The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-05-17
THE BANK FAILURE.

An 80 you've SOLD your Iarm, Delln-
dy2
Yes, an must say I'm glad of it. A
lone woman amt got no business tC
farm, no way. Though | must say
made out pretty well this year. clear.
ed 5000 on the wheat, over and above
payin' for the harvestin', thrashin' an
the like. An I've sold the hay, clover
an timothy mixed fur about $500 more,
But it's awful wearin' on a woman a
tendin' to things an watchin' that the
hands don't shirk nor nothin'. AS | was
a sayin', lone woman amt got no busi-
ness with farm. Twas different be-
fore Aaron died, and Mrs. Belinda Bios
som gave a regretful sigh for the dead
and gone Aaron,
You needn't be lone woman no long
er than you want to be, Belindy, quiet
ly observed her sister, Mrs. Jemima
Hatch. There's Deacon Gibbs, now,
would give his eyes to
Don't say Deacon Gibbs to me, retort-
ed the widow. Don't know what he's
after? Don't he know as well as | do
that I've got $4,000 put away safe an
snug in the Bluegrass bank? l haven't
doubt he'd like to git the handln' of
it, but he never will, kin tell him that.
Sho, now, Belindy, demonstrated Mrs.
Hatch what's the use O. maxim the poor
man out wus'n he is2 / don't know
as he's any liklier 10 be after the money
than Lawyer Greene.
Lawyer Greene's got money himself,
an it stands to reason faint so much OF
an object to him. Besides, l amt said
Oh. no, you amt said, | know, but a
body kin put two an two together, |
reck'n. Well, all I've got to say is, I'd
rather have Deacon Gibbs any day, if
twas me, than that smooth spoke, iley
looking lawyer. But l must be gettin'
home; Bijah'll want his supper time it's
ready, and Mrs. Hatch rolled up her
knitting, wrapped it carefully in cloth
and put on her black sun bonnet and
her blue yarn half hands.
You might haye stayed to supper, Je-
NINA, said the widow reproachfully. l
was goln' to have cream cookies and
some of them Lawton blackberry pre-
serves you're so fond of.
Wal, I'd like mighty well to stay, Be-
linda, but Bijah he'll be lookin' fur
me to hev supper ready when he comes
in from the field. He's allus hungry as
beaver at night, an amt left nothin
cooked so he could get himself bic, |
reckon better: go. You goin' to Miss
Larcom's quitin' next week!
Oh, s'pose 80. Miss Larcom would
get miffed If didn't, and after another
five or ten minutes of conversation, Mrs.
Hatch got started for home,
Mrs Belinda Blossom was a typical
widow-fair, fat and not quite 40, and
known as the hest housekeeper in ami
around the neighborhood where she
lived.
With even less personal attractions
and good qualities than she possessed,
she might have exchanged her widows
weed for bridal attire long ago, had she
so desired. However, for some reason
best known to herself, she hadpreferred
to remain lone woman. Whether she
would remain so much longer was a
question which puzzled herself quite as
much as it did some other parties.
1t was the day of Miss Larcom's quilt
ing and the supper was almost ready.
The quilt was already out, and by lit
tie preconcerted man9vre on the part of
fun loving girls, it was thrown over the
widows head when it was taken out of
forded no little amusement, as, accord
ing to time honored tradition, whoever
the quilt is first thrown over is soon to
become bride,
Mrs. Blossom wore her honors blush
ingly, and her cheeks were still covered
with crimson when the gentlemen be-
gan to drop in, just before supper.
Lawyer Greene, who was among the
Ia 10 al
tions to the blooming widow, much to
rival, who could only sit in corner and
cast despairlng glances at the object of
his affections,
Just look at Deacon Gibbs, whispered
Mahala vii Jams to Dorcas Lamb. be
looks like hen ON hot griddle. while
Lawyer Greene is cOurtin' the wild
ow.
Dorcas Uttered out loud, whereupon
the deacon grew red in the face, as il
aware that he was the object Of their
mirth.
Wal, reckon I'll be goin', Miss Lar
com, he announced, approaching the
hostess short time later. l only just
dropped in to see how you was all git
tin along, a..
oh, you you must stay to supper deacon
it's almost ready now AN l cant let yOl
go before that, declared the hostess, de-
terminedly, But the deacon was equal
ly determined, and 20 he did.
Deacon Gibbsl Deacon GipbsI stop
minute, want to speak to you, crieC
Mrs Hatch, rushing out to the porcl
where he stood, looking a little bewil
dered at the unexpected summons.
want you to come over the day afte
tomorrow-Thanksgiving, Day yo'
know--and eat dinner with US. Nov
don't cay no; there wont be any bod.
there only Belindy and our own folks
Say you'll comel
Wal. dunno, Miss Hatch, said ,th
deacon uneaslly. l thank you kindl!
for the invite, but I've been a feein
kind of blue for good spell now, an
don't know as I'd be fitiin company u
go on eat Thanksgiving dinners will
folks when I'm blue,
Sho! that's all nonsense, deacon. YOl
must come now, and l shall be lookin
fur you,
And good hearted little Mrs, Hatcl
ran back INTO the house before Deacon
Gihbs could make any further protest
IL DlT5. DlOoSOln uOllItu tup uVSSOh
departure, she betrayed no conscious
nsss of the fact, but demurely continued
.. her flirt; tion with the lawyer.
Supper, the great event of the day
was ready at last, and the guests wer
doing ample justice to the plentiful ar
ray Of viands set before them. Boilet
ham, chicken potpie, mashed po!atoe
and turnips, hot slaw, apple sauce
squash pie, custard pie, jelly cake. cook
les and doughnuts, all were placed ol
the table together and the guests lnvitec
ed to help themselves, which they dit
with will.
The meal was well under way anc
conversation had tagged considerably
for with hungry people eating and talk
ing are not to be carried on together
when new arrival came, in the persor
of Hiram Prim, the stOrekeeper's clerk
Hiram was soon seated at the table
helping himself right and left to the still
abundant substantials and luxuries Or
the board.
Heard the newsH he asked, looking
around after partaking of a few mouth
fuls. Hain'tl Wal, the Bluegrass banl
has busted-smashed clean up, Credi
tors won't git i've cents on the dollar
Exclamations of surprise greeted the
unexpected tidings from all sides.
The Widow Blossom turned pale ant