The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-12-13
Misfellauenas.
AN OLD APPLE WOMAN.

AN OLD APPLE WOMAN.
Inever think Of the geography Of Boston
without being reminded of village to
which was once directed TO by planter
whom met by the roadside IN the back
woods Of Georgia. "Go street on" he said
"till you come to n singled house, black.
smith shop, and tobbaco barn, standing
right round puddle Of water; that's the
village" Boston to be sure, is something
more than shingled house, blacksmith
shop, and Tobacco barn; it is in fact, a
town several times larger than the Georgia
village /; but for all that, it stands right
round" puddlc-l beg pardon, pond
Of water, This pond is known in history
as the Frog Pond, and probably derived its
name from family OF frogs who once had
there summer residence; but why II 70.
tains il appella,ion is difficult to conjecture,
since all the Boston croakers now spend
their summers at Newport or Nahant, and
their winters in 'much dricr, If not more
wholesome quarters.
But pool Of wit has already been shed
OF this pool OF water, and it is not my in.
tention to swell pond into a big ocean
Adler pens than mine have tried to do that.
So shall content myself with emptying
my inkstand upon little old woman who,
in rain or shine, week in and week out, fol-
many a long year, kept an upple.stand
near the margin ofthat famous puddle OF
water.
She was little, and she was old, and do
think about as ugly as any woman who has
lived since the birth Of Evc-the first oi
apple women bu, she loved, and served
her country, and so, in spite other ugliness
I feel bound to give her "half dozen
pages Of general history"
At first she served il by vending green
apples and striped sticks Of stomacli.ache to
hungry lawyers and ragged urchins who
congregate about Court Square aud nj
this time was sole mistress Of a peripatctic
shop-a huge willow basket, going abon,
oe two legs aud open at the top except in
rainy weather, when il was rooted in by a
big cotton umbrella.
She was meagre anatomy, with sharp
nose, sunken chin, and u hatchet face,
covered over by shrivellcd skin ofthe pre-
else complexion Of a peeled potato. In
winter she wore faded hood, blanket
shawl, and wooden gown-shor enough
to show pair OF corrugated stockings, far
whittier than the snow in the streets of Bos.
ton. In summer she was clad with dimi.
" cap, a calico frock, and a cotton ban
dana, pinned closely over her bosom; hut
summer and winter she was always elong-
ated by pair Of stout brogans, with high
heels and thick soles-lhck enough, one
would say. to be impervious to all the
moisture that human feet are heir to. But
they were not impervious to the rhcuma.
tism. That, one day got into the legs OF
the old woman's apple basket, and forced
her to shut up her peripatetc shop, and to
open one Of less rowing character.
Then she pitched her tent upon tho COM
mon-or more literally, she planted there a
,hrec.legged stool, the big umbrella, and q
rough pine table, heaped high with r,'ssets,
pippins, and gilly-fowcrs, which was ready
to dispense to all comers, at the rate of one
cent for one. and half dime for half a
dozed-so several paper pluycartls, floating
like flags Of truce, from as many golden
pippins, told all and singular who frequent.
cd the Common.
business here throve with the old woman
for, in pleasant weather, the common is a
great resort for young couples, who bill and
COO under tho spreading elms, or OH the
iron.clad benches: and billing and cooing
is decided sharpener for the appetite. as is
proved by the laneutable case ofthe young
maiden who died Of love and turnips and
green apples.
There is no telling the quantity Of stom.
ach-ache and cholen-morbus that the old
woman daily dispensed to hungry lovers
but il mus, have been large, since 1t was
often noticed that however high her table
was heapcd in the morning, it was always
down low at night, when, with her basket
on her arm, she walked homcward.
One evening gentleman passing that
way Just a, dark found the table almost un-
touchcd.andthe oldwoman in great deal Of
trouble. II had rained all day, and lew low.
ers had come upon the Common SO with
apples and clothes weeping in sympathy
with her sorrow, she sat there, with no one
to help her home with her basket.
It is said that evil loves the dark; but il
is quite US true that many good'things avoid
the daylight. Others eyes are open, and
the fear of what ''mcn say" often sends us,
sneaking by on the other side, like the
Priest and the Lcvite, in the Parable. But
now il was dark SO the gentleman should
cred the apple basket and went home witt,
the old woman. She lived in small room
OH the top floor Of an old rickeIty house at
the North End; and as he went up the
stairs. the gentleman was in mortal fear Of
their ,umbling down, and spilIhy both him
and the apples. At last, however, he reach.
ed the room, and setting down tho basket
sat himself down to rest his tired legs and
shoulders. Il was narrow, mean apart
ment, and so low that, when he stood up.
:,L, h;. bc,d ,lposf hin tho ce;lin, Two