St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-22

| body
So by the earliest train next daN
Mrs. Peak went back to Petersham
Her countenance wore solemn ex-
| preston. She felt herself to be one ri
the chief mourners, though her place
in the procession would probably bC
not far from the least afflicted eud.
As she stepped down from the car
she pnlled IA very long face. and was
surprised to see no signs of the calanI-
ity which had befallen the village. She
meditated upon the way the world
moves on though it's best men die
and took her way, to save time, through
| the back streets to her niece Martha's
"Well. Martha," she said, sadly,
.'lm sure | didn't think | should be
back again SO soon when | left you.
When do YOU bury ?" .. .-.....
'WhO r asked Martha much amazed.
| She was busy washing. and was not in
! the least prepared for her aunt's ap-
pearance. She was used to making
careful arrangements when she expect
ed guests-being, as her friends said,
very set in her ways and if there was
anything she disliked it was Il lack OF
ceremony, even from her nearest rela-
tives.
81 haven't heard of any DEATH" she
assured her aunt, who was apparently
much perplexed.
Somebody told the Vests last night
that Mr. Daniel Johnson had passed
away, and Mis- West came right ont to
tell me. she explained at last.
Martha began to laugh. Gle was
ont to meeting last night as sure as
the world" she said. "Fe's had a bad
| cold-yOu know he's always been sub
ject to fall colds--but he's about again.
heard Jesse's wife fussin' at him
about doin' up his throat when we
were comm out o. the meetin'-house
last night"
''She was dreadful down hearted
about him, I'm sure, when she came in
Thanksgiving night" ventured Mrs.
Peak in self-defence.
''Now Aunt Peak said Martha.
"haven't you seen enough of Lydia
Johnson hy this time to know that she
always thinks everything and every
| body is going to rack and ruin She
! was cheerful about the old gentleman
to what she is sometimes. To be sure
we all know he's getting along in
years.
"Seems to me do rec'lect she is apt
to look on the dark side" reflected
Mrs. Peak. "But now, Marthy, don't
speak to any one of what my errand
was in coming over. I've got a little
shopping any way that | forgot last
week, and folks will think we're dread
ful hungry for news over our way
at does lonk like it, chucllied
Martha ''But do stop to dinner, aunt,
now you're over-it's coming winter
and you may not get started again.
'Tis Il pity there aint something else
for you to 90 to- s'pOse you've heard
that story about the old ladies that set
out for funeral and found they'd
missed the day, and asked the folks if
they didn't know of a funeral they
could go to ?"
"Marthy." said her Aunt Peak, 81
should think you had no feelin's. 1t
wasn't my fault as know of that the
story got about. did speak of it to
one or two that his sons wife appeared
concerned and when word come that
he was gone | only thought she had
good reason to be anxious and he was
an old friend, and ii leader in church
interests, and thought, natural enough,
I'd come right over
'DOn't take it hard of me, Joking
with you," said Martha, "but it is kind
of amusing when YOU come to look at
it and see how stories get made up and
set going out of nothing. Every one
of 'em thinks they tell the truth. and
first thing you know there's lie trav-
elling about fast us lightning" and she
turned to her neglecting washing, as if
no time must he lost.
81 can't get back before two. Fm
sorry | happened to trouble YOU on an
inconyenient dav. Pm sure." said Mrs.
Peak. humblv. FU step down the
street for awhile and do a few errands.
and Won mustn't let me put Won ont.
inst a cup of tea and Il taste of bread
and hutter'U be all | ask for.n and
Martha nodded and told her aunt not
to worry. and to have as good "A time
as she could.
The old lady's pride had met with Il
sad downfall-she did not know how
to face the people at home. But
luckily she was saved the first ac-
knOwiedpment. AS Asa Fales had
reached Petersham before her and had
found Mr.. Daniel johnson briskly at
e,rane. vines