The morning call., 1893-01-22

Jean IngeJotc
trustful man Fred Locker must have been
in those days 10 give letter OF Introduction
TO Jean lEgelow into the hands OF stranger
from Oregon. Fortunately for me the lady
was at that time fitting out some nephews
for migration to and settlement In missouri,
where she had purchased lands for them
so she naturally wanted TO see some one
from the farther West
| found square little brick house on
Quiet and retired street, which faced the
high brick wall on the south side OF Ken
sington Gardens, with flowers in abundance
about the door. A short. ford woman was
washing the window by the high Steps as l
assembled; and when l asked for Jean In
gelow she wiped the suds from her round,
full arms, let down her sleeves, and in a
sweet, motherly way opened the door and
conducted me into large room with big
deskfull of drawers in the center OF the
room, and books and books and books all
about. This robust and beautiful woman
whom | found washing the window was
Jean 1ngelow's mother; also "a writer OF
books" as Carlyle nominated himself.
Pretty soon the mother went out, taking
my letter from Locker and Jean Ingelow
came in: came up from the Kitchen she said.
Taking lessons in coOkiDg% suggested.
"No, giving lessons in cooking" she an
swered quietly.
Now, will you please stick pin here, and
at all such places as we go forward through
these personal sketches, my dear American
ladies. l would like TO teach little and to
do some good in this world while L do my
work and earn my bread.
Here was young woman, gifted with
great endoNments of body and mind, in her
own house. with plenty of money and
friends the world over, yet she was not only
doing her own cooking but teaching some
poor girl how TO cook and get on IN the
world. have said the mother was very
handsome woman. l can say nothing so
personal of the daughter, for she is still
living. Perhaps | may venture TO set down
the fact, however, without giving serious
offense, that they looked so nearly alike |
could hardly distinguish the one from the
other as we sat there in the study in the
dim light of London afternoon and talked
and talked of America and her boundless
possibilities.
At early twilight fell the yellow fog with
It candles were brought in by Jean, and
then the weather had to catch IL. How
everybody dislikes London! and how every
body in England goes 10 London to live if
he or she can possibly get therel
eve lived by the sea" said Jean, sand I
should so like to be back there. only it was
so far from church. quite mile. Some
times it was so windy mother could not go
at all. and father would have to take me up
behind him on the horse"
When l told her that in Oregon we
generally went to church. when we went
at iall, on horseback, and that we thought
nothing of riding five or ten miles in the
rain, she looked very serious and again fell
to talking OF her nephews and her fears
that they might forget their pravers.
I'VE must pray for them," said the
thoughtful mother.
THAT we will. mother" said Jean.
cheerily. and then, half laughing. she said.
You know used 10 pray for everything"
Then suddenly turning TO me, seriously,
she went on: "Opce on our way to church
the wind blew so terribly that l could not
hold up my head. and | had hard work to
hold on to father as sat behind him on the
horse. So prayed all the way till we got
to the church door for the wind to change.
Sure enough when we came cut it had
changed, changed sharp about. and was
blowing guns the other way. Ny prayer
was answered and had 1t right III my face
as before all the way back"
In London a dinner, shortly, is always an
adjunct to a letter of introduction. This
dinner may be in compliment to yourself.
1t may be, as il must have been in this case.
a compliment to the one who gives you the
letter. In this country we let Things go at
ravel ends and intr0ductions mean
almost nothing; but they are very
serious matters over there and involve
obligations not to be neglected. l received
my letter to dine with Jean Ingel0w with
boundlesS delight, for | truly loved her
got there found it was not quiet family
affair at all. but the regulation "low-neck
and swallow tail" [ had on Oregon made
cowhide boots, sealskin vest and great.
long seaskin coat, also OF Oregon pattern
ana make.
Now l might have gone and hired dress
suit, as DIR. Franklin tells US he did, and
as thousands do now. but did not know it
could be done then, and besides. | did not
think it necessary. But 1t is abso-
done in any other than the broad and demo-
cratic doors of Jean Ingeow don't know;
but most certainly | would not have dined.
The man" looked at me. went away, came
back, tried to take off my big sealskin coat,
but finding no coat beneath he quietly
smoothed me down, pulled my trousers out
of my boots. brushed them. aud SO showed
me to the drawing room.
Tire widow of Nathaniel Hawthorne and
her daughter Una, Lady Franklin. Edmund
Gosse aud dozen others OF ike name ana
place in letters were there. They looked at
me, and my face must have told the pain
and dismay, for they were so very KIND:
Fortunately, we went to dinner at once.
suffered of course from the heat, but that
was nothing. compared TO my hqmlilation
and shame. | went and told Locker at
once and he was Mortified. de told me- /
ought to be indicted for donkeysm. but the
gentle fellow never withdrew his friendship
for me- and it was the biggest day OF MY
life when, few months later, laid my
new book in his hand with all London in
dorsing ii.
But here go rafting along all about my
self when the matter in hand is Jean In
gelow. Let us take first few lines from
her "High 1ide." You see she is still liv-
the sea and the sun. the grass, the seeds,
the sedge, surge-almost the very voice of
the ocean.