The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-03-17

wasn't nothing like o shawl ter cover up
your old gowns, and make ye look re-
spectacle ! though / knew it wus all
spite and jealousy that made their words
singing,
"Iye come ter think I'd rither hey
my neighbors good natured than envi-
GUS rs ! git along in years. I wa'n'thalf
80 comfortable in my Cashmere as I'd
bin in tho old robroy; and after I wore
II twice / took such q disliking ter il
that / jest hid it away, and went back
ter the robroy. But 1 allus felt rs il
the Cashmere he'd crippled us. Ye see,
we allus has ter pay fur our luxuries,
even after we've got tired OF EN-. Money
wus harder ter git after that, or perhaps
I'd misused my opportunity and didn't
desarye another. Howsomever, Mr..
Doubleday, who held the mortgage,
diod, and his son foreclosed, and turned
us out o house and homel After that
there wusn't much ter hinder us from
going down hill pretty lively. John lie
lost courage, and wus Citing weakly (;
the children died one after another, ex-
cept Tom, and Liza Ann she worrited
the life out out OF him in time and so
here I am, IN old woman, with naught
in the world but set Of teeth and that
there Cashmere shawl. You see, IL I
he'd paid the money onto the mortgage,
it would hev give John a Lift, and put
some spirit inter him-fur work never
seems so Light as when you're Citing
ahead-and then maybe 1 shouldn't hey
he'd retribution a.follering OF mo round
all my days in the shape Of Liza Ann
a-twitting me OF being . burden and q
millstone around the neck Of she and the
children; though, goodness knows,
slave well fur all l 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
| il you don't do the hundredth, 20 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 while, onless the fire goes out ;
and you're an old friend, so't I've made
free ter tell } Q about the shawl, A body
must speak now and agin about what's
worrying EN-, and there's no sympathy
in Liza Ann more'n o tommyhawk |"
"And did you never speak to yohr
husband about the shawl ?" asked Mrs.
Sovereign.
"Bless you, yes and he said as how
it wouldn't hey made no difference no.
way: Doubleday'd hey foreclosed, and
the house and money'd hev gone togeth-
er. He was allus that consoling, John
wus. But I've thought II any body
could feel rs how the shawl was worth q
hundred dollars or less, it might, as I
said, pay my way inter the Old Ladies'
Home, out Of Liza AIMS reach, for I'm
sot agin being burden or milestone
ter any body
az should like to see the shawl, ," said
her friend "if you will bring it to my
mothers house tomorrow, / will see
what can be DONE"
4 "I'll come, rain or shine. I've both
cred you with an awful long yarn, but II
it want for Liza Ann-gracious there
she is at the door now, a-looking fur me,
and whole thunderstorm in her facel
Good-day, and thanks |" and the little
old woman hobbled Of, up o 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.
"Qaitc," returned Mrs. Sovereign,
exchanging glances with her mother.
"It's q pity you couldn't have sold it
before, and had the money ut interest all
this timeI'
eliza Ann wouldn't hev lcered ter
its staying there r.
"Bnt how much do you think 1t is
worth ?" asked Mrs. Sovereign, with an
amused smile.
"Lor sakes | II ] could git twenty
five dollars, I 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 r.
"Now don't you're Just a-ioking Of
mo Who ever heerd tell Of CASH
mere shawl costing such power OF
money |"
"1t's 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, 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 IN India shawl, II you are willing,
I will take this, aud pay you two thou
sand dollars |"
"My u cried the poor woman, with
tears in her eyes. cts the fust time
I've wished John alive agin in this ere
world OF worlds | II he only knew
Miss Sovereign, the Lord must hev sent
you purpose ter take mo out OF Liza
AIMS reach I don't hey no need ter
be under obligation ter the Old Ladies'
Home neither, fur / can hire room,
and keep house all ter myself, and hev
folks ter tea sociable /; and what's more,
I shall hev something tor leave the chill
dren, ter pay 'em fur being burden
and milestone bout their necks I
wish John was here ter thank you !"
-
A Hens Guard.