance again tonight
I'll lie down, mamma. if you say so, bu
j couldn't sleep any more. I'll just thin
a little, very httle-about-the pinl
sugar dogs"
Bless her heart. l looked out of tn
window: felt in my pocket and dre'
out unseen by Jenny, penny from m
little store.
Jenny" l said, q am going out for
few minutes-only few minutes. Do nc
go near the window while | am gone"
"No, mamma; / won't. But where ar
you going?"
"Never mind,p cried gaily, as kisse
her II won't be long, and maybe L
bring some one back with me"
She laughed up in my face, and l sa
nothing but the sinless smiling baby's fac
all the way down the rickety fight
stairs until | reached the doorway an
was intent upon the toy-shop across tn
way.
aWhere does Mrs. Hamilton live
asked gruff voice.
'Here; | ar Mrs. Hamilton" I al
swered with sudden chill at my heart
"Well, your chiid's not wanted at II