Page:Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper (IA franklesliesillu2418lesl).djvu/10

154 bira, en TEN MILES FROM TOWN. con o The city streets are full of light, hopes h upon the Through waves of Danue the sun goes down, I droup my eyelile, nad it sinks- Ten miles from town, theuce the tre would 1 pointme The village street is full of light, And black ngnlust nuky of fire, The church upon the lall-top reara Its quivering epire. the long of the B Little st took th fallacy Brighter and brighter grows the west, Till common things its glory share, And round about them as I ga A halo bear. Lodge careful falgo in keenly Coward with rosy finsh and gleam, Thro' eodgy rifte the mill-stresni flora The coppice, purple to the heart, Tranadgured glow. fortune duced at the intende has up The cottage roofs are thatched with gold, Blood-red euch raby casement furne, The roadside pond beneath the cluas A sapphire burns. treason pectati perfect But, The wasted faces of the old, wee 1 Bright with the momentary glow, Regain the loveliness of youth Lout long ago. previo decide couvir wisdou able to AUNT BAB'S ICE-PITCHER. first p childre it was was, th the re mero theret thou them petted Lave them AMONG all the extraordinary results of Aunt Bab's elevation to power, nothing was more wod- derful than the sudden development of en intense love for children-not that spontaneous sort of gast that makes it ne natural for a woman to catch bold of a fat, sweet baby as to eat; not even the feminine propensity for pets that will take her stop in the midst of the most serious occupations to watch the gambols of a kitten playing with its mother's tail or its own, or a young puppy tearing to pieces the cook's new cnp, but an affection of the most violent intensity for juvenility in the ab etract-a propensity perfectly uncontrollable Lug and kiss with devoted fondness overy Irishlaby that came in her way, to pronounce them, indivi dually, "sweet, sweet, little thing I" "the dearest little creaturen" "such fine, poble children 1" ac companying each eulogy with the warmest caresses that could have been beetowed by the most warm- hearted sobool-girl upon the infant daughter of Mrs. Tom Thumb, while the delighted mothers stood by smiling and emirking, and wiping the small lemps of Besh supposed to represent notes, and in their hearts pronouncing "Miss Babara'ale Ily, trol" to indulg places and m load e Bull eithes in ma hood, to th were in th agrem mode rendi But a not m them brok not She all at once discovered-or, at least, made known to all whom it might concern-that, "of all things, she did love to see young people enjoy ang themselves to see children roup. She never fa cared how much noiee they made, as long as it was good-natured noise" the latter an assertion upon which "Frankie, "the rosy-cheeked, curly-beaded, layi four-year-old grandson of Uncle Joe (Aunt Baby and youngest brother), commented with silent elo- and quence, by menus of a pair of great, blue eyes; while the former seemed to produce a singular ofloot upon the shoulders and memories of all the ing younger members of the Fenwick family. Inspite of their best endeavors, every time that eontimont was expressed, the shoulders roso involuuterily co toward the ears, and their minds went back toacts and words, and even looks, that had slipped out of kinm hom Aunt Bab's recollection altogether, or reappeared there only as part of the rubbish of the past, that brim no one would think of disinterring. wore lines A lit in clo rate fait Joo ord 2 But, perhaps, no one could have more practically com appreciated the workings of Aunt Bab'e tenderness Dom than the four children of Denis, the cosolanan. Both he and his wife, Nancy, were among the fow of their clase who understand that they have duties to perform, as well as wageo to receive; and the faithfulness with which they land performed those duties during the years that they had lived lit in the service of the Fronick family had won their respect and attachment. It had been the first home of both when they had first landed on no a foreign shore; there they had met, learned to spi know each other, and married, and there they had lat remained ever since, Four prettier, better-behaved children than their four little girls no lady in the nom land could boast of; and in the tastelul Gothic ro "Lodge," beside the grand "entrance-gate,"tiny po were bringing them up to habits of truthfulness g and industry. Born, so it were, in the household, they had almost insensibly become family pets, br and no one ever thought of going into town with out bringing something for the "chikdron," oven be though it were a stick of candy. Even Mr. John, a when he made his periodical excursions to villa," filled his pockets for them. The little ped- of dlers of candies, oranges and picture-books, knew cl "his days a well as he did lumself, and felt re certain of a sale then for their bottor and nicer fc articles. ow the fa C t But, notwithstanding bor delight in witnessing In juvenile enjoyment, Aunt Bab began to think that e this was getting to be rather too expensive, and to a take into consideration the propriety of bringing about some reform. She was glad to see then fa happy, but not at her cost. In this change, as in t all others, Ce n'est que le premier pas qui coûte;" t but as no one else seemed inclined to take that m premier pas," she determined to do it herselt. She chceo rather an unfortunato time for it, though, it must be confessed, for the holidays" were at m hand, and, on the strength of former experience, "the little Mahoneys," so they were usually called throughout the neighborhood, were speculating upon the probable and possible productions of a Christmas-tree. They thought it no great wonder that "Mes Dab" should have so many c.lle into town; bet there was some netonishment, after a time, when "father" drove no frequently through the gate, with a large, well-diled basket on the scat beside Anas hira, and not even a big or a gingerout from it there, a conie over to the Lodge." Bat those whoso or so m utable even t therefo hopes have never been crualied are prone to look on the bright side, and they readily convinced theueelves that it was "becanse the things for the tree took up so runch room that the baeket and he would hold nothing more," and bore their disaping for would pointment with patient cheerfulness; but when furniel the long-anticipated Christmas came, and, instead furniel of the brilliant "tree," there was only a row of Little stockings, filled with a few cheap trillos, they took their first lesson in life's experience and the fallacy of human hopen, precint supply plicant times; depend the "c al on th acol Now A sad Christmas it would liave been at the but for Mr. John; for Denis and Nancy, were to keep their little onse from falso indulgence, suffered or enjoyed far moro keenly through them than of themselven. But, fortunately, an unexpected circumstance had in- daced him to change his plane, and spend the day at the Villo, instead of with his friend, as he had intended. Accordingly, at an early hour he made his appearance with an assortment of juvenilo treasores, far exceeding the nest sanguine ex pectations from the Christmass-tree, and restored perfect happiness. hnd ev of Lihe hottest melt as and th Cato desper upon go im thie M band ha and le sotne 1 But, great as was the joy at the Lodge, greater wee Bir. Jolin's indignation when he learned the previous state of affaire. Aunt Bab found herself decidedly in diegrace, and rainly endeavored to convince her brother of her superior prodeace and wisdota, by arguments that had been eo unanewer- able to her own mind. It was, she urged, in the first place, a downright waste of money. children were not able to appreciate useful bucles; to get passed his h Those W at ing th No do been 4 20 but, u Practi he it was no kindness to give then candy; the fact was, they had too much of it already, and that wan the reason they were so often sick; cake was a hmero drag with them; there was nothing elee, therefore, but picture-books and cheap toys, and er theee they destroyed as fast as they could get them; bemden, they were getting too old to be petted in that way-it was nonsense; they would Lave to live by their own Inbor, and it was doing of them a ecrious mjury to bring them up with such bindulgences and ideas, just as if they were to be to placed on the same footing as Frankie and Minnie, and nobody leave home without bringing back a load of trash for them! It was ridiculous f of the venier then, 18 to DO DO ng hindi to t by VS the pa es to rest "N 10. prees or ph best But Mr. John was not to be persuaded that either man or woman was less feithful and useful in mature life, from having been allowed, in child- hood, to enjoy in moderation the pleasures suited to their station; he could not believe that peopia were any better for having been made miserable in their infancy. As regarded the candy, be e, agreed with her perfectly; he thought that a very ale moderate supply was quite enough. of botla era amor the nevi guid And he could Alwa de of as yo mue it sh oy- cont -Ver CH readily understand that they did not value books But as to their breaking those cheap toya, he did Dot see, he said, how they could help it; he broke them, if he did bot lay his finger upon them, and no far as bo could make out, they were made to bu broken, and for nothing elec. But then he did not know that she was ander any necessity of w laying them; there were plenty that were firm and strong, to be had for very little more money, and if they tore up the paper picture-books, there Buch were plenty to be had that were printed upon taita linen, which they could not tear. And even allow-favo Bab pou ed, tori abs to elo- er the 20 pai pite avea erily DOG long cata ing that all her objections wero well founded, what was the need of buying anch things at all? Dent A little drom, or a pair of shoes all round, would V cont but a trife, and besides being quite as grati- clic acta Dying to them, would be an act of considerate ut of kindness for the parents; for with only a pair of ared bands, it was not easy for a man like Denis to that bring up such a family, and educate as well as clotho them euitably to their station. At any rate, be wished her to understand that he would cally countenance De countenanco Deme and Nancy had been to hini good and faithful servants, and he would not have their fur feelings hurt, nor their children disappointed, in dar order to savo a few dimen, She might rest as ned mured, that, whooover the neglected them, bet lived himself would take care to make it up. ng no such so-called "reformation." obt at nes man. Jol e few have wit A com won inc go the te die-M TE 13: 20 This was a dagger to Aunt Bab's saving spirit, the and abe writhed under the blow: but she could ad on not nvert it. From that day forth, however, in ch ed to spite of her "iunate" (as abo assured us it was, des y bad late as it had been in making its appearanco) aved love for children, "the little Mahoneys" could Co in the not speak without "denfoning her;" cross the bo Bothic room withont "setting her crazy by their per to they potual motion;" or come near her without almessgusting her by their dirty hands and aprons. hold, Nannie's hazel cyce were no longer large o pots, bright, nor the chestnut curls glossy or senooth no with over her shoulders. Bessie's plump little figure, he oven beautiful teeth and merry Inagh lost their charm, pa John, and she becamo "a fat, equare young one, with a the face like a full moon, and a voice like the sound o ped- of a brass trumpet." Maggie's looder form and knew clear brown complexion, with the long, dark Insbes nd felt reeting upon bor ebrek, and the tiny hands and feet that looked more as if they belonged to child born in a palace than to the daughter of an wessing Irish laborer, degenerated into a poor, puny little t that ecleton, that looked like a balf-starved Indian and to and "Baby Kate," crowed and coo'd, played with inging her own pink toes and tried to swallow her own thean fat fate-in vainl Aunt Bob said "she loved, ao in babies, Lat she wanted clean babics" she bated to handle young ones that were always driveling: ke that and must say, ehe thought Nancy was growing herselt. unaccountably carelees with her children." hough, P nicer conte, So etood mattore when Aunt Bab resolved upon were at an excorsion to tows, to remain a fortalght, bat rience, ale nent with a burden upon her heart. y called Early in the previous summer, a ead accident. culating had befallen the co-house; the roof and fallen Ons of a in, and sau cousegaence of this and other troubler, the ice land wastal long before the bottest wenther Maa caine on, and they were obliged to dopend for D; but that most indispensable of luxuries upon the in- o, when dividual who supplied the whole neighborhood. e gate, Many of those who owned the surrounding country beside woro gentlemen who paseod only their eumero ordered office, t macy, r there, and during the winter were either abroad been on or so much immersed in business as to be quite escaped unable to attend to the filling of their ice-houses, of a pi even when they lind them. They, too, went, coveret therefore, to this ie-merelnut in their extremity, and he felt his importance. With so many wait- ing for the very limited quantity that he could furniel, be felt that he was conferring a favor in furnieling any, and he liked his favors to be ap- precinted. He generally, therefore, agreed to wupply eo much-always a little less than the ap- plicant wanted and that was to be sent at certain times; the ponetual discharge of the engagement depending upon the whims and convenience of the color'd gen'man" to whose care and guid- Roco the showy ico-cart was committed. pitcher tion, an the bill packed. admins doubtos but tem A din with c 3 Bab's t she has hopes a the pon Mr. Jo with on "Die D Aunt E ingly s to indi having T Yea e "But whethe O intend J you at - Dien c 20 Now it so happened that of all the enne that hnd ever sbone down upon this glorions "Land of Liberty," those of that summer were the very hottest; in spite of all precautions, the ice would mclt as feet ne it could be thrown into the water, and the botter the day, the more sure was it that Cato would not elow himself. Mr. Join grow desperate, and aftor long consideration, rosolved upon an ice-pitcher. Aunt Bab volunteered to go immediately into town and buy one, but to thie Mr. John would by no meane consent. Ho bad his own privato ideas of beauty and economy, and be very much feared from his prudent sitter Goton flagrant innovations of both; be preferred to get it himself. The remainder of the summer passed, however, and all the next winter, without his having found leisure to attend to it, and here was another succession of automer suns threaten- ing them, and the dificulty not yet remedied, No doubt the shortest and murest way would have been to repair the ice-house, or build a new one; but, unfortunately, the former proved to be im- practicable, and the initer was thought an nn- necessary expense, as it was in prospect to dispose anoug of the Vills to a speculator, to whom such a con-up venience was no object. There was nothing for it, I am then, but the ice-pitchor, and Mr. John scemed pose y bo neurer finding loseure to look for that than he I beli had been at first. He thereforo concluded to were make a virtue of noccssity: Aunt Bab was going into town for a few weeks, to make spring pur- chiason, and be concluded to deputize her to get the pitcher, but nnder the most stringent orders as to style and quality. se retort side ge t be puz 26 Vo 8 quant N sl et De ag ch "D be stop de, 2 alon, have nt let sa Tul would 1d- dentm ed "Now, remeraber, Bab," said Mr. John, im preesively, "you are to got nothing elieup. Silver or plate, as you please, and at any price, but the bost of ite sort, and the prettiest, We want nothing gorgeous, for that would be out of place among ite surroundings; but simplo benuty is be never out of place. day c pio Wilbe ble But be sure, Bab, not to be in Me Un kind ald wealt Rts. ery guided by any ideas of economy. The best is always the cheapest in everything; and so marely as you bring home noy trasts, all you gave for it, lid much or little, will be just thrown away--for used ke it shall not be. And be sure," he added, mgnif), cantly, that you do not forget the childron." custo heres took od ate r ther did in al he di bu Charged with businoan thus important, Aunt Bab'a first object was to collect such information of an would nt ber for acquitting herself entisfac. rmtorily, and she immediately got on foot inquiries as asy, to who in the neighborhood were possessed of ere euch articles as ice-pitchers. This point nacer- on tained, the next thing wus to wait upon these OXY favored individuals, and find out what they had ed, paid for them, erai for wint amount a pitchor of all? average beauty was to be obtained? go fo to th Bo "he you hou knew Onl cati- ate ir of to 1 cs Various opinions upon this point were thus thin elicitol, and various epocimens exhibited, but an pone had been bought recently, except one be- stra longing to the whule-souled, managing, coranuni wor cative Mrs. Oswald, who explained that she hind pites given fifteen dollars, and thought abe Lad obtained vice any a great bargain, until her friend, Ars. Melvillo, ould obtained one so much greater. The latter lady, 00. at an auction in the house of the richi Mrs, Tom and Jolmston, who was selling off all her elegant per Cheir fu.niture, in order to take out her two young, sist diu daughters to Europe, intending to remain there the to with them berself until their education she den stre was D T sen , he tinished, as far no monsters anil governeeses were lin concernesl, hind bought, for ten dollars, au exceed pirit, ingly beautiful pitcher, plated, to be sure, and a of Could good deal the worse for use, but mounted and tou or, in cheed wità pazo silver, and so very beautiful in was design and workmannship, that it noemed olanost ret cu) ne if it had been given away. She herself (Mrs. Int 2 would Cowald) had been really anhappy by having sha the bought hers in such a hurry; but when she came as per to ezaevine it, eo sed, she didn't know bus tint You die- Mrs Melville had paid for it quito as much as it to ons, was worth. Wita a profesion of thanks, Annt w ge 0 Bab went bonae, to get ready for an early start the wa mooth next morning, bearing, deeply impressed upon no gure, her mind, the conviction that Mrs. Melville had res harm, paid, with ten dollars, the full value of an ex vic wwith a quisitely beautiful ioe-pitclur, of the very best Jo Bound y plate. na and pe p M Full of this conviction, her first proceeding, on shes gotting herself washed, dressel, and ready for a s and shopping expedition, aiter reaching the house of Bl to aer cousin, Mrs. Green, in Tenth street, was to be of an set out in search of a similar bargalu, determined M y little to have the very best and landsomest that New w dian; York could furnish. For this it wae nicersary wi 3 with that she should see all that it contained in that er own line, and day after day she wandered through the loved whole length and breadth of the city. Into the bated moro elegant storce, en the more public thorough weling: fares, ale did not go for another of her deep th nowing convictions was that they were nothing more nor in less than public traps, for the legal robbery of d upon overy uulueky customer rash enough to weature a go ht, bat purchase within them. Mrs. Green was beginning to look upon the visit f ccident as an intent, upon Aunt Bal's part, to make a la fallen moero convenience of her and her house--for oubles, between broskfast and six r. a. dinter the latter renther never entered the doors. At Inst, however, Aunt and for Lab came in woon after taelvo, and, with a face the in-redient with estisfaction, announced that she had orhood, found what she was eceking. Such an ice-pitcher country as the had discovered in one of the cross streets! mers and a little bit of a stove, too, that if she had not 16 "Bu B Leco on a sharp lockout, wonld certainly have escaped ber obeervation. It was a perfect love of a pitcher," very largo, strongly monde, and covered with work from top to bottoml she bad ordered it sout over, with the bill, to Mr. John's office, that gentleman having, with way diplo macy, reserved to himself the right of veto. The pitcher selected was to be sont to him for inspec tion, and if it met his approbation be would pay the bill, and send it by his porter to her to bo packed. That this one would meet his unqualified admiration, Aunt Bab never for an instant doubted-especially an, with all its beauty, it cout but ten dollars. A dinner is never so digestible as when enten with cheerfulness and contentment, and Aunt Bab's that day did her more good than any pical sbo had caten since sho left home. But bamian hopes are falilblo, and when dinner was over, aud the porter taomentarily expected with the pitcher, Mr. John h mself made his appearance instead, twith one of the most portentous of faces. 7 "Did you see the pitcher I sent, Jolim?" asked Annt Bab, in a tous that had claanged astonshi- o ingly since dianer, and with a manner that ecensed to indicate the expectation of gaining a point by having the first word. ! r d "Yes, I saw it," replied Mr. John, quietly. "But will you have the goodness to tell me whether those chubby Bguros all over it were er intended for angols or Dutch babice? and where at you stumbled upon such an extreordinary spoci- nien of sculpture?" a + 3. "But it was euch a largo, good-sized pitcher." rotorted Aunt Bab, determined to make her own mo side good, and the man warranted the silver to
 * and
 * be purel"

9- Very possibly," replied Mr. John, "only tho quantity was rather scant, and there was not quito enough to cover the pewter underneath; but that, I suppose, was because the pitcher was no large. it, I am glad, bowever, noucy is so plonty: I sap- d pose you had ton dollars to throw away-for that, the I believe, was what the messeogor told me you to were to give him for it." ng "Bot Joha" nid Aunt Bab, and who stopped. ar cet era Bat Bab," replied Mr. Jolm, with quict deci elon, "if that is all you know about what you have undertakou, you had better give it up and let eome one else do it." And this, no doubt, shu would have been obliged to do, had also not acci- n wer be dentally mentioned her intention of going the next ant day on a visit to the wife of her old friend, Mr. ce Wilhelous Dabois, at his beautiful country weat is in Morrie Glade. be is sely it Uncle Jelin canglit at the den. Mrs. Dabon, kind and unpretending, wau mistress of great wealth, and lived in unassuming elegance; ne customed constantly to buy things of this sort for herself and friends from hor far-off bomo, who took advantago of her residence in the immedi ate neighborhood of the great metropolis to send aunt there ber commissions, abe knew and wis known in all the most important stores in the city, and he desired Aunt Bab to inqoire of her where to go for a suitable article, and trust with contidene to the valuation it. scd sif. jon ac as of er. But Aunt Bab und no idea of compromising sese "her judguacut," especially in the eyes of so ad yomg a bounkceper as Mrs. Duboin, and sis r of heantated. She did not believe that Mrs. Dubois knew any better than she did, and she would hue think it very qacer. Mr. Duboit, to be sur, was but an old friend, but then his wife was almost a be stranger; sho knew her cady an his wife, and the ini woman would think it very strange that even n Ind pitcher could not be bought without asking ad- ned vice, etc., etc. The real ressou for ber besitation illo, she did not give-her conviction that Aire. Dubois dy, dealt at the principal stores in the principal Tom streets, and would nend her to one of them; lut ant perbaps Blr. John suspected as much, for her in- bung, sieted upon his point, and obliged her to make here the promise, was The visit was made and so was the inquiry, and t were kindly answered; but alas! for Aunt Bab's pre- ceed- sentiments, abe was referred to the establishment and a of Spoon, Fork & Co., in Broadway, the nicat ex. and tonsive manufacturers of silverware in the city. ul in At the appointed time she left Mario Olido and anost returned to Fortieth strool, just in time for the Mrs. late dinner. She lind enjoyed the excursion, s ving she could not well help duiug with such a hostess ame as Mrs. Dubois; but the very eight of the New that York steeples, ne eho approached the wharfeeemed as it to bang a weight upon her hourt, for the next day Annt was the last one of her stay there, and the pitcher t the was no necror being bought than when abo cao, upon nor had the yet purchased anything for the child- had ren. To be sare she might have extended her i ex vicit ad libitum, but then by going up with Me, bout John on Thursday morning, the price of her p sago would come out of his pocket instead of ler ng, on private purse, and that was an advantage that, in for a spite of its inconveniences, was not to be alighted. mse of she had not much time to consider the ruotter, aras to bowever, for the dinner was searcely over when mained Mr. John was announced, and his first question t New was whether the bad inquired of Mre. Dubois sary where to go for the pitcher, in that Yes; of course she had, mince bo wished it, gh the but it was just as ebe had expecte-1" What I Dil she refuse to tell you ?" demanded rough Mr. John, turning to her in natonishunon for r deep that was what Aunt Bab's manner led him to To nor infer. to the ture a mery of ". Oh, no, no; she had been very kind, and given herself a great deal of trouble to explain to her certain points by which to jadge if she did not no visit find what she liked at the store to which she sent make a ber. Bot thon, just as she supposed, Mrs. Dubois se-for was one of those silly women who think them- latter nelves best eerved in a grand store, and pay justi, Aunt what the storekeeper chooses to ask. It might be & face very well for thoss who had plenty of money, but she had abe, Annt Bab, had no idea of throwing away her pitcher little in that style. It stood to reason that with streets all that elegance and style, they must put upon had not these goods a proportionato price in order to