The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-08-01
GOING TO SHREWSBURY.

ger to be hurried on board before sud-
den jerk threw her almost off her un.
steady old feet and we moved on, At
my first glance saw only a pertub bed
old country woman, laden with large
basket end, ,RSheavy bundle tied up in an
old-fashioned bundle handkerchief; !;
then | discovered that she was a friend
of mine, Mrs. Peet, who lived on small
farm, several miles from the village.
She used to be renowned for good butter
and fresh eggs and the earliest cowslip
green's; in fact, she always made the
most of her farms slender resources; !;
but it was some time since had seen
her drive by from market In her ancient
thorough-braced wagon.
The brakeman followed her into the
crowded Car, also carrying a number of
packages. | leaned forward and asked
Mrs. Peet to sit by me; it was great
pleasure TO see her again. The brake
man seemed relieved, and smiled as he
tried TO put part of his burden into the
rack overhead; but even the flowered
carpet-bag was much to large, and he
explained that he would take care of
everything at the end of the car, Mrs,
Peet was not large herself, but with the
big basket, and the buudle- handkerchief,
and some possessions Of my own we had
very little spare room.
80 this'ere is what you call ridin' in
the cars Well, do declare !" said my
friend, as soon as she recovered herself
little. She looked pale and as if she
had been in tears, but there was flmil-
lar CLEAN of good humor in her tired
old eyes.
Where in the world are you going,
Mrs. Peet ?" l asked.
Cant be you amt heard about me,
dear ?" said she. well, the worlds
bigger than used to think it was. I've
broke up-'twas the only thing to do,-
aud I'm a-movin' to hrewsbury."
ITO Shrewsbury Have you sold the
surprise. Mrs. Peet was too old and too
characteristic TO be suddenly transplant
ed from her native soil.
"'T want mine, the place want"
Her pleasant face ha,dened slightly.
"He was coaxed an persuaded into
signin' off before he was taken away.
Is'iah. son of his sister that married old
Josh Peet, come it over him about his
bein' past work and how he'd do for him
like an own son, an we owed him little
somethin'. I'd paid off everythin' but
that, an was fool enough to leave it till
the last, on account of Is'iah's bein' a re-
lation and not needin' his pay as much
as some others did. It's hurt me to have
the place fall into other hands. Some
wanted me to go right to law; but I
wouldn't be no use. Is'iah's smarter n
| be about them matters. You see he's
got my name on the paper, too; he So id
twas somethin' bout bein' responsible
for taxes. We was scant of money, an
I was wore with watchin' an bein' broke
of my rest. After my tryin' hard for
risiu' forty five year to provide for bein
past work, here l be, dear, hear | be
used to drive things smart, you remem-
Der. But we was fools enough in '72 to
put about everythin' that we had safe in
I the bank into that spool factory that
come to nothin But tell ye l could
ha' kept myself longs lived, if l could
ha' held the place, I'd parted with most
of the woodland, if Is'Iah'd coveted it,
He was welcome to that, 'cept what
might keep me in oven wood. I've al
ways desired to trayel an see somethin'
of the world, but I've got the chance
now when | don't value it no great"
Shrewsbury is a busy pleasant place" ="
ventured to say by way of comfort,
though my heart was filled with rage at
the trickery of Isaiah Peet, who had al
ways looked like fox and behaved like
one.
Shrewsbury ben held up consider
able for me to smile at" said the poor
old soul, "but tell ye, dear, it's hard to
go an live forty two miles from where
you've always had your home and
friends. 1t may divert me, but it won't
be home. You might as well set out
one of my old apple trees on the beach,
80 it could see the waves come in
there wouldn't be no please to it,"
"Where are you going to live inShrews,
bury 2" asked presently.
~ don't expect to stop long, dear crea-
tu' I'm most seventy-six years old, and
Mrs. Peet turned to look at me with
pathetic amusement in her honest,
wrinkled face" II said right out to
Is'iah, before roomful of the neigbbors,
that l expected it of him to git me home
an bury me when my time come and do
it respectable but wanted to airn my
living, If twas 80 / could till then, He'd
made ely talk, you see, about my electin'
to leave the farm and go long to some of
my own folks ; but"-and she whisper
ed this carefully-"he didn't give me no
chance to stay there without hurtin' my
pride and dependin' on him. amt
said that to many folks, but all must
have suspected, A good sight on ems
had money of Is'iah, though, and they
don't like to do nothin' but take his
part an be pretty soft spoken, fear it'll
git to his ears, Well, well, dear, we'll
let it be bygones, and not think of it no
more but / saw the great tears roll
slowly down her cheeks, and she pulled
her bonnet forward impatiently, and
looked the other way.
There looks TO be pretty of good
farmin' land IN this part of the country"
she said minute later. "Where be we
now See them handsome farm build
in's ; he must be well-of man," But
| had to tell my companion that we were
still within the borders of the old town
where we had both been born. Mrs.
PeeT gave a pleased little laugh, like a
girl. I'm expectin' Shrewsbury to pop
up any minute. want never aboard
Of the cars before, but I've often thought
about 'em don't know but it seems nat
urdl. Amt it just like fyin' through
the air can't catch holt to see nothin'.
Land and here's my old cat goin' too,
and never mistrustin'. 1 amt told you
that I'd fetched her."
"Is she in that basket = inquired
with interet.
"Yis, dear. Truth was, l calc'lated
to have her put out of the misery of
changin', an spoke to one of the Barnes
boys, an he promised me all fair; but
/ ha an, 1ntf fhnro N anf EfnI Af
made excuse to myself to fetch her
along. She's an old creatur', like me,
an / can make shift to keep her some
way or mother there's probably mice
where we're goin' an she's proper
mouser that can about keep herself if
there's any sort Of chance. Twill be
somethin' of home 10 see her goin' an
comm, but l expected we both on us
goin' to miss our old haunts I'd love
to know what kind Of mousin there's
goin to be for me !"
"You mustn't worry, answeIe ], with
all the bravery and assurance that
could muster. "Your niece will be
thankful to have you with her. Is she
one of Mrs. Wins daughters
"Oh, no, they amt able; it's sister
Wayland's daughter Isabella, that mar
ried the oYerseer of the great carriage
shop. l amt seen her since just after
she was married but turned to her
first because knew she was able to have
me, and then can see just how the
other girls are situated and make me
some kind of plot. wrote TO Isabella.
though she is ambitious. and said twas
so I'd got to ask to come an make her a
visit, an she wrote back she be glad to
have me; but she didn't write right of, ,
and her letter was sented up dreadful
strong with some sort of essence, and /
don't feelheartened about no great of
welcome. But there, I've got eyes, an