Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-06-22
Tomorrow" said Mrs. Ackley. "He lives
a little beyond here" ~.

tA0 udSH u UoeQ real SUCCESSFUL III GI6
world, ;, added Mrs. Ackley. she married
schoolma'm, and they've little family,
and Ackley's bad to set down his foot, as
he won't help him any more"
Every one for himself. eh ?" said the
old woman, with chuckle. 5s
Mrs. Ackley nodded. She had ventured
upon thrs confidential family communica-
tion as a sort of hint TO Cousin Jones. not
to lend money to the impecunious Abra-
ham, junior. IT there was money floating
around in the golden atmosphere that sur
roundss Mrs. ,sJones. why should it be
given into such velvet-like hands as those
OF Mis-. Abraham, junior.
Perhaps" said Maria. sweetly, ''Mrs.
Jones would like some hot buttered
toast?"
well, since you're so pressing, 1 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 very good meat pie
in the pantry which made myself, if
Meat pie !" cried the old lady. "Meat
pie is relish for anything going. l don It
know when I've put my teeth into good
meat pie before. Bring it on, young wo-
man-bring it on''
The three Ackleys looked on with beam
ing eyes. while Mrs. Jones ate and drank
like half-famished lioness, and afterward
they conducted her to the bedroom, where
the fire blszed brightly on the painted. red
brick hearth, and the patchwork silk quilt
-Maria's own work-was laid ostenta-
tiously across the foot of the bed.
And then they all came down stairs.
closedsiD solemn phalanx around the fire,
and looked at one another with meaning
10 their speculative eyes.
"Qneer. amt she ?' said Maria.
Dressed exactly as if she came out of
an old rag bag" commented Abigail.
Hold your tongues. girls I" said Mrs,
Ackley. "Geniuses are always eccentric !
And Cousin Jones is worth cool
$4O,OOo!"
Early the next morning, long before
fore daylight had irradiated the sullen
darkness of the wintry horizon, aud Mrs
Ackley was doing her best, in curl papers
and a1dirty flannel wrapper, to make the
kitchen fire burn. an old box-sled stopped
at the door. 4. Z II. Come Abraham, junior,
brown-faced, good-natured and ssssik.2ss.
"Well, MOTHER said he, ''hows all the
folks?n
"They 'rs we'll enough" said Mrs. Ack-
ley, who always entertained a secret fear
lest Abe should want to borrow some
money of her.
'sFaslsar got ho.ns yet f. said Abe.
vNop''
Mrs. Ackley was blowing desperately at
a crumpled bit Of paper which absolutely
declined the kindling near it.
That's you. mother. to tt" said
Abe, spontaneously. "You're too econ
CYNICAL even to burn enough waste paper
Goodness knows they don't cost you any
thing!"
''Humph ~ said Mrs. Ackley, 81 know
some people that amt economical IN any.
thing,n
Sand that reminds me-" said Abe.
skating easily away ON the subject, "I'm
going town arter my boarder."
s'What boarders'' said Mr.. Ackley,
smartly.
Didn't you know 20 said Abe. "Me
and Jane Eliza. we've bid for one of the
town poor. 1t amt much to pay, to-be-
sure. The selectmen are real close this
year, On account Of the Town Hall havin
cost such sight o. money. But it's bet.
ter than nothin'. And the old woman will
be company for Jane Eliza and the chill
dren. It's old Hulda Jones; you know
Cappen JONES' wilder down in Frog
Lane ?n
'.Oh ~ said Mrs. Ackley.
II expected her up lastnHiQhS.n said
Abe, drawing on his blue yarn mitsens !;
''but guess she found the weather one
too many for her rheumatic; SO now I'm
going after her. with an armchair tied
into the.box. And, by-the-way," fumbling
in bis coat pocket, "here's letter got
last night. Guess it was meant for father,
but opened it by mistake"
.sWho's it from" screeched Abigail, who
had just come down stairs. b alf frozen,
from her 6reless room, tying hel apron
strings as she cane, while Maria was visi-
BILE, twisting up her back hair in the dis
tanee,"
"Your rich cousin in New York" said
Abe, s'She amt comin'I She IS made up
heS mind to rent a furnished fat in New
York, where she gan be near her doctor
ana her iaYorite clergyman u
t'Monsense ~ said Maria. "That's
practical joke, as some one is tryin' to
come on us. Cousin Jones is here alrea-
dy."
asleep in the best chamber, where I'm
--sain' to light fire att O'clock added
Abigail.
what u roared Abraham.
''Girlsl'' shrilly exclaimed Mrs. Ackley.
Gifts dreadful mistake as we we all made.
This old woman amt our Cousin Jones at
all. It's the toWn poor as Abe has took
to board !-old Cappen Jones' widow, from
Frog Lane"
And she struck an attitude in front Of
the stove like Medea before the sacrifclal
flames,
"And we gave her cold fowl and rasp-
berry JAM" cried Maria, land the whole
of the meat pie.''
land 10y choicest linen sheets, and a
fire in the best chamber I" aroaned Mrs.
Ackley. ''Mv goodness me how could
we be such fools p"
go and wake her up at once" said
Maria to Abigail. "Tell her Abe Ack!ey
is here to take her where she rightly b.
longs; and ask her how she dared to im-
pose upon decent people like us 2''
oi 9,ar Go, } r;nI,a1 Nfro o111ax,