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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1895)
THE HESPERIAN i i H i i in M i 1S i DAISY'S FIRST LESSON FROM LIFE. A parlor rather small, tilled with uphol stered furniture, an entire set, and a large piano, leaviug two paths, by one of which the piano is reached, by anothor the door. In one corner a large picture of tho portly gentleman of the house, in black and white, on an easel. On the piano another, full length, representing him in overcoat and tile hat. A prominent photographer in town had asked if he might take this latter one in order to exhibit it, and, upon per- mission granted, had presented one to him. One or two more of smaller proportions were standing on the piano or the center table . A large base burner gave out its warmth very agreeably to Mr. Gray, as he entered and called out to his wife: "Say, Sis; won't you bring me the lap robe? I have forgotten it." Mrs. Gray ran and brought it out, laugh ing. She considered nothing a trouble that contributed in the slightest way to Ran dolph's comfort. Had she not toiled hard one winter to make money enough to buy him that handsome gold watch that he wore? Had she not worked hard, too, to get hei self a silk dress, in order that Randolph might not be ashamed of her now that he was teller of the bank? "I have always heard," she used to say to her friends, "that banking was so easy. It is not easy for Randolph. He never gets home until eleven or twelve o'clock. I know what it is to be a banker's wife, for Daisy and I sit up for him every night. The boys make so many mistakes, and Ran dolph has to go all over their work and cor rect it before he can do his own." Then her friends would look surprised, glance at one another and say: "They supposed bank ers were out at three. "No, indeed nearer three in the morn ing, than three in the afternoon, "she would reply.- In this same parjpr a. few days later, a little girl was sitting, perched ong the piano stool, her feet dangling, striking tho keys daintily, one at a timo. She seldom struck two at once. They made a sound she did not like; sometimes, however, she struck two that made a sound she liked bettor than that of tho one key. Then she would strike it many times. She would sing now and then snatches of songs in a clear, childish voice a strange medley of Sunday school hymns and popular songs of the day. Finally she stopped, jumped down, and began to talk. "How do you do, Mrs. Jones?" she said, as if addressing some one occupying one of the large easy chairs. "How do you think my little girl plays?" Then, changing her voice to represent tho other person "1 think she docs very well, Mrs. Gray. Does she practice much?" "Well, I have to scold her a good deal. She is quite a hard child to manage." she added, bursting into a wild little laugh at herself. At this point she spied her father coming and ran to meet him. "Papa, Manda told me to toll you I was your little cherub." But her father did not seem to hear her. All evening Daisy romped with Sancho, until the clock struck eleven. Then Mrs. GraT spent the remaining hour in calming her down and putting her to sleep. One o'clock, two o'clock, before Mr. Gray came. He was late that night, "What is the matter, Randolph? You look like a ghost," said his wife, as ho en tered. "It is all up with mo, Sis. We must . give up Prince and the piano and that lot of ours. They say I have taken money from the bank." 'Taken money you of all things ! Ran dolph Gray! It's those boys' mistake. I will wake you up early, so that you can go right down and tell them." "Don't talk so much, Sis," was all her husband deigned to reply. Now, a house on the corner, in a part of ' tho town beginning to give way to business blocks. A sign of boarding on tho side.