The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-06-26

you see, TO make world.
The next night, however, just as
Mary and her mother were sitting down
to tea, Miss Abby once more appeared,
in the midst, OF gentle shower Of rain
II hope I don't inconvenience any
body" she said, meekly. "But that
women at Tewkstown has cut off my al
lowance of snuff, and after all, there's
no place like home"
And once more Mary Miller patiently
walked home with the poor aid crone to
the poor house. The matron was in
furiated this time.
"It amt human natur to stand this,
she declared. "Ill put her in the Jug"
"The iug?" repeated Mary.
"It's room down cellar, where we
shut up the troublesome cases" said
the matron. II can't stand this run
ming away business. and / won'tl
The jug, perhaps, proved efficacious,
for old Miss Abby did not appear again
for week. At the expiration of that
time, however, she crept noiselessly In
just at dusk and seated herself like
silent shadow in the chimney corner.
cts so good to be at home again."
she said, rubbing her wrinkled hands,
IT some how seem to get lost of late.
Elnathan is gone, and Betty's gone, and
/ am left here all alone Yes, cup OF
tea, please-sugar and milk. They
never remember how I like my tea at
Tewkstown. This is good; and butter
on my bread, too! We don't get but
ter at Tewkstown."
Mary burst into tears.
Mother" said she, Miss Abby shall
not go back to Tewkstown-she shall
stay here! Mother, how should l feel
if you were wandering friendless and
alone through the world?"
''But my dear"
"She shall sleep in her own old
room, out of the Kitchen" persisted
Mary. "She will be no more care than
canary bird. Oh, mother, do consent
She will think then that she is in her
own old home. oh, if you knew how
dreary it is at that poor house, with
the grass all trampled out, and piles of
clam shells lying round the door, and
not so much as dandelion or daisy to
be SEEN"
And Mrs. Miller yielded to Mary's
fearful solicitations.
"Do as you please, my child" said
she. The Tewkstown authorities we're
but too glad to be rid of the poor ineu-
bus and Miss Abby Dabney settled down
in her old home, as contentedly and I'M
questlonably as if she had never left it.
She ate and drank but little; she talked
still less, and seemed to regard Mrs.
Miller and Mary as guests, who had
come to visit the old farm.
"The widow Miller and her darter
must be rich folks, to undertake to sup
port old Miss Abby" sneered one neigh
Dor
"She was well provided for at the
poorhouse," said another.
II never yet saw farm succeed that
was managed by women folks" ieered
the third.
"ThereH be the biggest kind of
smash-up presently" observed number
four, "and an auction sale of everything;
and I'll be on hand-for don't deny
that them little Attorney cows is the
cunningest creatures [ ever set my eyes
on, and good mixers into the bargain. "
But time wore on. and there was no
futter of red flag over the porch.
On the contrary matters throve, and
Mary declared joyously that farming
was a great deal more profitable busi-
ness than working in factory. and she
only wished that she had found it out
before.
Until one gray autumnal evening
Mary and her mother came back from
brisk walk to the village. and found a
stalwart, sun Drowned man sitting OPP
posite to Miss Abby, by the red glow
of the fire.
The old lady rose up in an odd, I'M
certain wa7.
Ladies" she said. --fft sisaf5}liissg in her
snuff box, "this is my dephew, CEI1S
Duhrey, he as ran away from home
twenty nine years ago come MlchPln'"s
Day, and we all supposed was deal.
Cyrus, these are the ladies who are 80
good as to visit me here. [ don't quite
recollect their names: but then 1t don't
matter much, and after all my memory
ain t as good as it used to be. Nothing
matters much nowa-days."
And Miss Abby sat down and fell in
to "daze" again, as if all necessity for
Cyrus Dubrey stood up-a bronzed,
bearded giant, with dark eyes and SUI
perb stature.
Ladies, beg your pardon" he said.
But Supposed when [ came here | was
coming home! / knew nothing of all
these changes. [ never could have
dreamed my cousins would let this crea-
ture GO to the poor house. [ don't know
who YOU are, ladies" with husky rat
tie in his throat, "but l thank you from
the bottom of my heart for giving her
shelter in her old age. And if money
will pay you for it"
at will not" said Mary. sharply, as
if the words conveyed slur.
'No, / suppose not" said Cyrus with
sigh. But I've plenty of money now.
The dear old aunty shall live like
queen the rest of her days, for she was
good to me when all the rest set me
down as black sheep. I've made my
fortune out in Panama. and have come
home to redeem myself"
II have heard of Cyrus Dubrey," said
Mrs. Miller, gently.
"And I'll venture. mann. you heard
no good of me-" said the young giant,
with short laugh. "Ill not deny that
I was wild boy enough, but there
wasn't any actual evil in me, let folks
say what they would. And now I've
come back a rich man., and there's
nobody to bid me welcome home,
except old aunt Abby out of the poor
house."
He could not long have made this
statement however.
All the town was up to bid the rich
government contractor welcome to
Tewkstown within twenty-four hours.
But Cyrus cared little for the friendly
overtures of the old neighbors.
Aunt Abby was the only person for
whom he seemed to care, and his great
est grief was that the old woman re-
fused to leave the old Dabney farm
house to live in the stately brick man
sion which he built on Prospect Hill.
And than ba asked r,armiSSIOn to deck