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About Jasper news. (Jasper, Ga.) 1885-???? | View Entire Issue (July 4, 1885)
the old sronr. B<* cams the meadow pass Tint summer eve of ever, Tl»o sunlight streamed along the gvaai And glanced amid the leaves; And from the shrubbery below, And from the garden trees, Be heard the thrush's music flow And humming of the bees. The garden gate was swung apart, The space was brief between, But, there, for throbbing of his heart, He paused perforce to lean. Be loan'd upon the garden gate; He look'd, and scarce he breathed; Within the little porch she sate, With woodbine overwreatlied. Her eyes upon her work were bent, Unconscious who was nigh; But oft the needle slowly went, And oft did idle lie. And ever to her lips arose Sweet fragments faintly sung; But ever ero the notes could close She hushed thonTon her tongue. Oh I beauty of my heart, he said, Oh l darling, darling mine, Was ever light of evening abed On loveliness liko thine V Why should I ovor leave this spot? But gnsto until I die ! A moment from that bursting thought Bho folt his footsteps nigh. One sudden lifted glance—but one— A tremor and a start; So gently was thejr greeting done, That who would guess their heart? Long, long, the sun had sunken down, And ail his golden trail Had died away to lines of bro wn In duskier hues that fail. The grasshopper was chirping shrill— No other living sound Accompanied the tiny rill That gurgled underground; No other living sound unless Some spirit bout to hear Low words of human tenderness Ami mingling whispers hear. —Irish Song . MllS. CLIFFORD’S MISTAKE. [From Arthur's Homo Magazine.] “Oh, dear 1” It was a sigh of weariness, and poor, tired Mrs. Clifford sank for a moment into a luxurious easy-cliair. Perhaps I should not say “poor.” Her hus¬ band waB called by his friends “oom tortably well off.” Tired, she certainly was. From dawn till dark her feet must be in every place, her hands must toil and toil that there be no cream nor jar in the household machinery. Kitchen girls she had tried, but they jjnly brought extra care, she eaid, and she was glad to bo independent. To-day had been unusually busy aud the parlor had been left undusted till afternoon. That was why she 1 happened in while her daughter’s city friends were there. Of course she had hastily retreated. Close by the door stood that inviting chair, and for once Mrs. Clifford yielded to her longing for rest. She could hear the gay voices in the other room, but took no notice of them till Izzie ex¬ claimed, lightly: “Oh, that was only the woman who works for us. She did not know any one was here. What were you saying about the bride, Madge ?” And then the talk flowed on as before, broken now and then by a ripple of laughter. Mrs. Clifford heard no more. She forgot her pain and weariness; she forgot the pile of sewing awaiting her in another room. Like a flash her miud traveled back nearly a score of years. Izzie and Reba were babies again, and she was a proud young mother. Her husband’s means wero limited, but they must wear the finest embroideries, and by denying herself every luxury and many comforts she conld keep'them clothed as she wished. They were early given the nicest tid-bits at the table, and what wonder if they soon looked npon mother’s share of good things as their own? They were pretty Bhe’ children, and &s they grew older prided herself npon keeping them daintily dressed. To be sure, this involved sacrifice on her part. She had loved books, but it took so much time to read these musf be given up “for the children’s sake. ” Bbe must ait up late nights to sew; she must wear her cloak the third win lei and hare her beat dreart made over o»»e« more, in order that Izzie might lmv« that charming hat with plumca or Rebc the bead trimming she so much desired, Did they help about the work ? Oh I no. At first she could not bear to have them soiling their clothes in the kitchen, besides hindering her. Later, they were too busy with studies or practice or some rehearsal. girl JBy the time they reached young hood, her husband’s income warranted the best teachers, and they, being quick and bright, did credit to their instruc tors. His income also warranted her many hours of leisure; but alas ! so long had she livea “for the children” that it seemed impossible to make any change. Nobody could do up the muslins or pre¬ pare food like mother. Her husband had long since ceased to look to her for intellectual companion ship. It was the girls, with whom he talked science and politics. When he wanted music they played and sang If ho went to a lecture or a concer hey accompanied him. Her own mission seemed fulfilled in a well-cooked meal or nicely ironed shirt. What a mistake , she had made ! It rushed upon her now, as she sank back into the easy-cliair with those words ringing all sorts of changes over and over in her ears: “The woman who works for us! the woman who works for us 1” But the callers must have gone. The outer door has opened aud shut, aud hark 1 .the girls are talking again. It is Reha's voice: “Oh, Izzie ! how could you ?” “I know it was perfectly awful, but what could I do ? If mother would only dross decently and get used to society, we should not have to be ashamed of her when any one comes. It’s all her own fault.” Ashamed of her! The children who had cost her so miVuy wakeful nighta^^p, many anxious thouglfts, ashamed of lie?! Mrs. Clifford room/ tiipj mechanically and went to her There she did some thing very unusual for her. She spent at least five minutes gazing at her own reflection in the glass. Not a prepossess ing figure, certainly. Her dress, a plain oalioo, guiltless of even a collar; her hair combed straight back, twisted in the smallest possible knot at the back of her head, and the face—could that be the face that had once been called beau tiful ? No wonder the woman heaved a sigh, as she saw how faded and wrinkled it had become. ^ As she gazed a resolute look came into the.graj “Ashamed eyes. aud fault! yf me, my own They shall'fcever have occasion to say that again.” * A quick knock sounded at her door. “Oh. mother! Miss Tebbits has sent home my polonaise, and the trimming is all wrong. Won’t you change it to. night? I must have it to wear to Mattie Dyer’s to morrow, you know.” Mrs. Clifford dared not trust herself to face the girl. “You will have time to change it your¬ self, Reba. I am going to the lecture, and some one must remain at home. ” There was a moment of amazed silenoe, then retreating footsteps. After ward she heard Reba’s surprised, “What do you think will happen next? Mother’s going to the lecture !” Idr. Clifford, when he came home, was no less surprised than his daughters had been, but there was a pleased look ou hi® face it did her good to see. Still, her heart almost Wiled her when she oameio review her scanty wardrobe. black sdk was st.U good, though a little old-fashioned. But her bonnet aud gloves and that cloak! No, she could not mortify her husband by wear big them. She must stay at home. A rustle outside of her door, a tap, and tfie two girls fluttered in. “Now, mother, we are just going te fix you ourselves. Bit right down and let mo arrange your hair while Izzi« puta that dark plume on her bonnet in place of the bright one. My eaahmere shawl is exactly what you waut, and her glovea will tit you to a T. How the girls will open their eyes when they see what a handsome mother we’ve got!” And Mrs. Clifford could scarcely keep the tears from falling as Bbe thought: “it was my own fault They have been thoughtless and selfish only because I taught them to be.” Ready at last. The carriage had not y e ^ come, and they waited for a moment in hall—she and her husband. How the old gi^h blnshea would come as bo B fo 0pe( i an d kissed her! Then he softly whispered: “You look just as you did twenty yearB ago, Mary. I’m so glad to have my little wife back again.” I need not add that the evening was a thoroughly enjoyable one. Next morning there was a council of three in the back parlor. Mrs. Clifford atated that she must have more time for society aud mental improvement. She could hire help but it would be better {or ad collcernet i for Izzie aud Reba to learn something of housekeeping. Izzie held up her fair white hands and aBked how they would look playing the piano> covered with scars and potato gtainSt Reba didu » fc g0e how they could p ogs jhly find time, they had so much to do a ] rea( ] y> Mrs. Clifford stood firm, and the coun c il ended in the kitchen with the two girls washing the breakfast dishes. During the next few weeks there were some merry times in that kitchen, but more trying ones. Reba would be elated beyond measure over a well browned loaf of bread, while Izzie was in despair over a well-browned shirt bosom. Izzie displayed with pride the shining silver her hands had polished, while Reba hid the shin iug napkins o^r which she had upset the gravy boat. Such is the inconsis of lntchen perfection. More than onob the mother abandoning her plans. It would bo so much easier to do it all herself. But she possessed the gift of perseveran „ a, and after awhile the household maohin e ry moved on as smoothly as ever, and much more easily now that there were six hands instead of two to turn the wheels. Parlor company no longer wondered where the mother was, and the daughters grew more delighted every day with her whose acquaintance they were just forming, One day Mrs. Clifford had a sick headache. Three months before she could not have afforded the luxury of a sick day. Now she could dismiss all care—for a season *at least. I will not say she did not feel some anxiety when she learned at noon that her husband had brought a “business friend from the West” home to dinner. But everything WO at on as well as if she had presided, The girls had been as apt pupils in the kitchen as at the school. Mr. Taft, the business friend, was a young man. He was cultured and wealthy, but he had some very old fashioned notions about young womon being unfit to preside over homes of their own before learning something of housework. He enjoyed Tzzie’s sing j n g alu | praised her painting, but he afterward declared it was her cooking that first attracted him. At any rate, business obliged him to visit Carlisle very frequently after that, and at last he carried Izzie back to be the queen •>fhis Western home. Reba still lives with her parents. She »«*» no one can persuade her to leave “ moth e r . Eumo r ££ a oert am parsonage will “ receivc her . However that maJ Ci! fi 0 r d rejoices that eho di B - '; , OVcHe ^ Ler mista ke in time to rectify it , eg ^ bome * j^ia A. Tibrell. -‘ f.miifof ‘ton^rTN.‘IL i.ooin Gently fo and found only 29 with copies of the Bible. He sold C29 copies and gave away 107. I)I<*a<!vanffl«r* ^eing * Mr. B. P. Shillaber (“Mrs. Parting¬ ton”)* relates the following the Hartford in one of Post: his Boston letters to the mass of commodities cut down to meet popular necessity I saw it Btated that a well-known tailor was pre¬ paring to make a like sacrifice with re gard to his goods, The announcement amused me, as it recalled an incident of my early experience in connection with this very tailor. It was advertised that a suit of clothes, nicest fabric, could be had of Buckram, Twist & Co. for $28. Here was a grand chance for one of lim¬ ited means who needed some good clothes, and I followed the advertise¬ ment, in the capacity of patron, to very spacious quarters. I was cordially re¬ ceived by the gentlemanly Buckram, shown the best goods in his store, duly measured and booked fox the suit by the next Saturday. Upon going to re¬ ceive my finery I was told that the maker bad disappointed them, and asked delay till the following Saturday, which I granted. The next Saturday 1 deemed here conld be no failure, and went ex 'ectantly to get my clothes. Buckram as confused, but told me a story of new faculties he had been called to eneouter, ud again begged my indulgence. I fig- -atively patted him on the back with a .othing intimation that he needn’t ery bout it, and let it go for another week. Ibis time I called and was simply told they were not done. ‘Well,’ said I, 'do you think they ever will be?’ He frankly told me ‘No.’ ‘Do you not in¬ tend to do as you advertise, and make a suit for $28? ’ ‘Not for a mastodon,*, was his lofty reply, and I turned away sorrowing, for I weighed 185. And he is to-day suiting the times.” Floating Homes. “As we approach Canton,” writes a Chinese correspondent of the Home Journal, “one of the Strangest sights of this strange land is the vas^ wilderness of boats which serve as the only homes of a floating population of more than one hundred thousand human beings. As our steamer made its way slowly through the city of boats to her wharf, it seemed as if half of Canton was afloat on the water. All around us were acres on acres —yes, square miles—of junks, moored in blocks and squares, with long streets or canals between them; while darting hither and thither were hundreds on hundreds of others carrying passengers or freight. These boats are of various sizes and shapes, and are partly covered with bamboo matting, the one or two apartments furnishing space for parlor kitchen, dining-room, bedroom, wood¬ shed, barn, and idol-shrine. There mul¬ titudes of men and women, parents and children, grandparents and babies, find a home, each boat often sheltering more 9ouls than Noah had in his ark. There thousands are born, grow up, grow old and die, seldom being on land until car¬ ried there for burial. Many of these,, boats are manned by women and girls, whose large, unbound feet prove that they are not ‘Chinese ladies;’ and yet they have learned to ‘paddle their own eanoe.’ Babies are fastened to the deck, by strings; and other children wear life preservers of gourds or bamboo to keep them from sinking, if they fall over¬ board, though the parents don’t seem to grieve much if one does get drowned. There are larger and more gavly decor¬ ated junks called ‘flower-boats,’ used as floating pleasure-houses of no good rep¬ utation. A few years ago a typhoon swamped thousands of these small craft, and hundreds of the inmates were drowned.” A genti ^an who Vlfilt * d a rol * r ’ skating rink and attempted to partici P ate iu the P leasures > sa ? 8 the ’ dea oi fastening a pair of skates on tbe feet is the queerest Dotion in the world ’ be : cause tbe * eet were only poriidn oi his anatomy that didn t touch the flooi oftener than one Inning in ten.
