The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-11-29
GOING A-YIsITING,

l went down to the depot two hours
before time because | had several er-
rands to do there. Looking up the
biosd street which ran through the vii
lage, | saw an old black horse, hitched
to light wagon, coming down on gal
lop. In the wagon was man and wOm
an. The woman waved her hand and
the man piled the whip, and in a couple
of minutes the rig turned in and stopped
at the platform with such suddenness
that the mud flew in all directions.
"Has she gone Z" shouted the woman
as she began to climb out.
! "Who ?"
| "The train
"No, ma'am."
"Well, that's piece of good luck. |
thought we'd be be about five minutes
too late. For mercy's sake, get my
ticket r.
"Yes, Mary, yes" he replied as he put
forth his best effort, and dragged the
chest down the platform and asked for
a ticket and a check.
at is an hour and fifty minutes yet,"
replied the agent.
"W-what Hear that, Mary You've
been fretting and stewing since 3 o'clock
this morning, and here weare two hours
ahead of time !"
1T can't be y
"That is what he says"
"Weil, William, don't you believe all
he says. You remember how Aunt Har-
per got left by taking tn, word of a
ticket agent. Sometimes trains are
ahead of time, and sometimes behind.
Kiss me good-by, William"
But there's lots of time, Mary"
She appealed to me to settle the ques-
tiOn, and when put the time at an hour
and fOrty-five minutes she consented to
go into the waiting room. She sat down
on the edge of seat and nervOusly be
gan an inventory.
Heres my handkerchief, and here's
my wallet with ninety cents in it, and
here's my snuff box and timble and steel
bowed glasses. Here's the receipt fer
making hard soap I'm taking to Cousin |
Jane, and here's the box of mutton tai |
Ter to go to Squire johnson. William,
I'm all right - haven't forgotten a
thing r.
"Do tell ~
And | only have had five weeks to
get ready in Well, William, goot-by.
"Oh, pshaw, Mary-lots of time yet
Don't be too sure about it, You
can't always tell about these railroads.
don't want to get left"
She SIT down again, took second in
ventOry, and then musingly said
II covered up the flower barrel, and
hung up that bag Of dried pumpkin, and
put the jar of soft soap away, and low
cred the curtains in the parlOr, and shut
up the cook stove"
Yes Mary replied the husband.
And poured the water out of the
teapot, cal ried that piece of butter down
stairs, sent home Mrs. AlBe1's drawin'
of tea and cup of brown sugar, and put
that piece of pork back into the brine"
Yes, I'll swear t. it.
"Well, good by, William. I'll be home
in three weeks"
at isn't time yet, Mary. It's over an
hour before the train'il come along"
"Well, don't make any mistake. You
know Cousin Hannah dreamed that |
got left, and don't want it to come
true. And now let's see You are to
board at Henry's and go over to the
house once day.
"Yes."
BE careful to shut all the doors after
you"
II will"
And don't build no fires"
mo-
"Well, William, good-by. 1t must be
time to 60.
"Oh, no. Mary, but it's Just an hour
by the clock Don't he go nervous"
81 am a little nervous, suppose, but
| reckon irs because I've forgotten
something. pa you take the starch
"Ard carry the Widder Smiths kettle
home ?
Yes"
And did | scald the coffee pot out
and hang it up behind the stoveI'
Yes, saw you"
And wipe out the stove biler and
hang it up in the cellar way ?'
YES"
"WeIl, that's ell, l guess, and I'll kiss
you good-by. I'll write you on Sur
day
Now, Mary, don't be so Uneasy, It's
a bad sign
It don't mean earthquakes or hurricanes.
Now, William, your liver medicine is on
the shelf in the kitchen"
Yes
"You take your liver medicine three
times day-half teaspoonful-in wa
ter. left out an old spoon
"Nes."
III you have a pain in your chest
make mustard plaster. There's mus
tird in that lin box on the second but
terry shelf, left hand corner, and you can
tear up one of my old aprons
Yes"
Let's see ? You may have another
bile while am gone. The flaxseed is
in that yalar box on the top buttery
SHELF
Yes"
"And-why, for mcrcy's sake y
"What is it y
"There amt no ink in the house for
you 10 write with = | knew Id forgot
ten something
That's So
"WeIl. it's too late now. Put a little
vinegar and lampback in the old ho tie,
and guess you can make out. Well, |
good-by, William. Remember, | have
chalked down the number of hens on
the wOOdshed door and you won't forget |
that we have thirteen hogs, forty-six |
sheep. one horse and yoke of oxen.
Let the clock run down and don't try to |
wind it, and if you want the lantern
you'll find it on the hook in the wood |
shed with candle AMI matches all ready |
Well, good-by, William"
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