Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-05-08
OLD LADY PINGREE.
by MARY y. WILKINS.

1t was almost dark at half past four. Nan
cy Pingree stood staring out at one OF her
front windows. Not a person was passing
on the wide country road not one came up
the old brick walk between the dry phlox
bushes TO the house.
1t was the same picture out there which
the old woman had looked at hundreds Of
times before in winter twilights like this
The interest in it bad died away with the tx
pectation of new developments in it which
she had had in her youth. Nature TO Nancy
Pingree had never been anything but set
ting to life
When she had FIRST gono to the window she
had said, II wish could see somebody com
in that belonged to me-"
Then she simply stood thinking. The isll.
graceful, leaHess trees arching over the quiet
snowy road and the glimpse of clear yellow
western sky through them, the whole land
scape before her, With all the old lights of
her life shining on it, became a mirror in
which she saw herself reflected.
She started finally, and went across the
room with a long shamble. She was lame in
one hip; but, for all that. there WAS a GER
tain poor majesty in her carriage. Her rusty
black dress hung in straight long folds and
trRiled little. She held her head erect and
wore an old black lace turbsn. She had
made the turban herself, with no pattern. 1t
was a direct outcome of her own individual
ty perehed on the top of her long old head,
it really was-Nancy Piugree.
She took down plaid shawl which was
hanging in little side entry, pinned 1t over
her head, and opened the outer door into the
clear twilight Straight from the door on
this side OF the house, an avenue OF pine
trees led to q hen-coop. Whatever ma estc
idea had been in the head of Rancy's grand
father, Abraham PIngree, when he set out
these trees, it had come to this
Nancy went down between the windy pines,
over the crusty snow, TO the hen. coop. She
came back with two eggs in her hand.
They've done pretty well to-day" said she
to herself.
When she WAS in the house again she stood
shivering for a little while over her sitting
room air-tight stove. She still held the eggs.
A question had come up, the answer TO which
was costing her struggle.
Here's two eggs" said she. II could
have one billed for supper kinder feel the
need Of il, too amt had anything hearty
to day. An could have the other one flied
With little slice of salt pork for breakfast.
Seems 10 me | should reely relish it, s'pOse
Mis- Stevens would admire to have an egg
for supper Jenny amt had any work this
week, an | know she 'ain't been out any
where to buy anything to day. l should
think her mother would actilly go faint some
times, without meat an egg an sech hearty
things She's nothin' but skin and bone any.
way. I've good mind to kerry her one Of
these eggs. | would ef didn't feel as ef |
RELY needed 1t myself"
The poor soul stood there looking at the
eggs. Finally she put the smaller one in a
| cupboard beside the chimney, and went out
| Of the sitting. room into the front hall with
| the larger one. She climbed stifiy up the
| staira, which we're fine old winding ones.
| Then she knocked at door on the landing
A thin, pretty faced young woman opened
| it, Nancy prolIered the egg. She had a
stately manner of extending her lean arm.
Here's a new.laid egg thought your
mother might relish for her supper, Jenny,
said she
The young woman's sharp, pretty face
grew red. "Oh, thank you, Miss Pingree
but don't think mother needs it. l an
afraid-you will rob yourself"
I Nancy held her wide mouth stiG, only
opening it q crack when she spoke. 1--WE
got plenty for myself, plenty. | shouldn't
use this one before it spilled, mebbe, Of KEEP
it. thought p'I'Rps it would go good fol
| your mothers supper but you can do jus
as you like about takn' it"
The young woman accepted the egg, will
reserved thanks, then, and Nancy went stiff
ly back down stairs.
II guess eff Jenny Stevens hadn't took tina
egg, it would have been the last thing I'd ev
er offered her, said she, when she was in he
sitting-room. 81 don't see how she ever 60
the idea she seems to have that I'm 80 awfu
poor"
She made herself cup of tea, and ate
slice of bread and butter for her supper sh
had resolved TO save her own egg until morn
ing Then she sat down for the evening
with her knitting She knitted a good man
stockings for friends family. That frient
came in at the side door presently. Name,
heard her fumbling about in the entry, bu
she did not rise until the sitting room doc
opened.
Then, "Why, how do you do, Mis-
Holmes ?" said she, rising in apparent SUI
prise.
I'm pretty well, thank you, Nancy. HO'
do you do ?"
'"Bout as usull. Do take of your thing
an set down"
The visitor had a prosperous look sh
was richly dressed to country eyes, and had
large, mastery, middle-aged face.
II Just heerd some sad news, said she
laying aside her shawl.
"You don't say so !"
"Old Mrs Powers was found dead in he
bed this morning"
Nancys face took on an AnAlon5 look sn
asked many questions about the sudden deaf
of Mrs. Powers. She kept recurring 10 th
p same topic all the evening. Strange no
sudden folks go nowadays" she often n
, peAtsd.
At length, just before Mrs. Holmes wen
she stood up with an air of resolution. mi
Holmes " said she, with solemn tremOr
i her voice, II wish you'd jest step in here
minute"
Mrs. Holmts followed her into her be(
: room which opened out of the sitting room
- Nancy pulled out the bottom drawer IN Ia
a mahogany bureau.
Look here, Mis- Holmes. I've been thin
j in OF il over for some time, an wantin'
/, speak about II ! an hearin' old Mis- Powe
!. was took 30 sudden, makes me think mebl
I'd better not put il of any longer. In ca
anything happened to me, you'd probably
= one 10 come in an see TO things, an you
u want TO know where everything was, so yC
! eould nut your hand on il. Well, all Il