Year: 1869


through the streets OF Cincinnati, for
the purpose Of picking up trtles to inter
est the rea icrs Of the local column of a
city paper, often purchased apples, nuts,
and candies of young girl who had Il
stand near the junction Of two business
avenues.


She was not handsome in the common
accepnation Of this much abused work but
there was an artles>ness aud yet win
ming grace in her manner which convict
ed me that her situation in lie should be
above. the one she then occupied. Her
dress was invariably close fitting pink
calico ore. | felt that her parents must
be very poor, and as | saw her dav after
day in the same attire, | had my suspic
ions that her wardrobe could not be very
extensive; yet, as she always appeared
neat and tidy, 1t was a mystery to me
how this striking neatuesS was secured,
aud why there W S not ever any variety
in her apparel. | saw that it was taste
full and becoming, but | knew that the
ladies are proyerbial for a love OF variety
in dress, and l had an interest in knowing
why this si,np!e girl was 50 remarkable an
exception.


| have always delighted to study char
actcr either in high or low life, and l
took it upon me to Investigate the pretty
apple girls pecuiarity. Her fruit was
ever Gle IN and tempting, but often-made
purchases merely for the sake of forming
an acquaintance. At length known to
her as liberal patron. she began to have
less reserve with me than when | first
noticed her, and finally was emboldencd
to make inquiries in reference to her
family. It was some time before she
conversed freely, but by dint of perse
verance, 1 learned that she lived with her
mother in pleasant cottage on a quiet
street in the suburbs of the city. l knew
the spot-its attractiveness had often in :
serestcd me, and I now became more
curious than ever to hear the story OF the
apple girl in the pink calico dress.


| yentured to ask permission to call on
her mothr, and make her acquaintance,
under the plea of a love of birds and
flowers, with both of which the cottage
was surrounded [ did not receive the
encouragement I wished, but still was
left to hope thai my curiosity might some
purpose increased [ became more deter
mined, and L resolved to change my
tactics [ could understand the girls





TO become, IN any respect familiar, but
knew that she would not dare to treat me
rudelv, and Watching my opportunity one
Sunday afternoon, I addressed her as she
stood at the street gate Of the cottage
aud as I admired some flowers which
grew in bed near the house, she could
not escape, politely, from the necessity
of inviting ME to walk through the yard.
III. = haH
an invitation to enter the cottage. Oi
course I accepted with pleasure, and find
ing the mother to be more communicative
than the daughter, I managed to learn they
were French people, although they botf
spoke English remarkably well. The
cottage parlor was furnished plainly bu
elegantly. There were upon the mante
number of delicate works of art, which
L was satisfied could not have been pur
chased by the limited earnings of al
apple girl.


Why young girl who lived in cot
tage, with so much evident taste and cul
tivation, should invariably wear pinl
calico dress, and sell fruit, nuts and cand,
on the street, was to me perplexins
query. There was a web of romance
weaving round the mysterious apple girl
which became more and more interesting
and every day my resolution to unrave
it became stronger. There was SO mucl
modesty in the girls bearing at her apple
stand-she seemed SO much afraid 0
scandal, should any converse with he
longer than was necessary to make
purchase, that there was no way LET
for. me to solve the mystery of he
life but by visiting the cottage. Agai'
went without an invitation, and boldi
made known the curiosity which led M
to force myself upon their acquaintance


The daughter laughed heartily, an
said, gaily:


.We have been just as much at faul
to understand your curiosity as you hav
to reconcile our circumstances with on
employment"


aThen we should be mutual confdants,
I Observed ;1"I have been very frank wit
YOU, and hope you will reciprocate


aBut our relations are not similar,
she replied. ssWe are not responsible
for YOUR curiosity, hut you for ours"


siWhy 80 7" I asked.


ssIt was forced upon as. 9.


.Indeed! and was not mine force
upon me, in such a manner, too, as LEI
me no choice but to. seek the mystery
Bat truce to this bandying OF words
You will not take advantage OF my frank