Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-02


.'Crissy Bronson - she calculated, af-
ter a moment. holding out the note.
Read that That dress is yours by
special indication of Providencei'
Chrissy's energetic face wore a soften.
ed look a. she read the little slip. She
read it twice and handed it back to the
woman. who put it absently in the pocket
Of the dress again
How kind people have been to Us"
she said.
The woman who sent that dress loved
il for the sake of the one that used to
wear il. ! wonder where that box came
from ~
This lots all marked Middleport. l..
|. -" answered the forewoman. why"
suddenly that's the place where yonr
folks live ant it , | never thought of it
when read the name at first
Yes" answered Crissy, musingly
Christian remember most everybody
in MidJleport, but | can't seem to think
who could ha' sent that dress. But IL
find her ont"
Deacon Joel's handwriting was so
small and close that they had taken it for
woman's.
We'll, YOU see Providence clearly
means this dress for you," said the other.
refolding and handing it to Crissy.
II will take it, said Crissy, quietly.
but if everybody else amt as well sup
piled as | am | shall give away the one
I've got on when 60 away
Chrissy Bronson had laid violent hands
on many Il dress to remodel it; she had
been feminine Wecumseh's mainstay in
matters of dressmaking for years. Since
her father died her busy fingers had sup
ported her mother, until one day the last
thing they could do for her was to make
her shroud and lay her in it. say she
had laid violent hands on many dress
before. but when she took her scissors to
the marvellous stitches in that blue dress
her quick. capable hand hesitated.
Il Declare" she said to herself, '.it
seems almest wicked to cut one of those
beautiful little stitches. Chrissy Bronson,
! do believe you're great goose, You
cant wear it as it is-youv'e got to cut
into it, and You might as well begin first
as last
But before she began she took the slip
of paper from the pocket and read it
again; then she put it back. She did not
say in SO many words that she should
leave it there as long as she wore the
dress. but there was tactic understand
ing to that effect between Chrssy Bronson
and herself. She was woman of quick
instincts and clear-sightedness and that
Supplemented child-like note had touched
her.
When it's all told 'ta'n't all been lost
to me. this fire business she said, going
at her shipping in earnest. Il don't
know but was grown TO think folks
was a selfish lot. always skimpin' you in
the cloth. givin' You sixteen wards where
you ought to have twenty, and expectin'
YOU to get tlounces. an pleatin's. an
paniers and every other earthly thing a
woman puts on her back out of it. But
shall ALWAYS remember now how kind the
folks all over the country have been to
the folks here in Michigan
MANY times since she had left her dead
mother there, had the thought of
going to Middeport to live arisen in
Chrissy's mind but there had been lit
tie property and the surety of plenty of
work in Wecdmseh to keep her there.
After her little property had been burned
to ashes the thought grew to purpose.
There was an old man I've heard my
mother tell of down in Middleport, that
used to say, Blessed be nothin for YOU
amt got no taxes to pay?" she said with
laugh. when the first shock OF her loss
was over. There air t anything to hold
me to Wecumseh any longer. Every
body that belongs to me is at Middleport
and I'm goin' there. | amt afraid but
what can get livin' anywhere.
Aud so it fell that one week from the
day she put her scissors for the first time
into Deacon ,Joel's sisters wedding dress.
Deacon Joel himself, down at the depot
with old Suke and load OF barrelled eau
lifiower, saw a vision: it was Chrissv Bron-
son in her blue dress. stepping out upon
the platform with her brisk, independent
step.
Apparently she was looking for no one to
meet her. for she Immediately walked
down the platform. at the end of which
Deacon joel stood. transferring his cauli-
flower from the wagon to the freight
house.
The Deacon had recognized both her and
her blue dress, for Chrissv's def fingers
had conlrived to modernize the dress with
little alteration. As she came towards him
he let the barrel he was handling fall. and
il went rolling away down the narrow
platform. giving Chrissey hardly room to
turn.
Il beg your pardon said Deacon Joel.
following helplessly after it.
Chissy laughed brightly.
THAT was nothing" she said holding
out her hand. "How do you do. Deacon
Emmett? Don't you remember me ~
She herself never forgot any one she
ever saw. She knew everybody in Mid
dleport that had been there six years ago
Deacon Emmett shook hands with her
in a dazed sort of way, answering at ran
dom a question or two concerning her
grandfather. Uncle Siny," and then she
went on crossing the track and stepping
out into the village road.
The Deacon finished unloading his wag-
on. got in. cairruped to old Suke, and
drove off. Less than . quarter of q mile
down the road he passed Chrissy. walking
with quick, firm step that set the short