National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-03-14
RUE'S CASHMERE SHAWL.

Bless your soul how air ye, Mrs
Sovereign o. said a bent, wizened old
woman, aecosting lady who was giving
some orders in a store. Il should hev
knowed we if I'd met you in the New
Jerusalem You amt day oldern you
was dozen years ago. The old wo-
man wore n rusty alpaca, and tattered
wooden shawl that did service at the
same time for a bonnet.
81 really beg your pardon, muir
INJURED Mrs Sovereign, smiling apollo
getically upon the poor old face, and
trying to bring to mind all the old women
she had ever met - Is it Mrs. Rue o.
-" Bless youreyes. ! knew you wouldn't
forget an old neighbor-when l made
your wedding-cak too Now there's
many fine lady like you would hev jest
made as if she'd never sot eyes on sich
a shabby old body as me (; but you never
was proud. Lor sakes / wish l he'd
my teeth in Jest thought OF it. I'd
a put EN- in if knowt | was going fur
ter see you but, We see, | thought
there'd be nobody here ter take a grain
of notice of me. That's jest the way
go without thing, and you're sure ter
wish We he'd it; keep on your old gown,
and company certain ter call ~
lon've grown into philosopher
since We met" said Mrs. Sovereign.
Like as not" answered Mrs. Rue,
whose notions of philosophy were rather
hazy. Dut, you see, | was allus one
OF them folks as set sight by appear
ances-more's the pity And the teeth,
! got EN- by way of slant; and some
hnt,- ,+h 7 l.
the roof of my mouth seems ter go
clear up ter the top of my head. You
see, there was young fellow rs was a
dentst-a sort of peddling dentist-and
he was took down with the small pox,
and nobody ter look after him but them
as was scarced ter death of it but as it
wasn't no great account ter me noway,
and | couldn't be much worse off in
tother place, If | died of it, than with
Liza Ann, why, l jest up and nursed
him clean through with it and when
he got well, says he:
"' What shall | do fur you fur all
You've done IN my behalf? And says |,
Nothing whatsomever | was only
curious to know if I'd be liable to the
disease.
"' Nonsense says he I want ter
pay you IN some way And as he wusn't
forehanded, and knowed how ter feel
1ur them as wasn't, and as it was all in
his line, | said,
g" Well, if you're bent on it, make
me set of teeth And I'm awful sorry
| amt got EN- in. -
Indeed you deserved them, returned
Mrs. Sovereign. But don't concern
yourself about it shouldn't know that
you were without them if you had not
told me.
Oh yes, you would, begging your
pardon, IT you wus onst to see them in.
1ou are dropping piece of steak
eign
Lor [ wouldn't mind losing the
whole of it, I'm that glad at seeing you,
only Liza Ann would raise sich rum
pus she wouldn't take no excuses ; and
1t couldn't be made up ter her noway
! s'pose she's a-scoliing now. cause I
am at home frying this ere but left
the table all sot, and the water a-biling
fur the tea"
And who is Liza Ann ?"
Goodness! l thought everybody
knew Liza Ann-leastways, she thinks
they do. Why, she's my Toms widder;
an he leftwordon his dying-bed that she
Wus ter pervide fur me rs long as lived
an sometimes L think she's a-trying ter
see how soon she can get rid of me"
And do you still live in joys
Court p pursued Mrs. Soverign.e
) kes alive didn't you know that
we q ieft there these ten year? l s'pos-
ed that wus town talk. Iwish ter good
ness L he'd my teeth in, and I'd walk
along with you n bit, ter hev little
cfat, and not keep you waiting.
Oh, never mind your teeth. An
other woman might have limited that
she had her tongue left.
Now that's downright Christian in
you, / take it, Liza Ann herself would
not he seen outdoors with me in this
old gown and it want but yesterday
as met Miss Deacon Merit, and stop
pea ter ask after the deacon's numb
palsy. and she Jest makes ar though she
wusnt looking my way, and walks
straight on. ten We what, Miss Sover-
eign, If We want ter find out the natur
of folks, what virtues they're made of,
and what air hung onto 'em like their
clothes, jeff lose your worldly prosperity |
and your good looks, and wear out your
store clothes. But that Cashmere shawl
is ter blame fur it all-plague take it,
g. What do you mean ?" asked Mrs.
Sovereign.
Oh, like as not you never see me
wear 1t. l never he'd it on my back
more n twice. felt as il I was carry
ing OF Christians burden every time l
put 1T on. Liza Ann don't know I've