River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-05-20

(GO& G fom1r. 'G waiting til yT to
be served. Of
course, the shop
vas not very large. and was choked fun
Of things, principally readymade pima
fores, skirts and shawls. whilst in the
glass; case that stood beside the door
woods and bright-cOlored ribbons were
displayed, and on the counter were laid
tapes. pins and needles. and all kinds
of small ware.
Craseby was a large manufacturing
town. such as the north abOunds in,
where people earned in the factories
good money!" which they were always
too ready to spend; and among the wom-
en- not a little OF each weeks wages
found its way to Miss Hampson in ex-
change for the bright ribbons displayed
in her glass case. or in a cotton blouse
OF brilliant tint; and Saturday after
noon was the time when those impor-
tant purchases were made Friday
evening was pay time. and the money
was burning holes in the owners pock-
cts until the halliday holiday gave them
the leisure they required TO go and
spend il.
Ellen-or Miss Hampsou as she was
always called-was a general favorite
in the way we regard something we
rather pity. She was quiet and humble
in manner. 50 ready to please and oblige.
end would take as much trouble in serv-
ing a penny customer as one who came
for things many times that amount.
In appearance she was rather gaunt:
her clothes seemed to hang loosely on
ter, and her hands were rough and red
with hard work. There was a patient
look in her brown eyes. and her hair.
had she allowed IL. grew loosely and
lightly over her temples. but this was
strained tightly back. Undoubtedly
she had the markings Of good-looking
woman that for lack of being made the
most Of were going to seed.
For many years she had supported her
mother. but now she had no one de-
pendent upon her. and her loneliness
and desOlatiOn were keenly felt by Ellen.
1t had never been her way TO think of
herself; indeed, she would consider il
q real waste, and almost sinful, to have
things comfortable just for herself.
Whilst the mother lived. her one
thought had been for her. and towards
the end the mother had grown childish
and fretful. but this had only made
her more patient and thoughtful for the
helpless ones comfort. She was essen
sally one Ct those natures whose great
est happiness consists IN having some
one dependens upon her; it was very
meat 70 her hungry. lonely heart. for
hidden beneath her natural reserve was
a whole sea of love simply running to
waste. Love! Such a precious thing
TO be wasted: still. il would seem no one
desired it,
How often it is SOL Those who have
the greatest love 10 bestOw. and are
most worthy. are often those whose
love is least sought.
I've a good business" Ellen would
say, 'and I just ave in that, and p'r'a2s
I'm downright ungrateful TO expect
more but cottOns and tapes are poor
company, and now mothers gone 1
never feel as though il matters whether
customers are few or many. II was diff
ferent then; each tinkIe of the bell
seemed like luxury for mother"
But II wasn't often she had time to
indulge in such wicked thoughts" as
she called them. for business was hr.sk.
and il was only during the week at odd
moments" that she could sit down hit.
and then this desolation came, and al
most seemed TO sufFocate her And on
Sundays she seldom ventured out, OK
cept 10 go 10 church, for IL was so doubiy
dTeary 20 walk out alone. when every
one except herself had a companion. ana
right down in the bottom of her heart
she envied the young couples Who would
stroll bv arm in arm. utterly Obliyious
10 everybody or thing except them
selves.
Years ago. " hen she had been a giri
of about l.. young George Seaton had
wanted he. Ia keep company with hsm.
hat the mother had declared she was too
Young. and now Ellen thought. with a
Sigh. Il am too old" though. in reality.
she was not very much the wrong side
Of 80. but then she looked very much
older. and il Is supposed a woman is a.
old as she looks.
-. however bright the Sundays were.
Iilen would not be tempted out of her
Little parlor 4, 20 for a walk. for he
felt her loneliness more in going out
than when sitting by herself in the
cuse. IL vas almost like being a Ieper.
10 walk alone. Doubtless there were
many people. had they known how
much pleasure they could have given.
" no would gladly have invited her OUT
walking. but the general impression
vas that Miss IIamPson was rather a
duh sort Of person. who was happy
enough in her own way.
IL had been warm. sultry day. and
towards evening Ellen stood at her door
trying to get breath Of air. " hen DicN
Darnlcy came along the street. lie wa
q good looking man, with an honest face
aud clear blue eyes. and vas a general
favorite. Craseby was not his uati,e
rart. for he hailed from the MidlaadS
lie was a carpenter by trade. and had
more than once done some small JOBS
for Ellen
In passing be gave her n pleasant n, 4.
and then, turning rather suddenly, he
came back and followed Ellen. who nad
gone in, into the shop. treading eau
tionsly. as though be feared to do some
damage.
Il want some buttons. please" he saIo
q little aWkwsrdly. placing sixpence on
the counter: those with holes in then
What size will you be vanting?"
This was evidently poser. At length
he answered: "Middiin' big"
~You has deal Of stu1." he re-
marked. looking around; but not mu-h
IN NV line. I'm thinking"
-. no. don't know snythiug about
nru's things" blushing. Il suppose
1ou are buying these buttons for some
uu,- TH change them. you know, II
the, ir NOT right"