Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-04-25

Clllnl trAue, 10 pay Achlty ioi plo"Niii
the roam colt. So you see" "Ies, |
see" said Mrs. Jones, nodding her heao
erkily, like a mandarin somewhat out
Of order.
"Monaging people, you be! You won't
never come to be boarded out like town
poor, / reckon!"
81 hope not" said Mrs, Ackley, de-
voutly.
"The idea" said Miss Abigail.
"Well, things is ordered differently
in this world" observed Mrs. Jones.
IT'S uphill with some and down-hill
with others. But l guess I can get
along with you"
"My son will be up to pay his re-
spects tomorrow" said Mrs. Ackley.
"IIe lives a little beyond here"
"Ahw said Mrs. Jones.
ale hasn't been real successful in the
world" added Mrs. Ackley. "He
married a schoolma'am, and they've Il
little family, and Ackley's had to set
down his foot, as he won't help him
any more"
every one for himself, eh?" said
the old woman, with a chuckle.
Mrs. Acllley nodded. She had
ventured upon this confidential family
communication as a sort OF hint to
Cousin Jones, not to lend money to the
impecunious Abraham, junior. If
there was money floating around in
the golden atmosphere that surround
ed Mrs. Jones, why should it be given
over into such velvet-like hands as
those of Mrs. Abraham, junior.
"Perhaps," suggested Maria sweetly'
.Mrs. Jones would like some hot
buttered toast?"
"NNell, since you're so pressing, l am
rather partial to it" said Mrs. Jones.
"And," added Abigail, Jealous lest
she should be outdone in these sweet
deeds of hospitality, "there's a very
good meat pie in the pantry which l
made myself, if"
"NIeat pie" cried the old lady
'Meat pie is relish for anything
going. I don't know when I've put
my teeth into a good meat pie before.
Bring it on, young woman-brlng it
on"
The three Ackleys looked on with
beaming eyes, while Mrs. Jones ate
and drank like q half-famished lion
ness, and afterward they conducted
her to the bedroom, where the fire
blazed brightly on the painted, red,
brick hearth, and the patchwork Tx
ouilt-Maria's own wolk-was laid os.
tentatiously across the foot of the bed
And then they all came down stairs
closed in solid phalanx around the fire
and looked at one another with mean.
ing in their speculative eyes.
"Queer, amt she?" said Maria.
"Dressed exactly as if she came out
of an old rag-bag," commented Abigail
"lIold your tongue, girls!" said Mrs
Ackley. "Geniuses are always eccen
trio, And Cousin Jones is worth
cool forty thousand dollars"
Early the next morning, long before
daylight had irradiated the suller
darkness of the wintry horizon, ant
Mrs. Ackley was doing her best, il
curl papers and a dirty flannel wrapper
to make the kitchen fire burn, an ole
box-sled stopped at the door, and il
came Abraham, junior, brown-faced
good-natured and smiling.
"Well, mother" said he, "hows tn
folks y
"They're all well enough" said Mrs
Ackley, who always entertained
secret fear lest Abe should want tt
borrow money Of her.
"Father got home yet?' said Abe.
"No."
Mrs. Ackley was blowing desperate
ly at u crumplcd bit of paper which al
, solutely declined to ignite the kindling
adjoining to it.
."That's you, mother, to a 'T." sal
Abraham, good-humoredly. Your
too economical even to burn enoug
vase papers! Goodness knows, the
don't cost nothin'v
, "IIumph" said Mrs. Ackley.
, know some people as amt economic;
in nothin'!'
"And that reminds me-" said Abt
skating easily away from the subjec
I'm going down arter my boarder.
| "What boarder?' said Mrs. Ackle,
sharply.
Didn't you know?" said Alb
: "Me and Jane Eliza, we've bid for or
: of the town poor. 1t amt much pa
V to-be-sure. The selectmen are re-
t close this year, on account of the Tow
q hall havin, cost such sight O none
s But it's better than nothin'. And til
= old woman will be company for Jar
Eliza and the Children. It's old Hu
:, dah Jones, you know Cappep Jone
widder, down in Frog Lane"
o "Oh!" said Mrs. Ackley.
d 81 expected her up last night" sa
Abe, drawing on his blue yal
= mittens; "but / guess she found IL
g weather one too many for her rheum
t tiz; so now I'm goin' arter her, vii
an armchair tied into the box-sle
n And by-tbe-vav" fumhlinO in