The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-28
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1t did not exactly rain on that dul!
autumn day, but the air was full of driv'
ing mist, and the clouds hung like a
leaden drapery almost to the hill tops.
It was a day when fairyland itself
would scarcely appear at it's best, and so
perhaps it was not surprising that the
"Tabitha Home" wore rather a cherries
aspect. :
It was a long, low brick house, with
rows Of square windows, curtained with
white cotton haugings, floors covered
with mating, and drear, whitewashed
walls, broken by no cheerful pictures or
panels.
The fire in the stove spluttered aad
smoked, and declined to burn. Two or
three blue-nosed old women huddled
around it another was ~bemoauing her
self over the face: ache; and the matron,
standing in the middle of the room, was
scolding because fault had been found
with the morning meal of scorched oat-
meal. l.
sit amt as if you was ladies'" said
she, but you as has no home at your
time. of life, you hadn't ought to be
pickin' flaws in this, that and the other
thing. And the oatmeal was good
enough for anybody, that it was! And
if you don't like the. style of cooking
here, you're every one of you at liberty
to 60 elsewherew
Ali this jamie Sewer heard, as she
stood in the hall with old Mrs. Ball
leaning nervously on her arm.
The young girl was tall, resolute, and
lovely as q wild poppy blooming in a
field of corn.
. The old woman was withered and
colorless, her face all woven over with a
network of tiny wrinkles. her toothless
jaws uneasily moving, while the eyes,
that had once been so blue and bright,
were now dim and dull.
ooh, jamie! oh, Janic!" faltered Mrs.
Ball, clinging to the girls soft, young
arm, stake me away-don't leave me
here!"
'But you wanted me to bring you,"
said jamie, soothingly.
eyes, I know; but I didn't think it
was such a place as this!" cried the old
woman. "Take me away, I say!"
"Whcre am I to take you?"
II don't know" said Mrs. Ball, be-
ginning to tremble. "Anywhere away
from here! Oh, quick, Janie-quick"
jamie Sewer looked pityingly at the
poor old crone.
Was this to be the end Of ali kind Mrs.
M%ontague's canvassing, and visiting, and
wire-pulling2 Now that the admittance
to the s'Tabitha Home for Old ladies'
was finally obtained, and a refuge Sc
cured for Mrs. Ball which should shelter
her to her life's end, was it all to be
thrown up for a whim?
Nevertheless, thus it proved. Nothing
would induce old Mrs. Ball to cross the
threshold of the dreary room where the
fire smoked and the matron scolded; SO
jamie took her home again.
"What else could I dor said jamie,
"You were very foolish, Miss SEWER
said Mrs. Montague, angrily. "Aftel
all I have done to secure the poor, child
ish creature a good home! And I car
tell you vacancies in the 'Tabitha Home
do not occur every day!"
"'I cannot help it," said jamie. "She
would not stay there"
"But what do you expect to do with
her now" sharply Intercepted Mrs
Montague.
II don't knoww sighed jamie.
"You can't keep her?"
II must, if no n else will"
"That is absurd nonsense" said Mrs
Montague. She is no relation of yoursl'
"No," said Janie-"only an ole
neighbor." .
Mrs. Montague shrugged her. should
ers. .
~ have done all that I can do" sale
she.
And so she departed, shaking the dus
of the old mill off her Paris-bootet
feet.
The old mill was all that belonged t.
jamie Sewer. Long since the wonderful
power of steam had taken all the custom
away from the old wheel, which was nov
m~oulderipg away in the ceaseless rush o
&hn rrofo~ ~