The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03

news very Corner. An old woman
dressed in the snuff-colored gown that
Mrs. Dabney had always worn and wear
ing a snuff-silk cap, whilea bag depend
ed from her arm.
at cold. ladies'" she said, looking
around with q deprecating air. "Cold
for the season of the year. And they
don't keep fires at Tewkstown."
Mother, " said Mary, recovering her
self with a hysterical gasp ofrelief. ut
isn't old Mrs. Dabney's ghost at all.
It's old Miss Abby come back from the
Tewkstown poorhouse."
"You don't mean-"began the mild
widow.
"That Mrs. Daniel Dabney and Mrs.
Everard Elberson let their old aunt go
! to the PoQrhogse?" said Mary Miller,
Yes, It IS quite trds. Mrs. Daniel
leads society in San Francisco, I am
told, and Mrs. Elberson is a grand lady
in Bridgeport, With a reception day and
servants in livery. What could they
do With a half crazy aunt who takes snuff
and talks Uncertain grammar? Poor
Miss Abby! She has wandered back to
her old home. She was eighty her last
birthday, and things are all misty and
vague to her"
"What shall we dos" said Mrs. Mil
Ter in accents Of p~erplexity. "a crazy
mn here--it don't seem just right,
Molly, does it?"
I'll take her back after she has rest
ed a little and had a cup OF tea," said
Mary cheerfully.
But prehaps she won't CO."
ooh yes, she will" said Mary. "Poor
Miss Abby! She is as gentle as a
child"
Her words proved to be correct.
Miss Abby Dabney suffered herself to be
led unremonstratingly back to Tewks-
town poorhouse, where the matron read
her a shrilltoned lecture, and declared
she should not be allowed another grain
of snuff if she didn't behave better.
Old Miss Abby smiled deprecatingly.
They are peculiar people here" she
said to Mary Miller. "Ithink, my dear,
they forget sometimes that l am a lady.
But it takes all sorts of people, don't
you see, to make a world"
The next night, however, just as
Mary and her mother were sitting down
tea, Miss Abby once more appeared,
the midst of a gentle shower of rain.
Il hope / don't inconvenience any
she said, meekly. "But that
women at Tewkstown has cut off my al
Iowance of snuff, and after all, there's
no place like home"
And once more Mary Miller patiently
home with the poor aid cronet to
poor house. The matron was in
this time.
1T amt human natur to stand this"
she declared. "I1l put her in the Jug"
THE jug?" repeated Mary.
Its q room down cellar, where we
shut up the troublesome cases." said
matron. 81 can't stand this run
ling away business. and l won'tl
The Jug, perhaps, proved eficacious,
or old Miss Abby did not appear again
a week. At the expiration of that
ime, however, she crept noiselessly in
at dusk and seated herself like a
llent shadow in the chimney corner.
It's so good to be at home again, "
said, rubbing her wrinkled hands,
L some how seem to get lost of late.
Chatham is gone, and Betty's o and
am left here all alone. Yes, a cup of
ca, please-sugar and milk. They
remember how l like my tea at
Iewkstown. This is good; and butter
my bread, too! We don't get bat
er at Tewkstown."
Mary burst into tears.
Mother" said she, Miss Abby shall t
OF go back to Tewkstown-she shall 1
herel Mother, how should [ feel a
you were wandering friendless and S
lone through the world?" S
'.But my dear" a
"She shall sleep in her own old
pom, out of the Kitchen persisted
larry. "She will be no more care than
canary bird. Oh, mother, do consent :,
he will think then that she is in her L
old home. Oh, if you knew how o
1t is at that poor house, with k
le grass all trampled out, and piles of =
shells lying round the door, and !,
OF so much as a dandelion or daisy to u
> SEEN" L
And Mrs. Miller yielded to Mary's '
solicitations. "
ID as you please, M child" said .,
lie. The Tewkstown authorizes were u
too glad to be rid of the poor incu- .
and Miss Abby Dabney settled down "
her old home, as contentedly and un- s.
.lestlonably as if she had never left it. II
ate and drank but little; she talked X
Ill less, and seemed to regard Mrs. !.
lller and Mary as guests, who had Il
me to visit the old farm. u
The widow Miller and her darter L
be rich folks, to undertake to sup a.
'rt old Miss Abby, "sneered one neigh Il
II. n
"She was well provided for at the ?