The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-02-06

silver-haired and shriveled like amummy,
came in, and, walking across the floor,
seated herself in Mrs. Dabney's very cor
ner. An old woman dressed in the snuff
colored gown which Mrs. Dabney had
always worn, and wearing a snuff-silk
cap, while a bag depended from her arm.
TITS cold, ladies' she said, looking
around with depreoating air. "Cold
for the season of the year. And they
don't keep fires at Tewkstownw
Mother y said Mary, recovering her
self with a hysterical gasp of relief. "It
isn't old Mrs. Dabney's ghost at all. It's
old Miss Abby, come back from the
Tewkstown poor-house.
you don't mean" began the mild
widow.
THAT Mrs. Daniel Dabney and Mrs.
Eyerard Elberson let their old aunt go
TO the poor-house2" said Mary Miller.
eyes, it is quite true. Mrs. Daniel leads
society in San Francisco, | am told, and
Mrs. Elberson is grand lady in Bridge
port, with o reception day and servants
in livery. What could they do with a
half crazy old aunt, who takes snuff and
talks uncertain grammar2 Poor Miss
ABBY She has wandered back to her
old home. She was eighty last birthday,
and things are all misty and vague to
herr
''But what shall We dot" said Mrs.
Miller, in accents Of perplexity. "a
crazy woman here-it don't seem Just
right, Molly, does itl"
'I'll take her back, after she has
rested little, and had a cup of tea, I"
said Mary, cheerily.
"But perhaps 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 Tewkstown
poor-house, where the matron read her a
shrill-voiced lecture, and declared she
should not be allowed another grain of
snuff if she couldn't behave better. Old
Miss Abby smiled deprecatingly.
They are peculiar people here she
said. 81 think, my dear" to Mary Mil
Ter, "they forget sometimes l am a lady.
/ But it. takes all sorts, don't 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.
~ hope / don't inconvenience any
BODY she said, meekly. 'But that
woman 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 back with the poor old crone to
the poor-house. The matron was infuri-
ated this time.
cit amt in human natur' to stand
this, she declared. "I'll put her in the
jug.n
''The iugl" repeated Mary. in surprise.
'It's room, down cellar, where we
shut up the troublesome cases." said the
matron. II can't stand this running
away business, and won'tn
The jug, perhaps, proved efficacious,
for old Miss Abby Dabney did not APP
pear again for n week. At the expiration
Of that period, however, she crept noise
lessly in, just at dusk, and seated herself
like silent shadow in the chimney cor
ner.
st is so good to be at home again, u
said she, rubbing her wrinkled hands.
81 somehow seem to get lost of late.
|
and Pm left here all alone. Yes, q
cup of tea, please-sugar and no milk.
They never remember how like my tea
at Tewkstown. This is good; and but
ter on my bread, tool We don't get but
ter at Tewkstown.
Mary burst into tears.
Mother m.said she, miss Abby shall
not 90 bacK to Tewkstown-she shall
stay here Mother, how should / feel il
you were wandering friendless and alone
through the world r.
"But, my dear"
She shall sleep in her own old room,
out of the Kitchen persisted Mary.
She'll be no more care than canary
bird. Oh, mother, do consent! She
will think then that she is still in hel
own home Oh, ifyou know how dreary
it is at that poor-house, with the grass
all tramped out, and piles of clam-shell'
lying around the door, and not so mhcl
as a dandelion or daisy to be seen. -
And Mrs. Miller yielded to Mary's tear
full solicitations.
"Do as you please, my child" sale
she.
The Tewkstown authorities were bu
too glad 10 be rld OF the poor old incubus
and Miss Abby Dabney settled down int
her old home, as contentedly and un
Questioningly 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 COM
to visit the old farm.
''The Widow Miller and her darte
must be rich folks, to undertake to sup
port old Miss Abby" sneered one neigh
bor
''She was we'll enough provided for a
the poor-house, - said another.
II never yet saw farm succeed tha
was worked by women-folks," jeered
third.
''Therell be the biggest kind of
smash-up presently" observed numbe
four. "And an auction sale of every
thing; and I'll be on hand-for don
/ ~ A 4