River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-06-05

terviewed Aunt Rhoda, but thev found
out nothing; their hints and indirect
questions were alike unavailing, and not
one of them dared ask her directly what
she had brought her carpet bag for. To
tell the truth they began to suspect
that Aunt Rhoda's troubles had affected
her mind, and they had, naturally,
little delicacy about asking her If she
were crazy.
When she sat composedly down again
beside her carpet bag, after the after
noon service, their was connection.
People collected around the church
doors and talked the matter over. Some
thing ought to be done, they agreed.
So they stopped the minister and con-
suited him, and finally he went back to
speak to Aunt Rhoda.
well, Mrs Carpenter he said,
when hereached the pew where she sat,
her black straw with its purple roses
tipped back at an angle of defiance.
''how do you do?"
Aunt Rhoda cautiously reached out
her hand in its wrinkly glove to meet his
proffered one. Nicely, thanky," re
piled she.
1--WE been meaning to come and see
YOU all last week" the minister went
on, "and l thought to myself, when /
looked around and saw you still seated
here, that would come back and speak
to you, and then we could walk home
together"
II amt goin' home, said Aunt Rhoda.
She set her thin lips, and her spectacles
glared defiantly.
Not going home, repeated the min
lister in helpless amazement.
"No, amt got any home to 60 to.
AS for my Twin any longer in home
that amt mine, won't; but this pew is
mine, an my husband bought an paid
for it, an here Tn goin' to set"
But, dear Mrs. Carpenter, how can
you? How long"
I'm a-goin' to set here till my crack
ers an cheese give out; that carpet bags
pretty near full of EN-, an by that time
/ think the Lord will send me deliver
ance. I'm goin' to set right here in
this house an pray for it. [ think He'll
send Annie Carpenter Mather."
but you can't stay here all alone;
why, you'll be afraid" cried Mr..
inexperienced minister, all unprepared
for such a contingency as this. He
was utterly bewildered. At one time
he would think Aunt Rhoda crazy, and
at another time not; in fact, he did not
know what to think, but he did want
to do his duty as a clergyman.
afraid in the Lords house Y replied
Aunt Rhoda ;''why, I'll feel safer here
than | ever did in my own. No. it amt
no use talking; I'm a-goin' to set right
here in my own pew"
She drew the carpet-bag closer to
her side, and sat up sitter than ever.
Poor Mr.. Wilson was entirely at a loss.
He wanted to do his duty, but what
was his duty? Words were clearly of
no avail, and he could not drag this
eccentric old lady out of her pew and
home by main force. He finally left
her temporarily mistress of the situa-
ton, and hurried to the house of Dea-
con Harris, one of the pillars of the
church, and his right-hand man.
When the deacon had the facts of the
case stated to him. he laughed immoder
ately. Mr. Wilson smiled q little too.
Before this only the perplexities of the
situation had presented themselves to
him.
"Wal1, I'll tell you what L think, said
the deacon, when he could get his breath
'Ithink if the old lady wants to set there
we'd better let her, till she gets sick oft.
She'll be glad enough to get out Of it
in few days. She'll be as safe there
as alone in her own house, and safer;
and it's hot weather, so there won't be
any trouble about her getting cold. I'll
speak to my wife, an therell be some
hot victuals carried in, I'll warrant.
She can't come to any harm there that
/ can see. An nothin else will pacify her
if she's got set about it. [ know Aunt
Rhoda Carpenter. I'd have her come
right in here this minute, but nothin'
short of main force could bring her; IN,
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
she's goin' to carry it through. No; if the
old lady wonts to set in her pew | think
we'd better let her." and the deacon
laughed till the tears ran down his
cheeks.
SO Aunt Rhoda was triumphant. She
sat in her pew the next week like queen
on her throne. The news of her queer
freak spread everywhere, and exited at
once mirth and compassion. She had
every attention. People brought her i'll
breakfasts and dinners and 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, to see if every
thing was all right, and Aunt Rhoda was
really living very comfortably in her
pew.
But this could not last forever it would
do for few days, but something differ
ent would have to be done soon. Peo-
pie wondered what They hoped Aunt
Rhoda would soon abandon her whim
and they would try and arrange matters
with her and provide for her in some
way
There began to be deal of active
pity abroad for the poor old lady togeth
er with the mirth which hen conduct
excited. The next Sunday Mr.. Wilson
had congregation such as he never
remembered before. Some of the
surrounding towns had got wind of the
old lady in Camden who had taken to
living in her pew, and the church was
packed. Beyond a placid old woman
in a cashmere shawl and black straw
bonnet with purple roses, they saw
nothing. however. The carpet had
been tucked into an anteroom before
the service began, and all other traces
of her habitation removed. When ten
days from the one of her taking up her
abode in the church had elapsed, and
Aunt Rhoda still showed no signs of
getting tired of the situation, folks
began to feel uneasy. They
could not let an old lady live
in her church pew all summer, and
now they We're actually aiding her in
her wild freak; STILL they could not let
her want comforts. That very night
there was meeting appointed at Dea-
con Harris's to talk the matter over;
but in the six o'clock train there came a
couple of strangers to town, pretty,
stylish lady, and fnelooking gentle
man, who put new aspect on the face
of affairs. They walked directly up to
Aunt Rhoda's house, which was short
distance from the depot. When they
discovered that there was no one at
home, they made inquiries at the next
house. and Annie Carpenter Mather,
4 z