Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-17

CdllH ulldu ildu lullCA o'ooi " e'N'iN'' vs.
induced slumber.
In fact, Aunt Betsy had been fast
asleep for more than half an hour,
when she started wide awake, to see q
spectral form at the window, and to
hear spiritual rappings on the panes.
In an instant more the ghost had re-
solved itself into poor woman, whose
pale face was made CHASTITY by a black
hood, and who, seeing the teapot and
Aunt Detsy's amiable face in conjunc-
ton, had bethought her to ask for a
cup of tea.
Aunt Betsy was kindness itself. She
opened the door to the woman a..d
made her sit near the stove and COM
forted her not only with tea and bread
and butter but with raspberry jam,
and finally went to the door again to
speed the parting guest" with amia-
bic words and a silver coin.
"Ah, poor thing" she said to herself
as she went into the cozy sitting room
again, "Iow hard it is for her"
Hard for whom?" asked Mrs. Ruff
fit, who had returned to the sitting
room well wrapped up in the big
dressing gown, which somehow seemed
more voluminous than ever. "Whats
hard for whom, Aunt Betsy?'
"Oh, Rebecca," said the good old Ia
dy, "a person has been here begging a
cup of tea. Her husbands dead, her
so, n Texas and she's walking twen-
ty mics to try and find a daughter
who married man named Smith, fiji.
teen years ago.
"Oh, yes,' said Mrs. Ruflit, who was
only sentimentally sympathetic with
herself. Il see-the old sorry, And
you gave her all the small change you
had in your pocket, and she went away
to spend it at the next g!n-shop You
are such a soft-hearted goose, auntie
only hope she didn't steal anything
GOOD gracious, Aunt Betsy. where
is my new dress"
"You took it upstairs with you
Becky" said Aunt Betsey.
Mrs. Ruhit ran upstairs with more
celebrity than could have been expected
, of fair, fat, and live-and-forty, ant
was heard to open sundry closet doors
: to rush about wildly, and to Shrek
Then she reappeared in the sittin!
? room.
"lt's not up there" she shrieked
, wringiug her hands. "Oh, Aunt Ret
, sy, tell me you've put it somewhere
Don't say it's gone.
Il don't see how it can be gone.
cried Aunt Betsy, flying wildly up an
o down, shaking the curtains, lookin
behind the sofa; even opening the SIX
, inch drawer of little workable.
! "Oh, Rebecca, I'm sure you took
! with you! I'll find it. Didn't you pu
it in the parlor?'
Away the ladies flew. with queer lii
+ tie squeals and means.
Every spot in the house was rar
. sacked even the coal-cellar; but tn
dress was not found.
J., At last Mrs. Rullit fell into the arr
, chair, fortunately as strong as it wa
o capacious, and sobbed:
4 This is what has come of your al
surd foolishness for drunken beggar
f Aunt Betsy. That woman has stole
= my dress"
>, "She couldn't-she hadn't thing i
her hand" said poor Aunt Betsy.
Then conscience told her she had LEI
the woman alone for five minute
" while she took out the jam.
" 1t was all discussed over and ovt
again, and the fact that in Miss Betsy
" absence the woman had put thu ne
. dress through the window and picke
>, it up when she went out, was fully C
- tablished.
3 The police were notified, descril
IL tion of the woman and dress put int
70 their hands, and note Of regret wri
v ten to the Dumsdays.
+ Mrs Ruflit was persuaded to tai
~ some tea and toast, and sat bewailin
IL her loss and rocking to and fro.
10 "a dress that cost me ninety dolla
u before it was made and twenty-five fo
the making" sighed Mrs. Ruhlt.
/ can't afford another like it this Wi
T. ter, and Colonel Cowes was to be
" the Dumsdays'. and he admires n
10 very much, Aunt Betsy, and it's mo
t. annoying. I'd calculated on it tv
l. weeks, and you must beg and pray
70 tipsy tramp to come and take tea wit
10 you on purpose to have my dress ste
" en-"
Iy II didn't beg and pray her. 81
,
NJ asked me for a little tea, and 81
es wasn't tipsy," sobbed Aunt Bets
"Oh, RebeCca Rullit, how cruel yc
as arew
er 81 suppose you expect me to dam
le for ioy,' said Mrs. Rufit. IL must 81
to that's too much to expect; but l migl
lie not only robbed, but murdered,
a you could only give all the money "
OF liked to drunken tramps. That's yol
e, monomana, Aunt Betsy, and mu
a say it if you kill me-"
a Then began woful quarrel,
IN which all the reproaches that could
s, uttered on either side found vent.
ne The ladies wept and sighed and b
Sc moaned themselves.
pl 'rhay e,nlya nf maritime Thov chof