Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-12-30
THE RELTCT OF CAPTAIN
pROSSER

PROSSER.
When she came back to Northport, and
took up her abode in the old homestead
where she was born, and which adjoined the
cemetery where the dust of all her kindred
reposed, Northport regarded the widow Pros
ser with great favor.
She was so completely a widow that she
commanded the respect always shown, even
in this imperfect state of existence, to thor
oughness. From the crispness of her black
Grape veil and the doleful freshness of her
black silk gloves to the severe hem of her
black bombazine dress she radated unmiti-
gated affection.
And there was such an appropriateness in
her living next door TO a cemetery She
might have chosen a new house in the midst
of the village, as at her time of life, and with
her means, many women would have done,
for she was little more than forty, and il was
generally understood that her husband, a
sea. captain, had left her very 'forehanded"
1t certainly showed an edifying sense of the
fitness of things for her to live in that lone
some old house, with the perpetually moan
ing sea on one side, and the graveyard on
the other.
She had taken her husbands niece to live
with her-a young girl sober and demure Of
aspect and exhibiting in her garb a modi-
fed grief She wore her hair banged, and
uuu IGu Cutthh, Out OlutINlhb buG
nized perfectly with the widows establish
ment; and such slight imperfections as hav-
ing a husbands niece with banged hair and
red cheeks were, after all, but human, and
seemed only, as it were, to show in a stronger
light the widows otherwise perfect propriety.
She chose as man of f-all-work Uriah Pease-
ley, an ancient mariner, who, having been
stranded on the reefs of rheumatism, had de-
voted himself for several years generally TO
'choring," and especially to the Office of
sections assistant, being, as he described
himself, "bandy at grave -diggin', and gen.
teel at calm of the mourners."
An Irishwoman whom she had brought
with her from the distant town where her
married life had been spent, and who vouched
for herself as having been "three times
wildly, and as dacent a one as iver stepped,
completed the widow Prosser's household,
with the addition of a sleek, drab, sanctimo-
nious parrot and a tabby that would have
been venerable Of aspect II some evil-dis-
posed person had not cut of two thirds of her
tail, leaving a funny little bob, which gave
| her a very comical and undignifed appear
ance but she was thus saved from unbe-
coming friskiness, having no tail long enough
| to chase.
The widow had her sitting. room in the
back part of the house, with side windows
I overlooking the cemetery. As she explained
to all her callers, ''she always had been one
that enjoyed passing, but she hadn't heart
10 look at it now"
As there was but one house beyond hers ou
that road, and that occupied by an old her
init, who never had any visitors, and as the
road went nowhere in particular, struggling
along more and more grassily until it lost it
self in a marsh, the widow could have had no
great opportunity to indulge in the dissipa
ton of looking at passing" if her feelings
had not forbidden but still it was regarded
as proper and commendable in her to retire
to the back part of the house.
1t was approvingly noticed that she never
went to any social gatherings except those oi
a religious character; but sewing circles anC
donation parties were regarded as belonging
to that class in Northport, so the widow
recreations were not so circumscribed as a
first might appear.
II only came at the call of duty" she re
marked to her nearest neighbor at donation
party. "a poor heart-broken widow has NJ
part nor lot in merry -makin's."
Land sakes you don't call this a merry
maxim z" exclaimed the neighbor, who wa
Mis- Deacon Wiswell pronounced Wizzle)
in holy horror. ITO me it's most solun
and edifyin' occasion and l never ye
brought custard that had less'n four egg
in it, and 1 never shall, let other folks d.
what they will"
This declaration of uncompromising virtu
was delivered in a very forcible manner, AM
loud enough TO reach the ears of a meek littl
woman, who was the wife Of Deacon Phillips
the "closest" man in Northport.
Folks can't expect much of poor lionel
widow women" said the widow ProsseE
smoothing the Grape folds on her dress "bu
amt scrimpin' of butter in my cake, no
don't begrudge frostin', and my apple jell
, always jells splendid, if 1 do say it. An
Cap'n Prosser, that had been all over tn
, world, and asked to dinner by the Gar c
Rooshy and the Emperor of Japan, couldn
eat any doughnuts but mine"
''You don't say SO But amt mite SUI
prised. l says to Mis- Copelin, when we wa
a-takin' the things out of the baskets, says
> Mis- Prossers doughnuts is enough TO brin
tears to your eyes Aud was glad TO sc
that YOU had fetched somo beautiful minc
pies for Mis- Sherborn was just tellin' N
= how much the minister set by them. Sh
. says he always writes his most forcible Sc
: mons, them that gives it to sinners so pov
erful aud describes the bad place 80 clear an
beautiful, after gettin' up in the night al
I. eatin' whole mince-pie. It's a solum an
y touchin' thought that you're a-providin'
means Of grace when you're a-choppin mea
. and a-weighin' out spices, and a measure
. out Dlolasses."
= Il nope luty hln 100 bWSelt hhlu tub WI
/ ow. Capn Prosser he liked 'em sweet, and
+ can't bear to make 'em any other way.
o always seems as if was maxim 'em for him
II suppose from your mournin' him s
d that he was a beautiful man that is so
q speak. OF course we're all sensible that po
human mater amt never what il ought TO be
# The widow, with downcast eyes, nodd
70 assent, either to one or both of these prop
II sitions.
p "Ship that he sailed in never heard from
% Well, it's terrible consolin' that he left "
k well OFF, and no funeral expenses neitht
10 And the second is very often likelier than Il
y first"
70 The widow raised her head, aud gave her
k naughty glance from a pair of keen bla'
es eyes.
81 hope you amt one to take oiIense VIII
of none is meant. A young and handsome wi
81 ow is dretful apt to take a second, more
a. peciRlly if she's 30 situated as to be able
% support him."
" The artful compliment was soothing to I
m widows irritated feelings, but she reptile
IN proudly,
10 mot if she is the relict of Captain ProsseI
Ia II haint no doubt he was a terrible like
a, man, and you do seem 10 feel your loss u
ie common" said Mis- Deacon Wiswell, in
4, conciliatory manner. II hope his niece il
" comfort to you" glnncing across the room
the bangs and red cheeks