St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-07-20

Tue ulSueS SHOOK on Cn6lF SHELVES anu
Captain Ben in his chair. at makes
me mad as March hare to hear men
go on as though all they'd got to do
was to throw down their handkerchers
to woman, and, no matter who, she'd
spring and run to pick it up. 1t is al
ways who will marry p and not who
will marry me p"
"Why, there is twice the number of
widders that there is of widderers here
at the Pint. That was what was in my
mind" said Captain Ben, in a tone of
of meek apology. "There is the Widow
Keens, she that was Azubah Muchmore.
l don't know but what she would do !;
Lyddy used to think everything of her,
and she is a first-rate of a house
keeper"
perhaps sO," assented Mrs. Davids,
obviously. "But she is troubled a
sight with the head complaint sup
pose you know she is. That is against
her.n
"Yes," assented Miss Tame. 'The
Muchmeres all have weak heads. And,
too, the Widow Keens, she's had fall
lately. She was up in chair cleaning
her top buttery shelf, and somehow
one of the chair legs give way,-it was
loose or something, l expect,-and
down she went her whole heft. She
keeps about, but she goes with two
staves."
Il want to know if that is so," said
Captain Ben, his honest soul warming
with sudden sympathy. "The widder
has seen a sight of trouble.n
eyes, she has lived through a good
deal, that woman has. / couldn't live
through so much, 'peaIs to nae but we
don't know what we can live through, u
rejoined Miss Tame.
Captain Ben did not reply, but his
ready feet began to move to and fro
restlessly for his heart, more ready
yet, had already gone out toward the
unfortunate widow.
''It is SO bad for woman to be
alone," said he to himself, Rambling
along the shingly beach a moment
after. "NObody to mend her chairs OF
split up her kindlings or do a chore for
her; and she lame into the bargain
1t is too bad"
"He has steered straight for the
Widow Keens's, rs sure as A is apple
dumpling," remarked Miss Persis, peer
lIOll lut W1uuOW-
"Well, | must admit l wouldn't have
thought of Captain Ben's being en-a-
mored after such a sickly piece of busi-
ness. But men never know what they
want. Won't you just hand me that
gum bottle, now you are up
1t is on that chest of drawers behind
you"
''NO more they don't" returned Mis-:
Tame, with plaintive cadence, taking
Il sniff from the camphoT-bottle on the
way. "However, l don't begrutch him
to her,-I don't know as | do. 1t will
make her a good hum, though, if she
concludes to make arrangements"
Meantime, Captain Ben Lundy's heaG
was wellDigh at Mrs. Keens's door, fol
it was situated only around the frs
sand-hill. She lived in little bit of 6
house that looked as though it had beer
knocked together for crockery crate
in the first place, with two windows
and rude door thrown in as after
thoughts. In the rear of this house
| like a grown-up hen-coop; and thi
was where Mrs. Keens carried on tn,
business bequeathed to her by her de
ceased husband, along with five small
children, and one not SO small. But
worse than that, one who was mot al
together there" as the English say.
She was about this business now
dressed in primitive sort of bloemer
with wash-tub and clothes wringe
before her, and an army of bathing
suits of every kind and color flappin.
wildly in the fresh sea air at one side.
From little farther on, minglin,
with the sound of the beating surf
came the merry voices of bathers,-
bOarders at the great hotels on the hill
"Here you be ! Hard at it !" sal,
Captain Ben, putting around the corne
like portable west-wind. 'I've un
derstoOd you've had hurt. Is tha
so?n
80 no! Nothing to mention," re
turned Mrs. Keens, turning about
face bright and cheerful as the ful
moon and throwing, as by accident,
red bathing-suit over the two broom
sticks that leaned against her tub.
| Unlike Mrs. Davids, Mrs. Keen
neither pitied herself nor would allo,
anybody else to do so.
''SbO !" remarked Captain Ben, feel
ing defrauded. He had counted o
sacrificing himself to his sympathies
but he didn't give up yet. "YOu mus
see some pretty tough times pears t
and only yourself to look to-" said b
proceeding awkwardly enough to han
the pile of wrung-out clothes upon a
empty line.
81 don't complain" returned th
widow, bravely. "My children are nc
teusome; and Jack, why you would b
! surprised to see how many things JAG
can do, for all he ish't quite right"
AS she spoke thus with affectionat
pride, Jack came up wheeling roughl
made cart filled with wet bathing
, clothes from the beach. He looked u
, at the sound of his mothers voice wit
something of the dumb tenderness of a
, intelligent dog. slack helps, Jac
good boy" said he, nodding with
happy smile.
"Yes, Jack helps. We don't con
plain," repeated the neither.
at would come handy, though,
[ have man around to see to things an
: kind O provide, wouldn't it, though
. persisted Captain Ben.
3 "Seme might think So" replied Mr.
E Keens, stopping her wringer to refe'
little. "But haven't any wish
l change my situation" she added, d,
= cidely, going on again with her work.
D "Sure ont 2" persisted the Captain.
J. "Certain," replied the widow.
e Captain Ben sighed. '1 thought m
!, be you was having hard row to no
and thoughts like enough"
:. What he never said, excepting by
Il beseeching glance at the cheerful wido,
It for just then an interruption came fro
n some neonle after hathinp-suits