Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-05-08

this twenty year. 1 calculate there's enough
for everythin'. l want to be put in that va
cant place at the end of the PiDgree lot, an
have fiat stone, like the others, you know.
IL leave it with you, you'll see that it's all
done right, won't you, Mis- Holmes feel
pretty pertcker about it. I'm the last OF
the hull family, you know, an they were pret-
ty smart folks. It's all run out now. amt
nolhin', but I'd kinder like to have my bury
in done like the others. don't want it done
by the town, an don't want nobody to give
it to me. want to pay for it with my own
money. You'll zee TO it, won't you p
"Of course 1 will. Everything shall be
done just as you say, II I have anything to
do about it,"
Mrs Holmes was rarely shocked or pain
fully touched but the sight of that poor lit
tie hoard of white clothes and burial money
called up all the practical kindness in her ma
ture. Every one OF Nancys wishes would be
faithfully carried out under her supervision.
'If they put the railroad they're talking
about through here, il II make us rich. The
Deacon Gays it will go through the south part
of this land. We'd have enough money for
burying and living too" said Mrs. Holmes,
as Nancy shut and locke d the drawer.
81 amt no stock in the railroad all the
money would belong to the Deacon Of it was
put through this land. I've got all over car.
in for riches. All want is to be buried in
dependent like the rest of my folks
'Hows the woman upstairs p asked Mrs.
Holmes when she took leave finally. She
had three pairs of Nancys finished stockings
| 10 bundle
'shes pretty poorly, l think. She keeps
me awake nights coughing so. l shouldn't
wonder ef she dropped away most any time"
Nancy did not go farther than the sitting.
room door with her departing visitor. When
she bad heard the outer door close after her,
she went swiftly out into the entry. She
/ held the lamp in her hand, and peered sharp
| ly into the corners
eyes, she did," said she, and took up a
I good.szed covered basket from behind the
door eagerly.
She carried it into the sitting room and
| opened it It was packed with eathbles.
Done up in a little parcel at the bottom was
the pay for the three pairs of stockings.
This was the code Of etiquette which had
to be strictly adhered to, in the matter of
Nancys receiving presents or remuneration.
Gifts or presents openly proffered her were
scornfully re jcted and ignomniously carried
back by the donor. Nancy PinRree was
proud old woman. People called her "Old
Lady Pingree." She had not a dollar of her
own in the world, except her little hoard OF
| burial money. This immense old mansion,
which had been the outcome of the ancient
prosperity of the Pingrees, was owned en-
tirely by Mrs. Holiness husband, through
foreclosed mortgages.
You'd better foreclose, Deacon" Ms.
Holmes had said land make sure you've got
the place safe in your own hands an then
you'd better let the poor old lady stay there
just the same as long as she lives. She
needn't know any difference.
Nancy did know a difference. Down in
the depths of her proud old heart ranked
the knowledge that outsider owned the
home Of her fathers, and that she was living
in it on federation. She let some rooms up
stairs, and received the money for them her
self. Mrs Holiness benevolence was wide,
although it was carefully and coolly caculAt-
ed. All Nancy had to live on was the rent of
these rooms, besides the small proceeds from
| her three hens and her knitting and neigh
boTly donations. Some days she had not
much fer sustenance except her pride. She
was over eighty.
The people upstairs were a widow and
daughter. The mother, after an absence of
many years and much trouble, had turned
back, Of her nature, to the town in which
she had been born and brought up. All her
friends were gone now, but they had used to
be there. SO they came and hired rooms Of
Miss Pingree, and Jenny did sewing to sup
port herself and her mother. She was q
good daughter They had a hard struggle
to live. Jenny did not find work very plen-
tiful; a good many of the women here did
their own sewing. She could scarcely pay
the rent of fifty cents per week and buy
enough TO eat. Her mother was sick now
in consumption it was thought. Jenny did
not realize it. She was not confined to her
bed.
Jenny came down and knocked at Nancys
door nt xt morning. She had fifty cents in
her hand with which to pay the rent. She
always paid it punctually on Saturday morn
ing.
Nancy cast glance at the money. "How's
your mother p said she. II heeTd her cough
in' good deal last night"
for the doctor. This is the money for the
rent"
Let it 60"
"why, oweit. can pay it inst as well
now as any time"
81 don't want it any time. don't want
any pay for this week. don't need it. I've
got enough.
Jenny's face was crimson. Thank you,
but I'd rather pay what | owe, Miss Pin
gree"
81 shan't take it,"
The two poor, proud souls stood confront
ing each other. Then Jenny laid the fifty
cents on the wndow-seat. You can do Just
what you've a mind to with it, " said she. 81
certainly shsn't take it back" Then she
went out Of the room quickly.
"Strange how she got the idea was SO
awful poor !" said Nancy, staring at the mon
ey resentfully. II won't tetch it, anyway.
She see it iayin' there next time she comes
in."
The next time poor Jenny came in. it was
indeed still lying there on the windo " seat, a
scanty pile of wealth in Eve and ten cent
pieces and coppers.
But Jenny never noticed it; she had some
thing else TO think of then. 1t was very
early the next morning, but Miss PinRres
was up, kindling the fire in her stting-room
J stove Jenny ran right in without knocking ;
she had shawl over her head. "Oh, Miss
; Pingree," she cried, cant you go upstairs
r to mother while run for the doctor 2"
/ Nancy dropped the tongs and stood up. "Is
she" she began. But Jenny was gone.
1 When the doctor came there was no need for
% him. Jenny's mother was dead. All that
was required now was the aid of some of the
/ friendly, capable women neighbors. Nancy
= went for them, and they came promptly,
r Mrs. Holmes and two others
t When they had done all that was necessa-
/ ry they went home, Shortly afterward Jen,
ny came into Nancy's room she had on heI
a shawl and hood She had been very calm
o through it all, but her pretty face had q
l. fierce, strained look.
9 miss Plngree, she said, abruptly, "whC
Y are the selectmenY
1 "Why, Deacon Holmes is one. What dc
Y you want to know for? 2"
i 1--WE got to go to them. The town viii
r have to bury mother.
"Oh!" cried Nancy, with two sharp notes
q one of pity one of horror.
= Suddenly at that Jenny's forced compos
ure gave way she sank helplessy into
Y chair and began to half sob, half shrek.
"Oh, mother mother poor mother To
s think it has come to this To think yol
must be buried by the town. What wOulC
Q you have said It's the worst of all. Poo
a mother poor mother oh, poor mother !"
"Haven't you got any money ?"
4. mo. Oh, motherl"
"An' there amt any of your folks tina
could help you 2"
II "We didn'S have any folks.
Then she kept on with her cries aud moRns
10 Nancy stood motiOnless. There is no know
IA ing what a clash of spiritual armies witt
10 trumpets and banners there was in her brav
W old heart but not line of her face moved
D. she hardly breathed.
"Wait minute, Jenny"
t, Nancy went into her bedroom and unlock
q ed the lowest drawer in the bureau. Sh
in took out all of her little hoard of money ex