National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-03-14

nor when Miss Little declared, There
wasn't nothing like shawl ter cover up
your old gowns, and make We look re-
spectacle ! though / knew it wus all
spite and jealousy that made their words
singing.
"Pve come ter think I'd rither hev
my neighbors good natured than envi-
Gus as git along in years. l want half
so comfortable in my Cashmere rs I'd
bin in the old robroy; and after I wore
it twice / took such disliking ter it
that jest hid it away, and went back
ter the robroy. But ! allus felt as if
the Cashmere he'd crippled us. Ye see,
we allus has ter pay fur our luxuries,
even after we've got tired OF 'em. Money
wus harder ter git after that, or perhaps
I'd misused my opportunity and didnt
desarve another. Howsomever, Mr..
Doubleday, who held the mortgage,
died, and his son foreclosed, and turned
us out O. house and home After that
there wusn't much ter hinder us from
going down hill pretty lively. John he
lost courage, and wus Citing weakly !;
the children died one after another, ex-
cept Tom, and Liza Ann she Worried
the life out out OF him in time and so
here / am, an old woman, with naught
in the world but a set Of teeth and that
there Cashmere shawl. You see, if
he'd paid the money onto the mortgage,
it would hev give John lift, and put
some spirit inter him-fur work never
seems SO light as when you're Citing
ahead-and then maybe / shouldn't hev
he'd retribution a-follering of me round
all my days in the shape Of Liza Ann
a-twitting me of being burden and a
milestone around the neck of she and the
children though, goodness knows, l
slave well fur all / git-what with being
up at five o mornings, making pies, and
frying O. griddle- cakes, and standing at
the wash-tub, till my feet were that
numb they wouldn't bear me
But it amt no use. You may do
ninety-nine things fur some folks, and
if you don't do the hundredth, We might
as well let it all alone and Liza AIMS
one on 'em though don't want ter be
complaining, only pot must bile over
onst in q while, onless the fire goes out !;
and you're an old friend, so't I've made
free ter tell ye about the shawl. A body
must speak now and agin about what's
worrying 'em, and there's no sympathy
in Liza Ann more'n tommyhawk -
And did you never speak to you.
husband about the shawl ?" asked Mrs
Sovereign.
Bless you, yes and he said as how
it wouldn't hev made no difference no.
way: Doubleday'd hev foreclosed, and
the house and money'd hev gone togeth-
er He was allus that consoling, John
WIS. But I've thought if any body
could feel as how the shawl was worth a
hundred dollars or less, it might, as
said, pay my way inter the Old Ladies
Home, out of Liza AIMS reach, for I'm
sot agin being burden or a mlllstone
ter any body"
81 should like to see the shawl" said
her friend "if you will bring it to my
mothers house tomorrow, l will see
what can be done.
"Ill come, rain or shine. I've both
cred you with an awful long yarn, but if
it want for Liza Ann--gracious there
she is at the door now, a-looking fur me,
and whole thunderstorm in her face!
Good-day, and thanks !" and the little
old woman hobbled off, up a muddy
lane.
True to her word, Mrs. Rue appeared
the next day with the shawl.
at is as good as new" she said, un-
folding it.
quite" returned Mrs. Sovereign,
exchanging glances with her mother.
Its pity you couldn't have sold 1t
before, and had the money at interest all
this time ~
eliza Ann wouldn't hev heered ter
its staying there y
"But how much do you think it is
worth ?" asked Mrs. Sovereign, with an
amused smile.
"Lor sakes ! if I could git twenty
five dollars, l should thank my born
stars =
"Well, I was looking at shawls of this
kind in New York last week, and the
price was-two thousand dollars y
"Now don't ! you're just a-joking of
me Who ever heerd tell of Cash
mere shawl costing such power of
money -
Its very good joke, isn't it =? But
it's true, all the same. You see, it's an
India Cashmere: you thought it was
French, l suppose: so perhaps did Mrs
Niles. But as she set her own price,
and has left no heirs, there will be no
trouble. Ny husband is going to give
me an India shawl. If you are willing,
1 will take this, and pay you two thou
sand dollars !"
my ~ cried the poor woman, with
tears in her eyes. It's the fust time
I've wished John alive agin in this ere
world of worlds If he only knew
Miss Sovereign, the Lord must hev sent
you purpose ter take me out of Liza
AIMS reach / don't hev no need ter
be under obligation ter the Old Ladies
Home neither, fur l can hire a room,
and keep house all ter myself, and hev
folks ter tea sociable and what's more,
I shall hev something ter leave the chill
dren, ter pay 'em fur being a burden
and q milestone bout their necks 1
wish John was here ter thank you p