Connecticut western news., 1873-03-21
MOTHER RUE's CASHMERE SHAWL.


 "Bless your soul how air ye, Mrs. Sovereignty" said a bent, wizened old woman, accosting lady who was giving some orders in store. "I should hev knowed ye if I'd met you in the New Jerusalem you ain't day older'n you was dozen years ago." The old wo- man wore rusty alpaca, and tattered woolen shawl that did service at the same time for bonnet.
 "I really-I beg your pardon, mur mured Mrs. Sovereign, smiling apolo- getically upon the poor old face, and trying to bring to mind all the old women she had ever met. Is it Mrs. Rue p = Bless your eyes! I knew you wouldn't forget an old neighbor- when I made your wedding-cake, too Now there's many fine lady like you would hey jest made as if she'd never sot eyes on sich shabby old body as me but you never was proud. LOT sakes I wish I he'd my teeth in jest thought of it. I'd a put 'em in if knowed I was going fur ter see you but, ye see, I thought there'd be nobody here ter take grain of notice of me. That's jest the way go without thing, and you're sure ter wish ye he'd it keep on your old gown, and eompany's certain ter call p
 You've grown into a philosopher since we met, said Mrs. Sovereign.
 "Like as not" answered Mrs. Rue, whose notions of philosophy were rather hay. "But, you see, I was allus one of them folks as set sight by appear ances-more's the pity! And the teeth, how or other when I don't hev 'em in, the roof of my mouth seems ter 20 clear up ter the top of my head. You dentist-a sort of peddling dentist-and he was took down with the smallpox, 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 I couldn't be much worse off in t'other place, if I died of it, than with Liza Ann, why, I jest up and nursed him clean through with 1t; and when he got well, says he:
 What shall do fur you fur all you've done in my behalf?' And says I,
 Nothing whatsomever. I was only curious to know if I'd be liable to the disease
 Nonsense says he; T want ter pay you in some way And as he wusn t forehanded, and I knowed how ter feel fur them as wasn't, and as it was all in his line, said,
 Well, if you're bent on it, make me set of teeth And I'm awful sorry I ain't got em in." r. tt@- :
 Indeed you deserved them, returned Mrs. Sovereign. "But don't concern yourself about it shouldn' know that you were without them if you had not told me-"
 "Oh yes, you would, begging your pardon, If you wus onst to see them in. ''
 "You are dropping piece of steak from your paper," observed Mrs. Sover- eign: ElE !
 "Lor l 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 it couldn't be made up ter her noway l s'pose she's a-scolding now, cause ] ain't at home frying this ere; but I Jeff the table all sot, and the water a-biline fur the tea" .f.5.-
 "And who is Liza Ann }" -.-.
 Goodness! I thought everybody knew Liza Ann-leastways she thinks they do. Why, she's my Toms widder an'he leftword on his dying bed that she wus ter pervide fur me as long as lived an sometimes think she's a-trying, tel see how soon she can get rid of me-
 "And do you still live in Joy. Court ?" pursued Mrs. Soverign.e
 Stakes alive didn't you know tha we'd left there these ten year? I s'pos ed that wus town talk. Iwish ter good ness I he'd my teeth in, and I'd wall along with you bit, ter hey little chat, and not keep you 8 waiting."
 Oh, never mind your teeth" An other woman might have hinted tha she had her tongue left.
 "Now that's downright Christian il you. take it, Liza Ann herself would not be seen outdoors with me in thi old gown :; and it want but yesterda, as I met Miss Deaeon Merit and stop ped ter ask after the deacon's numb palsy, and she jest makes ar though sh' wusn't looking my way, and walk straight on. tell ye what, Miss Sover eign, if ye want ter find out the natur of folks, what virtues they're made of and what air hung onto 'em like thei clothes, jeft lose your worldly prosperit, and your good looks, and wear out you store clothes. But that Cashmere shaw is ter blame fur 1t all-plague take it!"
 "What' do you mean ?" asked Mrs Sovereign. .,s V. I.
 ooh, like as not you never see m wear it. I never he'd it on my bacl more'n twice. I felt as if I was carry ing of Christians burden every time put 1t on. Liza Ann don't know Iv got it-she'd take it away if she did. keep 1t sewed up in towel in my stray bed-there want nowhere else out o the way of Liza Ann's prying eyes. can't bear the sight of that shawl, makes my eyes smart ter look at it, ant the tears jest come of their own accord Sometimes I've been 8 mind ter sell it but, sakes alivel you can't never get tn vally of thing like thatp'
 "And how much did you give for it? asked her listener. .e-s
 "A hundred dollars!-silver ones! l hlistara my tnnnua tar fall ill A h11n