Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-06-20
StlttttN SStorp.
AN OLD APPLE WOMAN.

AN OLD APPLE WOMAN.
never think OF the geo grsphy of Bos
Ion without being reminded of yillag,
70 which | was once directed by planter
whom | met 10y the roadside in The bscI
woods OF Georgia. Go street on b,
sA't. ';'il YOU come 20 n singled house
t.acSsml.h's shop. aud tobacco barn
Siar'hn' round puddle OF water; that:
tue Village Boston. TO be sure, i.
something more than shingled house,
a blacksmith shop. and tobacco barp il
IS IN isCt, town several times larger
than The Georgia village, but, for all that
It stands right round" pudd!e-I beg
pardon. Il pond-of water This pool is
known 10 history AS the Frog Pond, and
Il probably derives It's name from family
OF frogs who once had there a summer
residence; bu, Why i retains its appella-
tion i, Is dillicu 10 conjecture. since all
the Boston croakers now spend their sum
mers a. Newport or Nahant. and their
winters in much dryer. if not more
Wholesome. quarters.
Bu; "a pool oi wi, has already been shed
oH this pool OF water, and it is not my in
ten,ion to swell small pond into an
ocean Adler pens than niue have tried
10 DO that So | shall content myself
with emp.yiug mY iuks.and upon Il LITTLE
old woman who. IN rain or shine, week
IL. and week out. Tor many year. kept
al apple-stand near the margin OF that
famous puddle OF water.
She was little, and she was old. aud |
10 think about as ugly as any woman
who has lived since he birth OF Eve--lhe
frs, OF spple women: but she loved and
served her counIry, and so. in spite Of
her ugliness. feel bound TO give her
"hAlt dozen pages OF general history.
At first she served Il by vending green
apples aud striped sticks of stomach-a ache
to the hungry lawyers and ragged urchins
who cougregate about Cour; Square and
Al this time was mistress OF peripatetic
shop-a huge willow basket, going about
on two legs and open al the top, except
in rainy weather, when il was rooted in
by a big cotton umbrella.
She was q meagre anatomy, with u
sharp nose, suukeu chin and a hatchet
face. covered alloyer by shriVelled skin
Of the precise complexion OF a peeled
potato. Ia winter she wore iaded
hood. q blanket shawl, and i wOo.en
gown-shOrt enough TO show a par
OF corrugated stockings. far whIIer than
the snow in the streets of Boston. In
sumIer she was clad in dimity cap.
calico lrock and cotton bandanna plnned
closely over her BOSOM but, summer
and winter, she was Slwajs elongated oy
a pair OF stout brogans. with high heels
and thick soles. thick enough. one wouid
say. to be impervious to all the moisture
lha, human leet are heir 10. But they
were not impeEyious 10 the rheumatism
That one day got into the legs ot the old
womGn's apple basket. and forced her 10
shu up her peripatelic shop. aud TO open
one Of less rowing character.
Then she pitched her tent upon lhe
Common; or. more literally. she planted
there 4 three legged stool. the big un :
br.lls and rough pine table, hesped
high with russeIs. piPpins. and gully
a5we,s. which she was ready 10 dispose
of 10 all coners, st the rate OF one cent
for and halfa dime for hall dozen
so several paper placards, aoatlng ike
Asos Of truce, from as many golden
piopios. told all and singular who Ire
ouepled The Common.
Rnsiness here throve with the old wo-
q an for, in pleasant weather. the Com
mon is a great resor! for young couples
Who hill and coo under the spreading
e,ms or on the iron clad benches; and
bil.ipg and cooiog is a decided sharPener
of the appetite. as is proved by the
l,ment,ble case of the young maieen
who died of love and green apples
There is no telling the quantity ol
s,onach-aehe and cholera morOus mat
,be old woman daily dispensed to hungry
levers; bu, i, must have been large,slnee
:, wAs often noticed that. however, hhigh
hor liable was heaped in the morning. al
was always low down at night when,
Nth q basket on her arm she ramoieu
homeward.
One evening gentleman passing thai
nav lost a, dark found the table almoS!
r,,opcbed and the old woman 10 gress''
aastof trouble. II had rained all day.
r.w tovers had come upon the Common
40. with apples and clothes weeping !"
,y mpalhy with her sorrOw' she Sd. mere a
xi,b no one to help her home with her e
basket. h,,
lis said that evil loves the dark ton'
-, ,kat MANY rood things