Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-25

She took u valsecoak, but IN 009 -
get j, on il was necessary to take "a sons
Of the many things she was already
wearing. and. - fass as she took on the
things in which she was wrapped, she
beran st once to get warmer. and she 70
memtered the words Of the red beggar,
and how he bad wished that abe might
grow colder the more she put on: and
Dame Barbarer knew that . spell had
been laid upon her because she had
spoken harshly to the vagabond when he
wished To come liz and warm himself BY
her fire. She therefore made herself
warm BY taking OF her wrappings until
she had as little on as it was at all re
sp.ctable TO wear. and thereafter she
went in cold weather % thinly clad tina,
her neishbors declared that she had LOST
iItr wits
Ii was we'll nigh year that this STATE
of things continued. and one day just Is
the sun was near setting, and the dame
was every moment expecting her hus-
hand home from the field where he had
been at work all daT, when q strange old
woman came puttering along the road.
The poor old creature was bent well nigh
double. and one could see that her back
was not straight. hump standing Out
where her shoulders were stopped over
The old woman, indeed, was so bent oveI
that it was not possible to see her face
and it was only by her dress that one
could have known her again.
But it was this dress which made Dame
Barbarer stare: for it was all Of faded
red, tattered and stained and weather
beaten, and patched here and there, bu,
despite the fact that it was the dress Of
a woman and not of a man, there was
something about it that brought the rec
beggar of the year before up SO vividl,
to the dame that she began. all Of d
tremble. to put a supper on a plate fol
the newcomer without even waiting I,
be asked. The old red woman sat dowl
on the doorstep. painting and chucking
"You are dressed strangely, Dame.
she said, for the time OF year"
1.-The time Of year has nothing to d,
with what wear" answered poor Dam.
Barbarer; 1.-The colder it gets the less
wear, and in summer l have to put OIL
the thickest things have to keep cool "
The old red woman chuckled.
Perhaps my brother has been here,
abe observed. eating away with hearty
appetite.
"Is he your BROTHER asked Barbara
piteously; "oh, if you would only asl
him to undo the charm and make IN,
like other people, there isn't anything
wouldn't do for you"
"Humph. Perhaps you weren't polite
to him. He is very particular abou
that"
II am sure" the Dame answered, -
tried to be kind to him until he wa
saucy to me-"
The red woman chuckled more thai
ever.
"Well," she said, finishing her supper
and rising with more agility than on
would have expected Of her; lyon are OIL
the whole a good sort, and dare say OF
enough"
"Oh, indeed / have" poor Barbara
answered, with tears in her eyes. Nor
than enough"
well, them" the old woman said, ii
shall not be said that have not mad
amends for what my brother did NOR
than you deserved, and you shall hav'
your heast's desire"
She looked into Barbarers face. am
the Dame would have sworn for her lif
that it was the red beggar who curset
her into whose face she was gazing. The
she bent over again with one Of her sin
lister chuckles. and went hobbling dow
the road.
And before the summer came aroun,
again the storks had brought little Sol
to the cottage. -Quincy Townsend in Bos
ton Courier.