Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-04-29
Keeping Toll-Gate.
PART /.

and used to think thet meant poor Mrs. Ca
rev, down in the odd-shaped brown house at
the foot of the hill, with her seven grandchil-
dren. She had them all on her hands, and it
was as much as she could do to find living
for them. They were the bequest left her by
her only son Tom, who died year after his
feeble wife, and closed a somewhat graceless
career with true tears of pentence at the end,
and an appeal to "motber" to take care of his
helpless children. So the poor old lady, with
her bent shoulders and thin gray hair, brought
them all home to her funny brown cottage, and
there they were like little young robins crowd
ed in q tiny nest, seven mouths wanting to be
fed.
And to provide for the feeding, there was the
bit of garden, six hens, and in the keeping
room an old-faShioned loom, where Grandma
ther Carew wove rag-carpets for such Of her
neighbors as were thrifty, and sewed up all
their odds and ends of cloth in parti-colored
strips. Then there was the toll-gate at the
foot of the hill, and Grandmother Carew kept
that too, and so eked out ber scanty means
Then the children, they were of ages ranging
from three to twelve, and could not help very
much to be sure; but they ran TO open the gate,
and weeded in the garden, and went buckle
berrying barefoot over the pastures, besides
going to school when their clothes were good
enough. But take it at tho very best, you
must sec that poor old lady Of seventy could
not do much for such troop of children, he
yond providing them with their simple meals.
Simple meals indeed There, again, was
where she was like the old woman who lived
in n shoe
"To some she gave molasses, to some she gave
bread,
To some she gave whipping and put them to bedP'
The shrill, cracked, treble voice would be
heard calling, not unkindly, at supper-time-
Come, Diah, Ben, Mari, and Liz, Kit, Jem and
Suke! Come, eat your suppers while the mush
is hot I" And Diah aud Ben wond climb
down from off the toll-gate, Mari would come
sleepily out of some corner, Liz would flirt sau-
cily in, in her rags, Jems small, brown feet
would scamper, and little Kit would get in
last, tugging Snke in her arms. Then Grand
mother Carew fed them, scolded them, and put
them to bed, and it was like the old woman
that lived in the shoe for all the world
So the seasons came aud weut, and the chill
dren grew in their own wild. untutored way,
a sun-burnt ragged set, but healthy and good
tempered. And many times the people in fine
carriages who came driving up to the gate,
threw out bits of silver among the pennies, for
the bright-eyed children who waited on them.
1t was one summer afternoon, believe, when
a very plain carriage came slowly down the
hill, and there were seated in it lady dressed
in mourning and pleasant-faced, intelligent
boy. They seemed to have come from a long
distance, and the carriage was covered with
dust. They stopped after passing through the
gate and paid their toll.
Little GIRL" said the lady to Mari, who
took the pennies, "could you give me a glass
of milk 2"
Maf opened her big, black eyes little
wider, as she answered." No am, we haven't
got any cow"
"Oh, I'm sorry for that, said the lady re-
gretfully; al have had nothing to eat since
breakfast, and feel very faint. A glass Of milk
would be so refreshing"
Mari made no reply, for she did not think
of anything that could be done about it; but
Liz, who was swinging on the gate, called out
that Miss Gray had milk, she guessed
"And where is Miss Gray's?" asked the
lady.
"Oh, it's just over the lots little way here"
said Liz; "a but it's on the other road; you
can't get there in q carriage"
"I want little refresbment so much, Har-
ry." said the lady, turning to her son. al be-
lieve should let you run over the lots and get
me some milk, if were not afraid TO have you
leave the horse" Then, after moments hes
itation, she spoke to the Carew children again.
Wouldn't one of you little girls be willing.
she said, "to go over to that Miss Gray's for
me. and get some milk? really feel as if |
could not travel any further until have tasted
something"
But Mari did not lcok as il she wanted TO
90; she was tired, she said in fact, Mari was
lazy. Liz looked glooHdly down at ber torn
apron.
7" / can't 60" she said, for grandmother s
busy, and can't stop 10 FIX me up. I'd be
ashamed TO go there Ike this"
The lady leaned wearily back in her carriage.
But Kit, who was sitting on the ground in the
shadow of the wall, mendng little Suke's dress,
looked up, with a sudden sympathy, at the
pale, sweet face.
"FR do il" she said, jumping up; III run
right over there and get you the milk y and
away she went into the house after grandma
theirs little pitcher.
"Yes, said Mari, a let Kit 60; she is always
ready to do anything .
ashes barefoot said Liz, and she amt
GOT any bonnet. I'd be ashamed to 60 so''
But Kit did moi mind size climbed the wall