Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-05-11
LADY MAJEND|E
CHAPTER y.

Right happy are those who in after
life can look back upon childhood I'M
Clouded in it's calm and peace. Little
Perdita's life was as sweet and happy as
are the lives of little lambs and little
birds-nay, sweeter, for storms, and
birds of prey, and many terrOrs, burden
the lives of even the Youngest animals;
but from all little Perdita was sheltered,
perhaps fenced round by the wings of an
angel, whose especial task might be to
guard the orphan baby.
Andrew and Mamie loved the very
ground she trOd On-she became the
center of their thoughts and plans. Dita
was the name little Perdita had given
herself when she first began to speak.
That first sentence was an era in her
history. They were sitting in the Park
on q bench. Mr.. and Mrs. Fairdon, with
Perdita between them, when a man came
by with three puppies i'll his arms. The
child flew after him, and caught one in
her little hands, holding it strained
tightly to her flushed cheeks, and look
ing imporingly at the owner.
1Dita have it, dadao
OF course it was bought, and called
Fluff, and Dita never lost her intense at
tachment to the little animal. Perdita's
only playfellow was the young shopman,
who devoted every spare moment to her
service. He was a strange lad, awk-
ward and ungainly in appearance, with
large hands and feet, slouching gait, and
Wisttul eyes. Long ago his master had
called him the melancholy Jacques, and
the name had stuck to him ever since.
He had been left fatherless some years
before and his mother, reduced to eX-
haS oyS To fyix
she boy even the Commonest education:
but even at ten years old his taste for
reading amounted to passion. The
BOY struggled against every difficulty,
devoured every book in the village IL
Orary, and hungered for more; his mother
managed to make her living by wash
ing; and, wisely seeing that it was
impossible to content jacques by a
country trade, sanctioned his going up
to London, with a recommendation from
the village SchOolmaster. Jacques was
fortunate enough to please Andrew Fair
don, and he entered upon his duties with
an enthusiasm that won his masters
heart. He was among books-preciOus
books; he never ceased working till he
made himself acquainted with every
shelf, and the books added to the stock
were generally bought by him, for An.
drew was clever enough to see that
Jacques soon knew more of his trade
than he did himself.
Before she could walk alone, Perdita
treated him as her slave. His holidays
We're spent in being her cat, her ele-
phant, or her horse: and one day Mrs.
Fairdon had to run out and stop the
game Dita had invented. which was fill
ing dolls can at the pump and pour
ing it over his face.
At one time it became impressed on
Andrews mind that he was made for
great things, that it was his destination
TO achieve great literary success He
had now lived for years in a Shaks-
pearian atmosphere, and that made him
determine that the first attempt should
be q play, after the manner of Shaks-
Ocare.
Perdita was 5 year old, and very
pretty. She was Andrews constant
companion. sitting all the morning curled
upin corner Of the shop, with Fluff or
her doll, or trotting by his side out OF
doors when he was free.
1t was a time of discomfort to Mamie
when her husband began his literary
@abors: he almost deserted the shop, leav-
ing the care of it to Jacques during the
great part of the day, and sat in the
parlor passing from one tremendous
mood to another during the composition
of the plot. Perdita was not alarmed
she was too much accustomed to his
ways; but now and then, if without any
reason but the JOY of some inspiration
within him. Andrew would leap up. strike
the table, and utter laugh of triumph,
Fluff would rush forward in a paroXysm
of shriIl, excited barking, and then Dita
laughed also, and they would all kiss
and go back to their corners.
Comedy and Tragedy held the author
between them as they held the great
Garrick of old. Tragedy, perhaps, was
she more attractive Of the two-more
sublime: but there was more play of
Sancy in Comedy-more scope for grace
full imagery, in which Andrew considered
himself to excel
The plot was a considerable difficulty:
1T seemed to HIM that If he had but a
plot. his pen would flow readily. His
genius scorned advice but was open to
iusinuated suggestions, and one morning
he said
''Nannie, were you to set yourself to
Invent a story, what would you say?"
She knew what he wanted.
"A story of founding child would
be touching and sweet-would it not,
dear?"
''Ra. alone in the world-sans father,
sans mother, sans sister, sans brother.
\ soliloquy There must be fool. and
a king or duke; and some female con-
9idante-two ladies' one rich-the dukes
daughter"
'JacQuy," said Dita. sitting on the lit
tie three-legged stool in the yard
'Jacouy, be u horse.' He went down on
his knees.
This child's talk may be the making
of my play" murmured Andrew. sitting
at the open window biting his pen.
Dlta had climbed on her patient horses
oack and was humping him hard.
Ny heroine goes out hunting" he