Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-06-04
wearing a snuff silk cap, while bag

d0p0nQ0Q from l6r arm.
tits cold, ladies'" she said, looking
around with deprecating air. "Cold
for the season of the year. And they
don't keep fires at Tewkstown Pc Moth
err" said Mary, recovering herself with
an hysterical gasp of relief, cit isn't
old Mrs. Dabney's ghost at all. It's old
Miss Abby come back from the Tewks
town poor-house." -"You don't mean
:" began the mild widow. "That Mrs.
Daniel Dabney and Mrs. Evarard Elber-
son let their old aunt go to the poor
house?" said Mary Miller. eyes, it is
quite true. Mrs. Daniel leads society
in San Francisco, am told, and Mrs.
Elberson is grand lady in Bridgeport,
with a reception day and servants III
livery. What could they do with half
crazy old aunt, who takes snuff and
talks uncertain grammar? Poor Miss
Abbyl 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 do?"
said Mrs. Miller, in accents of perplexi-
ty. CA crazy woman here-it don't
seem right, Molly, does it" -"I'll take
her back after she has rested little,
and had cup of tea" said Mary cheer
fully.-"But perhaps she won't CO.,
ooh, yes, she WILL" Said Mary. "Poor
Miss Abbyl She is as gentle as a
child" Her words proved to be correct
Miss Abby Dabney suffered herself
to be led unremonstratingly back to
Tewkstown poCr-house where the mat
ron read her shrill-voiced lecture, and
| declared she would not be allowed an
other grain of snuff if she wouldn't be-
have better. Old Miss Abby smiled
deprecatingly.
"They are peculiar people here" she
said. 81 think, my DEAR" she said to
Mary Miller, "they forget I am lady.
But it takes all sorts, don't you see, to
make world" Tine next night, how
ever, just as Mary and her mother were
sitting down to tea, Miss Abby once
more appeared, in the midst of gentle
shower of rain.-"I hope I don't incon-
venience anybody" she said meekly,
but that woman at Tewkstown has cut
off my allowance of snuff, and after ali,
there's no place like home."- And once
more Mary Miller patiently walked
home with the poor old crone to the
poor-house. The matron was Infatuated
this time.-"lt amt human natur' to
stand this" she declared. 9TH put her
in the jug. jug?" repeated
Mary-"It's room, down cellar, where
we shut up the troublesome cases." said
the matron. 81 can't stand this run
ming away business and tl"-The
Jug, perhaps, proved eficacious, 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 a silent |
shadow in the chimney corner.
tits so good to be at home again."
she said, rubbing her wrinkled hands.
Il somehow seem to get lost of late.
Elnathan is gone, and Betsy's gone, and
am left here all alone. Yes, cup of
tea, please-sugar and no milk. They
never remember how I like nv tea at |
Eewkstown. This is good; and butter
On my bread, tool We don't get but
ter at Tewkstown."
Mary burst into tears. Mother"
said she.- "Miss Abby shall not go back
to Tewkstown- shall stay here
Mother, how should feel if you were
friendless and alone through
he world ?"-"But, my dear
She shall sleep in her own room, off
he Kitchen" persisted Mary. "She
Will be no more care than a canary
bird. Oh, mother, do consent! She
will think then that she is in her old
home. Oh, if you knew how dreary it
S at that poor-house, with the grass all
5rampled out, and piles of clam shells
ying around the door, and not so much
is dandelion or daisy to be SEEN"
And Mrs. Miller yielded to Mary's tear
ul solicitations.
DO as you please, my child" said
'he.-The Tewkstown authorities
we're but to glad to get rid of the poor
I'D incubus; and Miss Abby Dabney
settled down in her old home as con-
and unquestioningly as if she
lad never left it. She ate and drank
put little; she talked still less, and
emed to regard Mrs. Miller and Ma
y as guests, who had come to visit the
I'D fa1 m.
"The Widow Miller and her darter
must be rich folks to undertake to sup
bort old Miss Abby" sneered one
leighbor-"She was well enough pro-
7ided at the poor-house," said another.
-"I never yet saw farm succeed that
vas managed by women-folks," jeered
he third-Theren be the biggest
ind of smash-up presently" OBJ
erved number four, "and an auction
ale of everything; and I'll be on hand
for [ don't deny that them little AL
lerney COWS are the cunningest Gre
urs I ever set eyes on, and good milk
RS into the bargain
But time worn on, and there was no
utter of a red flag over the porch. On
he contrary, things throve, and Mary
Iiller declared joyously, that farming
vas great deal more profitable bust
less than working in factory, and
My wished she had found out before.
One gray, autumnal evening, Mary
nd her mother came back from brisk
walk the village, and found a stalwart,
man sitting opposite to Miss
Abby, by the red glow of the fire.
The old lady rose up in an odd, I'M 1
certain way. "Ladies." she said