The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-03-28
SCRANTON, MISSISSIPPI FRIDAY MARCH %, 1884

her come right here in q minute,
but nothin' short of main force
could bring her; an there amt
any mortal reason why she shouldn't
go to her own home, but if she won't
she won't. know her. She amt
crazy, but If she sets out to do a
thing, she's going to carry it
through. No; If the old lady wants
to set in her pew l think we'd bet
ter let herr aud the deacon laugh
ed till the tears rau down his
cheeks.
So Aunt Rhoda was triumphant.
She SAT in her pew the next week
like O queen on her throne. The
news of her wild freak spread
everywhere, and excited at once,
mirth and compassion. She bad
every attention. People brought
her breakfasts aud dinners aud
suppers. She had her hot tea with
every meal. They brought her
pillows and blankets to turn her
pew into bed. The sexton looked
IN every night before be retired to
see II everything was all right,
aud Aunt Rboda was really liwfifg
very comfortably in her pew.
But this could not last forever
it would do for a few days, but
something different would have
TO be done soon. People wonder
ed what. They hoped Aunt Rhoda
would abandon her wbim, and then
they would try aud arrange mat.
ters with her, and provide for her
in some way.
There began to be active pity
abroad for the poor old lady, to-
gether with the mirth which her
coudnct excited.
The next Sunday MIR. Wilson
had q congregation such as he
never remembered before. Some
of the surrounding towns got wind
Of the old lady in Camden who had
taken to living In her pew, and
the church was packed. Beyond o
placid old woman in q cashmere
shawl aud black straw bonnet with
purple roses they saw nothing,
however. The carpet bag had
been tucked into au ante.room be.
tore services began, aud all other
traces OF her habitation removed.
| When ten days from the one OF
her taking up her abode in the
church had elapsed, aud Aunt
Rhoda still showed no signs of
the situation, folks began to feel
uneasy. They could not let an old
lady live in church pew all SUM-
mer, and now they were actually
aiding her in her wild freak; still,
they could not let her want com.
forts. That very night there was
u meeting appointed at Deacon
Harris's to talk the matter over;
but In the SIX o'clock train there
came a couple of strangers to town,
a pretty stylish lady and a fine
looking gentleman, who put new
aspect on the face Of affairs. They
walked directly up tn Aunt Rhoda's
house, which was short distance
from the depot. When they dis
covered that. there was no one at
home, they made inquiries at the
next house, aud Annie Carpenter
Mather. for it was she, was inform.
ed by the good woman that sue
would probably see her Aunt
Rhoda sitting in her church pew.
1t was quite a warm afternoon,
and Aunt Rhoda was doing peace.
fully in her pew, when her niece, in
her pretty brown silk travelling
dress, ran hastily up the aisle, a
tall, smiling gentleman following
her.
Aunt Rhoda woke up at the
first kiss, and looked up with no
apparent surprise at the pretty
blooming face so near hers.
III knew the Lord would send
you, Annie Carpenter Mater,' said
she.
"Well, l guess he has auntie, y
her niece answered, half laughing
and half crying at the same time.
Well, Aunt Rhoda's troubles
we're over then, OF course. Tho
old house was secured to her again,
and she lived there peacefully with
her beloved Annie Carpenter
Mather for number of years.
But the story of her tsn.days'
sojourn in her church pew became
one OF the town legends of
Camden.
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