The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-06-21

kindness. 'theres very good meat pc IN
.Ls pantry. vLich made myself. IL
aMeas pier cried the old LADY. meat
pie iss relish for anything going. idons
kaes when I've put my teeth into good
meat pie before Bring II on. young von.
an hiring Il on.
The three Acklcys looked on With beam
ing eyes while Mn Jones ate and drank
like . hAlf-fsnished iionesa. and aftervard
they conducted her 10 70 the bedroom,
where the fire biased brightly cn the
painted, red. brick hearth, and the patch
york silk quilt Maria's own work was
laid ostentstiously across the foot u the
bed.
Aud then they al came dowa stairs,
closed In solid phalAnx around the hre.
aud looked ct ons another With meaning
In their speculative syss
Queer, Amt shss' said Maria.
Dressed exactly . II she had come out
OF an old rag bag, commented Abigail.
Hold your tongues, girls" sai-Mu
Ackley. "0eniuses are always eccentric
And Cousin Jones is worth cool forty
thousand dollarsl'
Early next morning, long before daylight
had irradiatsd the sullen darkness Of the
vintry horizon. and Mrs. Ackley ws do
ing her best. in curl papers and dirty dan.
mel wrapper. to make the kitchen fire burn
an old box sled stopped st the door, and
In came Abraham. junior, brown'tsoed,
good .natured and smiling.
"wsll. mother" said he, "how's the
folks?"
They're all well enough" said Mrs.
Ackley, who always entertained a secret
fear lest Abe should want to borrow money
OF her.
Father got home YETI"
"Nor'
Mrs. Ackley was blowing desperately at
. crumpled bit Of paper which absolutely
declined TO ignite the kindling adjoining
il.
That's you, mother, to I" said Alb
raham good humoredly; you're too eco
nomical even to burn enough waste papers.
Goodness knows they don't cost nothin"
"Humph" said Mrs. Ackley. I know
some people ss amt economical in nothinr
"And that reminds me, said Abe, skat.
ing easily away from the subject, I'm go.
ing down after my new boarder."
"What boarder2' said Mrs. Ackley
sharply.
Didn't you know" said Abe. "Me
and Jane Eliza, we've bid for one OF the
town poor. 1t Amt much pay, to be sure.
The selectmen are real close this year on
account Of the Town hall havin' cost such
q sight O. money. But it's better than
nothin'. And the old woman will be com
pany for Jane Eliza and the children. Iii
old Huldah Jones, you know--Capper
Jones widder, down in Frog Lane.
"oh," said Mrs. Ackley.
II expected her up last night" ssid
Abe. drawing on his blue yarn mittens
"but / guess she found the weather on'
too mauy for her rheumatic; 80 now In
goin' arter her with an arm chair tied
into the box sled And, by the way fun
bling in his coat pocket. here's letter
got last night. Guess It vas meant ia fol
father, ,Apt 4 opsaea IL Ry mistake"
who's il frqn,t' screeched Abigail
who had just come down stairs haltirozer
from her freless room, tying her apror
strings as she came, while Maria was visi
BILE, twisting mp her back hair, in the dis
tance.
"Your rich cousin in New York." sait
Abe. .'She amt comm. She's made up
her mind TO rent furnished fiat in New
York, where she can be near her doc
tor and her favorite clergyman"
"Nonsenser' said Maria. ''That's moth
in only practical joke as someone is try
in on MS. Cousin Jones is here already.
"Asleep 10 the best chamber. where In
going to light FIRE at seven O'clock" cd
ded Abigail.
"What!' roAred Abraham.
"Girlsi shrilly exclaimed Mrs Acworth
''its dreadful mistake rs we've all OF ri
made. This old woman ain't our Cousir
Jones at sll. It's the town poor - Abe
took to board -old Csppen Jones wife
down to Frog Lane.
And she struck an attitude before th'
stose, like Media before the sacri6cia
flames.
And We gave her cold fowl and rasp
berry jamr cried Maria, "and the Who'll
Of the meat pie.
"And my choicest linen sheets, and
fire in the best chamber" grosned Mrs
Ackley. my goodness, mel how couls
We be such fools?'
"Go and wake her upat once. said Ms
ria to Abigail. Tell her Abe Acklsy
here TO take her where she rightly belongs
and ask her how she dared 10 impose O
decent people like u.s.
1T sin't her fault, sighed Mrs. Ackley
"It's ours. Goodness! what idiots we'v,
beenv
well, you hsin't asked me to breal
fast" said Abraham junior. waggishly
but guess I'll stop for bite aud sur
and take the old lady home arterward.
amt good plan to travel on sn empt
stomach such weather as this."
And the bewildsred Mrs. Jones VI
whisked away on the box sled before sh
knew the rights and wrongs OF the case
leaving the Ackley family disconsolate.
II never was 90 mistook before in m
life" said Mrs. Ackley.
Bat Abe, junior, regarded tue matter