Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-05-06
THE OLD BROWN CLOAK.
BY ALFRED CRAYON.

4 don't know as I've got anything
to give, - said Farmer Foxglove, look
ing obviously around the kitchen.
''Philena. she don't believe in giving
much, unless it s through the Church
Benevolent Guild And Seraphina
isn't at home.'
The Widow Waterman gave a little
sniff of mingled depreciation and hui
mility.
Times is very bad with me, Mr..
Foxglove," said she. 81 hain't had
no work since August, and there amt
nothin' to eat in the house."
you don't tell me-! said the farm
er, who was the softest hearted Of
men Here, give me your basket
Phllenau say Pm an old fool; but |
don't care.
There's them as has entertained
angels unawares," whined the Widow
Waterman, as she sidled into the
gers to the fire Of good pine logs which
was cracking and sputtering cheerful
ly on the hearth.
Anything less akin to the angelic
tribe than Mrs. Waterman could
with bedraggled gown, bonnet bent
IN q one sided fashion over her eyes,
and a gauzy rag of a shawl pulled
across her gaunt shoulders.
But Mr.. Foxglove, honest man, saw
only her poverty and restitution.
With a trepidation not unlike the
sensation of a schoolboy who robs an
orchard for the first time he went in
to the buttery and helped himself to
half cold roast fowl, loaf of rye
bread, a goodly wedge of yellow butter
out OF covered stone jar, and three
quarters OF a juicy apple pie.
It'll keep her for tWenty-four hours
at least" he thought
And then he opened Mrs Foxglove's
especial tin tea caddy, and fi!ched q
handful Of the fragrant dried leaves,
which he wrapped up in brown paper
and put beside the other viands.
4 dunno what Philena will say" he
thought; but there! [ amt made OF
stun nor yet Of cast iron and steel
films. And Ican't stand ny and see
a fellow creetur starve, no matter how
shiftless and good-f0r-nothin she isl
And, CHANGING to notice how thin
and inadequate the poor old woman's
shawl was, he recklessly took down
an old bOmbaZine cloak, originally q
bright brown, but now faded in as
many streaks as a zebra hide, which
had hung from time immemorial in
the back entry
s'Ihere ain no more use in that old
dud, j" he thought ''And it'll keep the
cold out! And if Philena makes a
fuss, I'll give her a new blanket
shawl"
Mrs. Waterman went off rejoicing.
And when the first glow of satisfac-
tiol had faded out Of Farmer Fox
gloves soul, a dreadful fear took pos
session OF him.
''What will Philena think ?" saidhe
81 guess, upon the whole, that [ won't
say nothin' about it. !"
Presently Mrs. Foxglove and Sera-
pima came home from the weekly
meeting of the Society for the Helpers
OF the Heather in jubilant spirits.
George Paterson was there" said
Mrs Foxglove. He said he came
after his aunt, but it is my belief he
wanted to walk home with Seraphina.
Just as if our gal was goin' to keep
company with teller like that, as
hasn't got penny in the world, and
works at the sawmill for a crown
day! Not if | know it /"
Certainly not" said the farmer in
a conciliatory tone.
But Seraphina only hung down her
head, and said nothing.
LA, mel" said Mrs. Foxglove from
the kitchen 'What has come to
things? Here's the cold chicken and
the apple pie gone And the cover of
the butter jar, tool"
"Y-yes," said the farmer, coughing,
'T-I got sort O. hungry. so [ thought
I'd jest take a smack"
Couldn't you have waited until
supper timer" said Mrs Foxglove Sc
verely.
Her husband was silent. Was it not
just possible he thought, that the re-
cording angel might balance that
ready falsehood against his recent act
Of charity, SO that his soul should be
none the gamer by the compound
transaction? 1t was so hard always
to tell what was right
81 was calculating on that chicken
for supper" said Mrs. Foxglove.
''Now We shall have to put UP with
cold boiled pork and mustard. But |
don't suppose, Nehemiah, you'll want
to eat much?"
mo, Of course not" said the poor
man, who was voracDusly hungry.
"Where's the bombazine cloak. pa ?"
said Seraphina, after the somewhat
frugal supper, as she took the milking
pail "It's raining a little, and the