New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-27
NEW. ENGLAND SKETCHES.
EJECTiNG A TENANT.


much did say when they were young folks. and
,ast married that little Judgment and calkilation
az Robert he'd lo he'd moro IN Nancy. They might
IA ben we'll o9. Aunt Easton. who took Nancy,
gave her five hundred dollar, and she could braid
twenty-five yards a day when she was mite OF q
thing Look at EN- now. Their house given I'D to
the town. and they Twin HE lease in it, aud on
the town: Robert with general debility and
failn' III his brain."
The speaker was sewing braid y; that is. making
a straw hat. size put her needle back and forth
with lghtning-like rapidity, and every moment OF
two would stop aud, with few swift turns OF the
hand measure the half nads hat Oh white nat
block which she took from the floor near her.
There was pile of completed hats on the table at
Tor left hand. The "straw man. was expected
that day. and Ill must be ready. zeal smart
woman" could often earn 90 cents III the twehty-
four hours besides doing the regular houseWorh'
TO be sure. this life did not allow time Tor much
mental cnit;irc. but then mental culture WAS ploo-
ably not desired.
sIm Jest q CROWN bohindhand with my BRAID"
she said; sI'vo been hindered by this thing and
that, and this Mackinaw is bother: SO many poor
places to jine'
The scene was a farmhouse kitchen in Ransone,
md the two speakers were sewing braid rs ii on
wager. Ono was n ncighbor who had bonnet of
Milan straw nearly half made; she had come i'll
will
block which was tho pattern ohe hau coho W
talk over the news
~ von have mover lived in place like this. you
oan have no idea how exhaustvely every tonic is
treated. When John Clapp was living down here
4, Miss Armstrong; house, the fact that he used to
- nm 70 the boat shop in Mill Village after
esbayiucsr for kindling fires rather oftener than
vas generally considered necessary, furnished
,onversoton for hours. Even my sister and myself.
bombIinc by with his basket uSed to fall INTO talk
ON tbo subject aud discuss every bearing OF IT,
,vorderinr ii he really eXtravaganS in the
matter of kiudng, and if so. had he always been
"a or was IL phase of his complaint, which with
him also was that of losing his mind. Not once
only do VIC all go over these things, but scores of
tines Perhaps this is of the reasons why the
art of conversation is one OF the lost arts.
Before John Clapp diel, he and his wife had been
nermtted BIZ Miss Armstrong to live rent free, in
her cottage which she occupied only few weeks in
the summer The vagaries of Nh. Clapp, consisting
of eating lost in familiar pasture when gathering
dead boughs starting oil in tho wrong direction fol
the village, announcing strange sights in the
heavens PLAYING cards with Mr.. Riley, who lived at
the corner in an old red building formerly school
house. and called by US the Riley lnstitoot,"
these things kept us in talk while he lived. had
q belief from words that hearl dropped. that
Mr.. Riley. the man with whom he played, fire.
oucntly made the assertion that he hadn't taken
OF his clo'cs for dozen year; he slept in EN-
The feeling in the community was general that it
was very different thing to play cards with man
who lived alone, and who mover laid aside his day
garments when ne essayed TO rest, from what it
would be to play with man who went to bed like
aChrstian.
Now Mr. Capp was dead. Ills widow still lived
On in the cottage and all asked each other every
day what We supposed Hannah Clapp would finally
do She had a weekly dole from the town, aud
although it was TO he paid. just before il was
dac, she was greatly worried, and worried the
people near her. by wondering II Mr. Grover would
bring her that there money" Although extremely
stupid from chronic lethargy which attacked her
at the most unexpected and startling times, she yet
gave food for great deal of ought to all, for
after John died" JOrnp she called him-sho was
sfsid to stay alone nights. So, as surely as night
saina she had to 90 to house in the vicinity,
or somo was obliged to stay with her in her own
home. This went on for more than year, and
every day could ask each other, Where do YOU
think Hannah ClapP will stay to-night% and
aWhcrc did she stay last night !"
She frequently to our house for lodging.
Size would arrive about dusk, apologize for coming
and for making us trouble st down. begin to toll us
something that Jorn " did when he worked on
then suddenly her voice would falter word would
end in m-nl-m, her head would fall forward hcr
Jaw drop and she would sit thus for half an hOnr,
theG rorse and resume her discourse Of how Jorn
used to try her though prAps he didn't du it Ia try
Der" When she did precisely as suited her, she
sat mp and slept IN her CHAIR until about o'clock,
then went to bed and had very poor night. She
Is unusually tall with slight bend in the
sLOullers her figure surmOunted by head so small
as TO bo phenomenal Sho is not one OF those wise
people who change their minds: Indeed she has
No receptacle for mind OF much size. But her
whole manner shows that she can be persistent.
During all Der residence here she had constantly
threatened to move. She asserted that ii was not
sniablo for her TO DO alone IN no sich way But she
did not 60 She was very particular where she
went, as have noticed is the way with all people
who are entirely dependent on Others; a. niece niece.
meetin"; another place was available where she
vonIa not be alone alone Ne she didn't like so the
ho.l gods presented itself. But there, sink
III the room where il seemed TO her there ought TO
be one. Naturally the activity OF sympathy Tor her
gently hunted that If she would live with Mr. and
Mrs floaad. they being aiSo on the town, the
eres And finally one day in carly summer came a
litter from tho owner saying she MAS coming with
friends and suggesting that she should want the
nov indeed tie interest was wide and deep.
Hannah Clapp. was 70 move; but where DAYS
went on and she did not 80. She did ask Mrs.
Holland IL shc would take her, ma the question SO
upset Nancys mind that she jerked all about the
ne;ghborhood in q very short time, and was more
pitiaby trembling and confused than ever.
Size could mort" she said " she could nOrt. And
bow kin II Robert don't like her. She sets and
sleeps i can't take care Oi another one. She
buris n lamp all night ! declare Eve all kan do.
Do you think onght teri She M sooner sets down
than SHE'S asleep. She amt no company iOr
nolcdy. ! aiut able"
Bnt She did often furnish lodging to Mrs. Clapp
The data Of Miss Armstrong; coming dew nearer,
anil lor tenants calmioss became greater. She
asserted often that il warnt suitable for hrr to he
there Alone" She consulted us as 10 our opinion on
the question Of Miss Armstrong; really meaning
what She wrote Wien the lady and be- friends
sano they were met by Hannah Clapp with an en-
barIasscd smrl and the question:
"Dd ye mean for me ter goP
Moved by pity. and by the delusive hone that
Mis- Cl.pD had not made MP her mind TO stay, Miss
Ill l,.ra fay f,,oTe