Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-17

boy was striving to attract purchasers by
roaring, "Extraw, extraw," in deep, hor-
ror-stricken tones, and, amid all these
noises, ever and anon arose a wail-shrill
and plaintive as the shrek of the banshee
which seemed to come from the interior
of the house.
rs there sick child in the house.
Phebe?" the lady asked, after she had
listened with shudder to this sound for
several minutes. "Wbat fearful wall p
ayes, my lady," replied Phoebe, sand it
is fearful, tn be sure. It's the janitress' lit
tie boy, if you please, my lady"
"Phoebe, we are in America, and you
must try to say ma'am as the other maid:
do" said the mistress, with a smile. 81
am not rich enough to play my lady here
in my native country, though the title be
longs to me in England"
"Yes. ma'am, Pill remember ma am,
said the maid. "But if you please, ma am
that is the janitress' child bowling
Sarah, at the second fiat ma am, she tole
me how it was. 1t isn't sickness, ma'am
its beatings."
''Beatings p repeated the lady.
eyes, my la i mean, yes, ma'am. She
does beat it awful, she does.'
"Do you suppose she is doing it now p
"Yes, ma am" said Phoebe.
"And the people in the house permit
it," cried the lady.
"They don't interfere" said Phoebe
''They have spoken, if you please, but
she says as her child is her own property,
please, MAJ am, and she'll do as she likes. >
The lady smiled.
"Show me the way TO the janitor's
room, Phoebe" she said.
cts below; the sounds came up the
register, l suppose" said Phoebe Then
the two descended the stairs together.
At the door leading from the entrance
hall-a pretty door with little sliding
panel beside it, like those in the box of
fices-they paused at the instant terrible
scream was heard within, and the lady
opened the door and entered.
A why old woman in black dress and
white apron. with little cap on her head
stood in the middle of an orderly room,
holding little boy by the collar of his
pink shirt-waist and beating him with a
bundle Of ragged leather thongs. Its the
old instrument of punishment on some
vessels yet, | believe, but sailors make
them and sell them to civilians as ''furDi-
ture heaters" now.
This woman was putting the thing to its
original purpose, and the torture of such
blows even when given by her weak, little
old arm, must have been terrible to so
small child.
"Take that, and sass me again. she
cried-"take that, and thatw
A moment more and she paused. Some
one had coolly taken her by the collar of
her dress and drawn her back.
Now lady, to whose shoulder the jani-
tress' head scarcely reached, took the cat
o'-nine- tails from her and drew the wailing
child toward her.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself"
said this unexpected visitor, CURLY. "If
the child needed correction little switch
would be enough. I've mind to have
you arrested for using this"
Sand what right have you to interfere,
ma'am, I'd like to know?' cried the
woman.
Il am Lady Vernon" responded the
other quietly.
She knew the woman was of English
birth by the accent, and she chose to over
awe her by title. She succeeded.
''Pm sure, my lady," cried the .janitress,
''yoGr ladyship can't know how the child
tries my patience, and all l have to bear"
"And Pm sure" replied my lady, shat
you'll have to control your temper, for
though the owner of this house is abroad
l could write to have you dismissed, you
know"
'Pm sure you'll not do that to poor
widow, my lady," sobbed the janitress.
''If you strike the child again, shall, Z"
said Lady Vernon. "Phoebe, bring the
child upstairs and amuse him little.
Now, my good woman, what is the price
OF this thing?"
''Its my furniture beater, ma'am," cried
the woman, "worth dollar"
The lady placed some money on the
table and walked away with the cat-o'nine-
tails under her arm, while the janitress
stared after her.
"a real lady," she said, in an awe
stricken voice. "Ah, but they are 'aughty /!
they're born to it."
1t so happened that Lady Vernon was
born in Massachusetts, Yankee girl to
the backbone, and a country ministers
daughter, but an Englishman of title ad
come to "the States" met her and married
her. She had gone to England with him,
and here great misfortunes had befallen
her. Her husband broke his neck while
hunting, and few weeks afterward her
little son was drowned. The nurse had
left him for moment near the shore at a
seaside resort, to which she had taken
him; when she returned he was not to be
seen. His hat floating upon the water told
the tale. And shortly after the widow
found that the sad event had made diff
ference in her means and position. The
estates went to the second brother in the
event of the child's death, and that which
was hers as his guardian during his mi
nority passed away.
She cared very little, for her heart was
broken by this second blow, and with what
little remained 10 her she left the home
endeared to her by such fond recollections
plainly seeing that the new heir was glad
to have her go. He always hated his
brothers wife, ''that Yankee woman"
That was FIVE years before. Time had
softened her sorrow, but life had little to
offer her. She had loved too we'll to
marry again. Her parents were dead, and
she had been an only child.
She had travelled quietly over Europe
during those years and had now returned
to dwell in her native land, bringing her
maid Phoebe with her.
The girl now knelt on the floor playing
with the child, pretty little fellow, well
cared for as to cleanliness.
"Why does she beat you so, darling 7"
she asked. sI.ow could anyone s.--ike
him, ma'am ?"
Heaven knows" said Lady Vernon.
Phoebe, he is just the age my boy would
have been, think" Her tears began to
fall.
A foolish fancy that the child was like
her lost son came into her mind.
"TrouLle soitens the brain, fancy" she
said to herself
The child played with Phoebe for an
hour, and then the girl conveyed mes
sage to the janitress that Lady Vernon
would Ike TO have him come up when
ever he chose as she had taken fancy to
him.
The old English woman, overawed by
the fact that great lady patronized her
child, beat him no more, and sent him up
stairs as fresh and tidy as hands could
make him. She had at least the virtue of
cleanliness, and hour after hour the child
Diayed in the tasteful apartments of the