Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-01-20
OLD MRS. COLE.

| door. and shook hands with Miss Nay
lor who happened to be passing, you
see, | only went for day and night.
! so didn't think il worth while TO ad-
H., yertise il on the church doors, | want
| ed 10 buy some dry goods and kitchen
things. and they're cheaper i'll Barn
vile than in a little place like this.
And, besides there's my niece, Maria,
whom | hadn't seen since her last ba-
by was born, and she and the baby
both were in poor health. SO thought
| might as well go up. and kill two
birds with one stone"
ITO be sure. And how did you find
Maria ard the baby? And how are all
the other folks in Bsrnville?'
well, | was glad to find them look
ing pretty spry and smart; and a. for
the rest, didn't hear of anybody
being sick or in trouble, unless twas
old Mrs. Cole"
"Ah. SO old Mrs. Cole is sick. And
what is it ails her this time?" said Miss
Naylor, with look of aroused inter
est
why, nothing much, | reckon.
did hear Maria holler to little Betty
Cole, and ask how her granma was
to-day; and she said bout the same as
Yesterday Maria asked if the fever
| had gone down: but jest then Jeems
came into dinner, so | didn't hear the
rest. and forgot to ask Maria about
! Mrs Cole.
well. well! I'm sorry to hear she 5
sick, poor soul. for she's good wO-
man, and we can easy afford 10 spare
such. But she's well on in years, and
I've been rather expecting 10 hear Of
her being took down, considering she
! is over sixty. But law me. | musn' I
keep you tanding here in the street,
and you just come home. Goodbye;
and depend upon ne for cominground
soon to see what pretty things you've
bought"
With this Miss Naylor turned away,
and with her basket on her arm pro-
ceeded to the store for a supply of
| groceries.
There she found Mrs Brown. the
house-carpenter's wife, engaged i'll
cheapening calico.
You amt as smart as Mrs. Steb-
bins, she said, as the two examined
the quality OF the calico. She has
been up to Barnville and laid in lot
Of dry goods and things, for the sake
of saving bout twenty-five cents or so.
For my part, | go for encouraging
home trade
"Well, | don't know" Mrs Brown
replied doubtfully. Seems to me ev-
! erybody's bound 10 look out for their
own interest. and | confess Id be will
ing to go little out Of the way 70 save
twenty-five cents. But what did Sal
! " Stebbins say was the news in Barn
ville?"
Nothing, except that old Mrs. Cole
is down with fever Mrs. Stebbins
said she was no better when she left.
She's over sixty. and | wouldn't be
surprised to hear OF her death any
minute
Il l.onder if John Coles wife knows
it? She ought TO be told. for her hus-
! bands mother was second cousin to
old Mrs. Cole. and they've got the
same family name, and have always
been friendly. If she dies they'll go
to the funeral, OF course, as they did
when the old man died four or five
years ago
Then Miss Naylor turned to the gro
Ger, and Mrs. Brown. having concur
ed her bargain by persuading the mer-
chant to take basket of dried apples
in part payment for his goods. left the
store and took her way homeward,
well pleased with the bargain.
Meeting neighbor on the way, the
two stopped moment to exchange
greetings and inquire the news.
That reminds me. said Mrs. Brown,
promptly. I've jest this minute part
ed from Liza Naylor and she told Inc
that she'd seen Mrs Stebbins who is
jest froal Barnville. and left old Mrs.
/ Cole as low a could be with fever.
Liza said they were every minute ex-
pecting death and she's no doubt gone
by this time, poor soul. She thinks
Jane Cole will go TO the funeral. if she
knows of the old lady's death.
Why, of course, they ought to send
a message and let them know. replied
Mrs Miller. They are their own kin.
though not very nigh; and naturally
they'd go TO the funeral"
Mrs. Miller turned aside two squares
TO speak to Fanny Bates, Mr.. John
Coles wife's sister. Miss Bates was
seated at her window sewing, and
| Mrs Miller called to her:
Say, Fanny, does your sister know
that old Mrs. Cole of Barnville's
deadF'
Dead. Good gracious. you don't
say sor' said Miss Bates, dropping her
work and leaning out of the window.
do come in and tell me about it.
well, can't conveniently stop jest
now, as it's time to be putting on din
ner, and Hiram's so particular. But
| I've jest this minute heard from Mrs.