The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-11-25

dress; so the squiIe's wife, who had been
tailoress in her younger days, helped
me make it.
II used to sew on it after I had pot
my days work done, by the light of the
big fire 's1 one tallow candle, and those
were very happy, hopeful hours that
spent in the old kitchen, stitching slow
ly at its seems, long after the family
were all in bed.
"Well, the last stitch was set at
length, and the dress was hung carefully
away, with its dainty linen lace ruffles
that had spun and knitted myself. 1t
lacked only one week to Thanksgiving,
the time set to wear the blue bombazine,
and was to go home the next day.
Il ought to have said that the squire
was one of the overseers of the poor in
our town, and as there was no almshouse,
once year the towns poor were set up
and bid off to board by the people at
town meeting. Those who would board
them cheapest got the paupers.
"We!l, there was one boy-Davy
Whitncy-that no one would bid for
Everybody knew him, and nobody would
nave him at any price; so Squire Hobson
was obliged to take him into his own
family, He was poor balf-wit-sly,
mischievous and rcvengeful.
''From the fir he seemed to have n
spite against me, and would watch me
at work, from behind door, with eyes
that had mischief in them. Once he
waited his opportunity, and shut me
down cellar, when the whole family were
away, and wouldn't let me up, with all
my coaxings and cntreat.es. Then he
began to fill the great fire place with
wood and brush-he always had great
passion for fres-and l was nearly dis
tracted down there in the dark, from
hearing him dancing and whooping over
my head, and the fire cracking and roar
ing In the chimney. l was sure he would
burn the house down.
Gle did come pretty near it, too, for
when the Squirt's folk, got home, heap
OF birch bark and brush which Davy
had brought into the kitchen and thrown
down near the hearth, had caught fire
and was all in blaze.
'Ic tormented the Squire's wife, too,
beyond all endurance, sucking the hens
eggs: eating the cream off the crooks of
milk, and digging great holes into her
cheeses
"Well, Davy kept his eyes on my bonn
bazine dress, whenever he saw me work
ing on it, and would sit in the chimney
corner near me, smoothing his hands
over its soft, shining folds and talking
to it in his broken way, as he had habit
of doing to anything that pleased him
greatly. 1t did not occur to me that he
meant mischief; but when l went to get
the dress the next day, when l was going
home, it was gone.
"WeIl, girls, can never tell you how
disappointed l was. 1t makes me feel
SD even now, after all these years. 1t
came into my mind at once that Davy
had had hand in its disai pcarance, but
when he was called up before the squire
he seemed to know nothing about it. The
house was searched, high and low, and
even the barn and glanary, but not
threa of the bombazine could be found.
"Nothiug more could be done, and
went home drcadfully down hearted. YOU
may be sure. To think that had drudoed
n.arly all summer for this one gown, to
have it snatched from me at the very last
moment, was too much, and am afraid
| hated the poor simple m nded boy with
bitterness that took me many month
to get over. Some of the supcrstitious
folks looked upon this as second warn
ing against my marrying your grandpa
that year, telling me that ill-luck would
be sure to follow US; and others thought
it was the work OF Providence, humblihg
my giddy vanity in trying to outshinc
the neighbors' girls. =
"However, there was nothing else to :.
do but to swallow my pride, as best l
could, and get out the old hand-cards
and wheel and go 10 work"
what Did you give it up, after all."
cried Susie.
''Give it upln said grandma '.Bles
you no, child Yolr grandma had a
good deal of spirit in those days. / had
no time 10 waste in mourning over the
loss of my gown, but went to work to
make another. And l had to begin with
the wool as it was shorn, tco. First it
had to be carded, then spun, and then
colored, before it could be woven. 1t
was discouraging work, and will own
that Il good many tears fell into the warp
and wUof of that homespun dress.
'But you must understand that it did
not take so much TO make gowns then as
now, for they were very plain and
straight. If it had, my task would have
been hopeless one indeed.