New-York tribune., 1891-05-24
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seldom have their deeds Of vor brought to the notice
Of the public, there often occasions when their
pluck and courage most admirable Here is our ex-
perience. which be given nearly as possible in
ihe words Of the young lady herself. She is by the
way pretty. slight girl Of about sixteen. who has
not yet attained to the dignity of "done upa hair
or tail gown"
Mamma had been ill., she said and was so rest
less that she could not sleep; so had been reading
and talking with her until very late had told Elsie
her maid, that would sit up untf O'Clock and would
then call her to stay for the rest Of the night About
Mamma became qufeter, and turned down the liehts
and drawing an easy chair before the fire, think we
both fol asleep; anyway when looked at the clock it
nearly B. Mamma was sleeping quietly, so left
the room as softly possible Elsie was asleep on
lounge IN my room, which, you know, is directly op-
poste my mothers, the hail. and is Just at the
head of the stairs AS left the suddenly found
myself nearly face to face with strange rough man.
who coming up the staircase The gas was burn
ing dmly in the hall, but could face distinctly
and oh, 1T was horrid onei The whole family said
sftcrward was very brave but know It was simply
the instinct OF selfpreservaton that caused me in
stanty, without stopping to think, to seize heavy
rocking chair that stood against the wall and throw
1t down the stairs which are very steep so that it
gained impetus at once. remember feeling greatly
surprised at seeing the man 20 over backward l sup
pose the whole thing so sudden and unexpected
that nc lost footing And then felt awfuy limp and
for the first time in my life thought was going to
faint but then, remembering that on no account
must my mother be disturbed, managed somehow TO
get into my room. There I found Elsie sleeping the
sleep of the Just 1t took minute or two to shake
her awake, and explsin matters and keep her quiet
and then We went tremblngly together call the boys
who slept in the next story. When we all got down
stairs all was dead quiet the big chair was there in
q somewhat smashed condition, but no man or any
sign Of one. You must have dreamt IL, Meg, said
my older brother won alvrav
Quixoto enough to charge windmills'
al was beginning vigorous protest when Jacks
voice was heard from the dining-room. Hello,' he
said, 'here's pretty go and there neatly packed in
couple of baskets was all silver. The sideboard
doors had been opened by removing the hinges, and
everything bore evidences of having beeh quietly
and with the greatest deliberation. Why they, for
the evidently had an associate did not take their
booty was puzzle probably they were seized with
panic and only thought OF flight How did they get
inf Well that is the strangest part of al-through
the basement door, apparently, with trouble at all
II wide open with signs of forcing of any kind
There must have been colusion, of but which
Of the maids had disreputable sweetheart never
knew; for the laundress and waitress and cook were
all incensed by the detectives examination the next
day that they left in body; and as We saved the
silver we did not pursue the matter.
without doubt when / met him, the burglar was
his way upstairs to look for money and jewels and
I shudder to think of the consequences if he had
seriously frightened Mamma in her weak condition.
Besides he might have killed us. although Jack was
unknd enough to say that was enough 10 scare any
one in my old dressing gown, and that he probably
would have even If had not thrown the chair.
Mamma, poor dear, slept through it all and never
heard of my adventure until the following morning."
Some old-time author has represented the path Of
life by the symbolic figure of the letter V In youth
the common way is broad and easy one, compare
tiveL' speaking although the children themselves
may not be aware of the fact but later
the paths dverge from each other, the distance
between them growing wider and wider as they go
onward. One road is still broad and alluring, the
other and straight. Choose" says Duty
stern and infexible. Choose" says Worldly Pleas
ure, easy going and self-indulgent; and each soul
travelling along hfe's highway must decide upon
its and walk in the path elected. There is
middle highway. This would not be bad OBJ
ject lesson for our youngsters who are painfully
printing their aphabets, but who know well enough,
the little rOgues, the difference between the straight
and difficult path of Mr.. Ought To- and the broad
and easy road of Z" Mr.. Do as you Like"
Some of the immigrants arriving in this country
wonderfully ignorant Of the commonest domestic
appliances. lady who had a fit Of economy not
long ago concluded to get fresh arrival from Castle
Garden hoping by her wise management TO train the
edrl into a capable servant. Biddy arrived, stout
and willing and rosy, and with mouth wide open in
surprise at the novelties surrounding her every
side. on being taken TO the stairs to go up to her
room she stopped suddenly "And Is it up thin
things that o have to gO?" she said panicstricken.
Sne explained that it was the first time that she
had ever seen a staircase She overcame her fear
speedily, however, for the next morning the entire
family were awakened by sound that resembled the
prancing OF war-horse. Fastening to invexigate
the cause the irrated master of the house discovered
Biddy racing up and down the wooden staircase in
of bcr at lrax-in rcd
the hang Of it, "shure," she said, it is an ILL
CANT amusement"
Another native Of the verdant isle who had newly
arrived in America was hired by a gentleman as a
gardener. The country place on which he to
work was on the shore of Long Island Sound, the
waters coming to within few rods of the house
Besides his care Of the garden Pat was supposed
TO be the custodian OF ancient donkey who had
many eccentnctes, and who Pat declared 10 be
the "cbverest baste that liver wore a tall" One
evening the family were at dinner the 1rlshman
tearing up the veranda and into the hall.
Come quick, SORT" he cried, through the open door
"Come quick. The is in the say and a-lepping
10 get out" And hurying his master TO the shore
he pointed wildly the creek, where, in the placid
summer waters, school of porpoises rolling in
uncouth gambOs, looking really net unlike an enor-
nous beast struggling in the waves
Many young housekeeper has said to herself If 1
were not such lgnoramus, 1 should love to do my
marketing; but feel like such goose the mo
ment get into butchers shop and / always Know
that simply make myself ridiculous" We would like
10 give such the experience OF two young mauohs
who found they could make saving of many dollars
q week by going themselves to Washington Market.
For years they marketed together every other
day. and by taking the elevated road with their hus-
bands at O'Clock. they got home about eleven, end
had the whole day before them "1t was the greatest
fun !" one of them said, and always look back with
regret TO those days when bad to cOnrve in every
way In order live within my husbands income. fon
see we were all great friends May and had been to
school together and husbands, too were intimate.
One evening were talking over the most econou-
ieal way of living for 1t subject naturally very
ncb discussed by all Of us Just then. of sug
cesed that we should try for month the plan OF going