Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-12-04

Miss Wings Thanksgiving

Miss Wings kitchen was prim and
clean Is broom. soap and soft water
could make it; and Miss Wing sat in it.
rigid and warlike. before the blaekest Of
stoves. her feet planted firmly on
square Of rag carpet.
There was never an atom Of dust. or
even a skinner or tin spoon out Of place
in that kitchen; for in all the wide
world. there was no one or thing that
dared to enter without especial permis-
/ sion.
Excepting few stray sunbeaus-and
even they crept in and shimmered on
the geraniums in the window As if they
hardly dared.
1t was Thanksgiving eve, and the
faint OdOr Of cranberry tarts and pump
kin pies erept out from the pantry. and
gave sort of festal fragrance to the
room. which might have led stranger
to believe that Miss Wing intended 20
celebrate, and had been preparing for
guests. Ii would have been difficult for
her to tell you for whom. however, as
all her nearest relations lay up on the
hillside. and. driven by her own stern
will. "lOvers and friends had departed
far from her"
The only person living who was at all
connected with her. was poor country
minister, with John Rogers sort of
family. whose life was constant strug-
gle to cover the bodies and satisfy the
hunger Of the ten healthy. growing chill
dren.
We cannot wonder that be sometimes
thought of Cousin Selina's age and nice
little fortune that would 20 to some
one
Neither can We wonder that in = 6t
Of desperation be wrote and asked her
to take his eldest daughter for the win
ter.
"Let the girl come. said Miss Wing
''I'l make her useful"
So useful. indeed, that Milly Thorne
never went to bed at night without see
ing rOpes Of dried apples that she had
strung. aud acres Of tallOw candles she
had dipped. swimming before her tired
eyes.
But all things have an end. and pa
tient little Milly ThOrne. worn out with
hard work. and despairing of ever find
ing in Miss Wing that proverbial soft
spot which is in every ones heart, pack
e,i her little satchel and went back over
the hills 70 the ereyded nOuse, the IIEvu
mother, and the many children. where
there was deArth Of everything but love.
So Miss Wing threw away s golden
opportunity Of erOwning her old age
with love and happiness
I think it must have been from force
Of habit that she had cooked her most
golden pumpkin and stuffed her fattest
pullet for solitary Thanksgiving feast
For it was very certain she would bid
no one 10 share it with her. and still
more certain that no one would come
unbidden.
. For she set her face like flint agsinst
visits from grOvn-up people. and witt
: every child in the village she was a
open war.
The meeker ones among them would
run if they saw her coming. and no
even the brayest dare ask her for = flow
er. while the lawless and ungoyerneC
E ones invented ways to torment her.
One little eolored boy. especially
D whom the children called Caterpillar
J was the plague of ber existence
His chief amusement was to percl
himself upon her white gate post. hI
rags futtering in the wind, the battere'
5 crown Of an old straw hat clinging t
4? his wOOlIy head and. playing an imag
: mary banjo. sing to an admiring dusk,
audience collected on the sidewalk:
Ten little dArkies stznnin' in linz
!, At first Miss Wing affected calr
/ indifference which she was far frOm fee
i ing
But when it grew to Be regular en-
tertainment it was more than she eoul
endure. So one day, when Caterpilla
\ had lust commenced bis second stanza-
:. ..Sfne little dArki=s sitting On gate.
- One % 'ez tunhlsd II an dzr Ezs cnly eight =
&c she made an unexpected assault upo
him with a brOomstick. tumbled hir
! over on the sidewalk and summarily di:
is persed his audience
le Nothing daunted. however. CsterpI
Zs lar picked himself up. shook the hOstil
" dust from bis garments and, retreatin
to distance. sang:
Ole Man Wing.
s. Csiy ole ting
-. Crzck vou ob@r tie Ekuil, boyH-
jus coz yea Wa1-@- slng-
This act Of Miss Wings was taken Z
: an open declaration Of war. and pea
:, and quietness we're over for ber-
The most mysterious things baPPene
IN to her garden. Tomatoes. that hun
IN ripe and red upon their stems at nigh
to vanished before morning The Onic
1e bed looked as if an army had marchs
n through it Melons and green col
og walked away together. and the gral
vines hung their heads as if nOurnir
- - =