The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-12-10

siands set before them. boiied nam.
chicken pot pie, mAshsd potAsoea aad tur-
nips. hot slsv. srple sanec. squash pie i.
cus,Ard pie. isily cake. cookies and dough
nuts we're all placed on the table together
and The guests invited 70 hsip shsrsslses.
which they did With will.
The meal vss veil under way. And con.
vsrssllon had TAGGED considssshly. for
Nth hungry people eating sad talking
arc pol 10 bs caar,ed on togetAes. when .
nsv arrival came in the psFson Of Hiram
Primn. the store keepers clerk
Hiram Vas soon seated 4 the liable help.
ing himself right and left to the still
abundant snbstAntials and luxuries On the
bard.
Heard the nevsi" he asked, after par
taking OF . few mouthfuls. "Haiu'ti
Well. the Bluegrass bank hss busted
smashed up clean. Creditors vea't get 8
cents on the dollar"
E1clamstions ri surprise sfssted the
unexpected tidings from Ill sidsA
The widow Blossom turned PALE. aud
l'yazed wildly u the spsatss.
Lawyer Green also changed countsnsnes
~ be glanced iurtively At Mrs. Blossoms
face.
rs that really 20. Hirami" he asksd
sn1iously.
"It's really 90. declared Hiram. "It'll
be in the papers tomorrow morning"
"Why. Lawyer Green you hsven't got
money in there. have your"
"Oh, certainly not. Ny funds sre Sc
cured in real estate. don't trust 10
bsnks.' responded the lawyer. compla.
Gently.
"wal. I'm thankful To say that my mon.
ey Amt there, either" said Hiram, grave
ly. thereby causing great laugh, ~ II was
wellknown fact that Hiram spent his
wages as he earned them.
No one noticed the widow changed de-
meanor. though she still looked pale, and
declined second pieoe Of squash pie.
But Lawyer Green seemed suddenly to
have changed his tactics. and was now
evidently bent on getting up = firtation
with Mahsla Williams.
The widows money affairs were not gen.
orally known among her acquaintances,
consequently she escaped their coincidence.
Jemima Hatch though did manage to
whisper few words Of sympathy in her
ear.
"Don't worry about it. Belinda, she
urged; "I'll come over to see you to-mor-
row, and we'll talk it over" But Mrs.
Blossom did not recover her spirits.
Lawyer Green did not appear to notice
when the widow rose to leave, compelling
her to accept the protection Of the half
grown Tom Larcom. much to the surprise
OF all who noticed the circumstance.
"He was awful sweet on the widow at
first," they whispered. "She must have
given him the mitten, I" and the next day
Il was currently reported that Lawyer
Grsen had proposed to Widow Blossom
and bad been rejected. So much for the
truth Of what "they say"
Jemims paid the promised visit bright
and early the next morning. She found
her sister looking pale and detected.
"How bad is it, Belinda" she asked.
"Did you put all your money in the Blue
grass bank?"
"All-every cent Of it," groaned the
widow.
"Wal it is too bad, but never mind; you
/, don't have to give up the house right away
do your"
"No; not till March.
80 much the better then; though, ol
course. you could have homo with us,
right away. But there's your COWS. an
chickens, an such things. They'll bring
!. better price after you've wintsred them
|. an you can sell them in the spring. and
there'll be 30 much gained.
After considerable more conversation OF
, the subject, the widow seemed 10 brighter
, up little. and her sister prepared 70 taxi
her leave.
9 NOV you'll be sure to come up and a.
/. Thanksgiving dinner with Ms tomorrow
Q won't you. Belinda" she urged. and Be
, linda promised.
4 Jemima's footsteps had died away, AMI
q the widow was still sitting forlorn ant
despondent, when her rsverie Was disturb
a cd again.
Morning, Miss Miss Blossom" said
q hesitating voice. and there stood Des
Gibbs. nervously twisting his hat 10 hi
"a hands.
.s The widow placed chair Tor her visitoI
who sat down, looking more nervous an
: embarrassed than ever.
,e live jest heard" be began. "ths
1t you that the Bluegrass bank has bustet
g an you've lost all your money, and-an
Lob, Bslindy. won't you have me? Sc
o; you will. and you shan't vsut for nothing
70 know amt rich, but my farm ID goo
r one an I've got II Ill in medder and ps
Q. ture now, an can raise right smart stool
an you shouldn't never kaow you'd lost
to cent, Will you. Miss Bios Belindyy
b, And this was the man she had suspects
d, Of wanting her money! The widow h
K her face in her hands and cried.
Mrs. Jerusha was in her element, cool
be ing the Thanksgiving dinner, next de-
y. But 10 the psuses. between bssting Il
" turkey and turning the pumpkin pies. d
iy made frequent trips to the door. shadiI
sy her eyes with her hand and gazing
down the winding country rosd.
he Il wonder il nary one OF them ais