Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-16

MEADOW FARM.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
CONTINUED from yesterday

BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
CONTINUED from yesterday
| Once more Mary Miller patiently walke'
back with the poor old crone to the poor
house. The matron was infuriated tni
time.
1T amt in human natur to stand TINS.
she declared. I'll put her in the jug.
1.-THE jug ?" repeated Mary. in surprise
ssIrs a room down cellar, where VI
shut up the troublesome cases" said TIM
Imatron. Il can't stand this running-awa,
business. and / won't!'
The Jug, perhaps. proved effacious, fol
old Miss Abby Dandy did not appear agail
for a week. At the expiration OF ina
period, however. she crept noiseiessiy IN
lust at dusk, and seated herself hKe
silent shadow In the chimney corner.
ut is so good to be at home again,
said she. rubbing her wrinkled hands; :"
somehow seem to get lost of late. Eina
than is gone. and Betsey is gone. and I'm
left here all alone. Yes, cup OF tea
lplease-supar and no milk. They ne,el
remember how like my tea at Tewks
town. This is good; and butter on my
bread. too! We don't get butter at Iewks
Town.
Mary burst into tears. !,
"Mother.n said she, miss Abby shall
not 90 back to Tewkstown-she shall stay
here. Mother, how should feel II yor
were wondering friendless and alone
through the world?"
"But. my dear
..She shall sleep in her old room out OF
the Kitchen" persisted Mary. shell De
no more care than q canary bird. Oh,
mother, do consent! She will think then
that she is still Ia her own home. Oh, II
you knew how dreary it is at that poor
house. with the grass all trampled out
and piles of clam-shells lying around the
door, and not 50 much as q dandeliOn or
daisy to be seen"
Mrs. Miller yielded to Mary's fearful
solicitations. do as you please, my
child" said she.
The Tewkstown authorities were but
too glad to be rid of the poor old incum-
bus and Miss abby Dabney settled down
into her old home. as contentedly and un-
questioningly as If she had never left it..
She ate and drank but little; she talked
still less, and seemed to regard Mrs.
Miller and Mary as guests, who had come
to visit the old farm.
THE Widow Miller and her darter
must be rich folks to undertake to support
old Miss Abby" sneered one neighbor.
She was we'll enough provided for at the
poor-house." said another.
II never yet saw farm succeed that
was worked by women-folks," jeered a
third.
'There'll be the biggest kind of smash
up, presently" observed number four.
And an auction sale of everything; and
ri be on hand-for l don't deny that
them little Aldernay cows is the cunning
est creeturs ever set eyes on, and good
mixers into the bargain"
But time wore on, and there was no
flutter OF any red flag over the porch. On
the contrary, matters throve, and Mary
Miller declared ioyously. that farming was
q great deal more profitable business than
working in the factory. and she only
wished that she had found it out before.
One gray, autumnal evening. Mary and
her mother came back from brisk walk
to the village, and found a stalwart, sun.
Drowned man sitting opposite to Miss Alb
by. by the red glow of the fire.
The old woman rose up in an odd, un.
certain way.
Ladies'" she said, fumbling in her old
snuff box. "this is my nephew, Cyrus
Dabney-he as ran away from home
twenty-nine years ago come Michaelma:
Day, and we all supposed dead. Cyrus
these are the ladies who are so good as t.
visit me here. l don't quite recollec
their names; but then, my memory ain
as good as it used to be-; and. after all, i
don't matter much. Nothing matter!
much nowadays''
And Miss Abby sat down and fell into
"daze" again. as if all necessity for con
versational effort were over.
Cyrus Dabney stood up-a bronzed
bearded giant, with dark eyes and superb
stature.
Ladies, beg your pardon ~ he said
"But s'posed when came here l wa
coming home. l knew nothing of al
these charges. l never could hav'
dreamed that my cousins would let thi
old creature go to--the town poor-house
don't know who you are, ladies'" with
husky rattle in his throat, "but I thanl
you. from the very bottom of my heart
for giving her shelter in her old age
And if money will pay you for it,
1T will not!'' said Mary sharply, as
the words conveyed slur.
"No, s'posed not" said Cyrus, with
sigh. "But I've plenty of money now
The dear old aunty shall live like a queel
all the rest of her days. for she was goo
to me when all the rest set me down for
black sheep. I've made my fortune on
in Panama, and I've come home to redeer
myself"
II have heard of Cyrus Dabney," sal
Mrs. Miller. gently.
"And I'll venture, ma am, you heard n
good Of me-" said the young giant, with
short laugh. "lll not deny that was
wild boy enough, but there wasn't an
actual evil in me. let folks say what the
would. And now I've come back rio
man, and there's nobody to bid me we
come home, except old Aunt Abby. out {
the poor-house.
He could not long have made this state
ment, however. All The town was up /
bid the rich government contractor we
come to Tewkstown, within "a hours
Human nature is human nature every
where.