The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-05-15
and genuine as MANS" another for her

and genuine as MANS" another for her
merry laugh.
In the meantime they all carried their
secrets to her the very classmates of
the Noyes boys wrote to her about
their college scrapes that she might
4" see father and mother about it, and
beg them Off" She had queer "fol-
lowing" of women, too; shabby widows
and fashionable bellies and poor seam
stresses-you were Just as likely to find
one at her table as the other. She had
not the least perception of clf IS dis
tinctiOns, owing perhaps to those Quaker
grandfathers who measured the world
and all in it by ideas. She had, too,
different rates of value from ours with
regard to other things. Mrs. Tanning
unconsciously ranked herself high IN
the scale of being because Of. her price
less bric-a- brac, and portfolio OF proofs
before letters. Dode also surrounded
herself with old china and pictures,
but was Indifferent about 1t : she did
not carry little luxuries with the uneasy
vanity of q workman in his Sunday
shirt. Art and wealth had been ordina-
ry appliances of her mothers family for
generations. She took no more notice
as to whether man was rich or poor in
her gloved or ungloved.
Somebody was sure to bring every
foreign traveller to the doctors house !;
whether it was prince, novelist or poet,
Mrs. Dode welcomed them to her Ordi-
nary table and habits, not concerniCg e
herself if they were used to a palace or
howell and they in turn forgot to notice
whether the napkins were folded in
English fashion, or how she dealt with
her els.
ST wish you to Judge of us by our
representative women" Mrs. Tanning
said to one of these tourists, while they
were dining at the doctors " and not
by negative characters.
But he could look at nobody but the
homely little woman at the head of the
table. ''Ah, madam" he cried, 'there
are so many representative women
| But the old story tells us how Prince
! Charming married the good fairy, and
| by her had family of but few chill
/ dren, all of whom were born in the
| light of the moon; and meet one now
and then in this country or in that.
When find one of them, then [ look
no farther"
It was quite natural that Mrs. Dode,
having lived in so negative a way, with
out making mark or bruit in the world,
should die in the same fashion. 1t ap-
pears that while she seemed in health
some secret symptoms led her to consult
a physician. She went to New York to
do this, saving nothing to her husband.
and there learned that she had but &
short time to live. Whatever grief she
may have felt, she showed none an6
told nobody her secret. When she
came back the home life went on in itG
usual merry fashion. Dick and Jot
both brought their brides home tina
winter. DR.. NOyse, who had grow
younger and more energetic every yea1
since his marriage, was busted will
some experiments in electricity, which
added greatly to his reputation. Mrs
Dode did not change her habits in thu
least. She never had been a constan
church-goer, or a member of any chart
table society, and she did not becom,
one now. TWAS remembered afterwarl
that she remained out longer in tn
mornings on her rounds among the poor
and that she had print which was il
her chamber re-hung that she could Sc
! it when she woke in the morning. q
was the Head crowned with thorns.)
In June her husband was invited t.
Baltimore to an anniversary celebration
III WHICH ne alWayS LOOK a Keen ueIlSui
She chung to him and cried when he wa
going. 8" If you need me, Dode, I vii
stay with you" he said, tenderly. Sh
self, smiling. "No, it will be pleas
anter for you there" said she, ''onl
goodbye once more, dear" She wen
to bed as usual that night. In tn
morning they found her dead, her chez
resting on her hand, half smile on tn
freckled face; her other hand, tigt
closed, was lying on her heart, and the
found in it a bit of the hair of tn
l little dead-born baby that came to he
years ago, whose head had never reste
on her bosom. The morning sun shon
!. brightly over her, and the room We
filed with the perfume of sweet rose