Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-12-19
MISS LlDDY'S CHANCE.


gazing intently down the road. 1t was a
crisp morning in September, bat the sun,
shining from clear blue sky, had already
turned the frost into drops of dew The
woodbine which covered the porch over
the cottage door was a mass Of flaming
red, and in the yard yellow and white
chrysanihemums tossed their heads side by
side with the pink aLd purple tufts Of late
( China asters Curled on the door mat at
Miss Liddy's feet. was large Maltese cat
basking in.the sun. In field at one side
of the cottage a sleek red COW was nipping
the grass. aud flock Of turkeys was
scurrying about on brisk morning hunt
for grasshoppers So absorbed was Miss
Liddy that she did not notice the approach
of neighbor until the woman, leaning
over the gate, said:
Good mornin', Liddy. Be you expect
in compauy9"
Good mornin', Mis- Ditson. Walk right
in, said Miss Liddy, starting, and drop
ping her hand from her eyes. NO. amt
expectin' company" she added. as she
uShered her guest into the trim little sit
ting-room, where neet work table, snowy
muslia curtains. ard various bits Of deco
rativc needle-work proclaimed that a New
England old maid was the railing spirit OF
the cottage.
Il see you gain down.. the road as if
somebody was comin',p said Mrs Ditson.
81 was watehin' for my trunk. Dick
Bowles said he'd bring it along from the
depot, replied Miss Liddy.
Your trunkG For the land sakes, what
be you goin' to do with a trunkf" asked
Mrs. Ditson.
.1'm goin' away said Miss Liddy
''The stage-driver sent to Concord to get
me a trunk-one of them kind with box
in the top for a bonnet, and he expects it II
come on the train this mornin."
"Where be yoa goin', Liddy7" asked
Mrs. Ditson, after a pause, during which
she had lifted her hands in astanishment.
''Im goin' first to Boston to see sister
Lisbeth's children The poor things are
all alone there with his folks. | believe
it's right for woman to stick fast to her
husband; but when he happens to be sea
cap'n, can't say it's right for her to leaye
her children to the care of strangers for
the sake of gallivantin' round the world
with him. Father didn't approve of Lis
beth marryin' Hiram. anyway; and as
things has turned cut, l believe he was
right | guess when l get there those
children will be glad to see some of their
own flesh and blood
'I should say their fathers folks was
their own flesh and blood as well as you,r
said Mrs. Ditson.
II spose they are; but mothers folks al
ways seem nearer to me-" replied Miss
Liddy. 'I think they've got the most
right, anyway" she added, firmly.
"Ifyou'd married, Liddy, and had chill
dren of your own, as have, you'd know
that the husband s folks think they've got
the most right said Mrs. DItsoD, with an
air of superiority why, l never eat
dinner with nay own folks
once since was married Until there were
so many children that we began to have
dinner at home, had to 90 to his folks
year after year."
"Well, didn't marry, thank the Lord"
snapped Miss Liddy. "If had, maybe /
wouldn't have the chance I've got now.
I've always been wantin' TO travel; but
there's always been somethin' a'gin it, and
! haven't slep' away from under this roof
but once since / was born, and that was
when Mis- Putnam died, and l staid up
there one night to look after the children
until their auns could come for 'em. Father
he always said that when folks had home
they ought to stay in it. That was why he
so set agin Hiram, cause he wanted Lis
beth to go to sea with him; so there was
no use for me to talk of goin' anywhere
while he was alive. Then after he died
and when we laid her away at fathers
side, what with all the doctors bills and
ore thing an other hadn't money enough
left to Go anything but live along here and
be thankful that / had roof over my
head Now, that legacy Uncle Silas left
me Just gives me the chance I've been
longin' for since | was girl, and I'm
goin' I'm sick of the sight of these ever
lastin' hills, shuttin' me in here as if they
were prison walls. After I've seen Lis
beth's children I'm goin' cut West to visit
Cousin Ben's folks. / amt comm home
for year"
"Maybe you're right about the hills bein'
prison walls, though l never looked upon
'em that way" said Mrs Ditson, as Miss
Liddy stopped for breath. But, land
sakes, when q woman has got as many
children as have she don't think about
prison walls nor nothin' except to start the
young ones Off in time for school, and have
dinner ready for 'em when they come
home. But, Liddy, what''are you goin' TO
do with the COW and all them turkeys'
was sayiA' only yesterday that you'd have
fine catin' for the holidays. The Queen of
England couldn't have no BETTER
''They are the fattest turkeys 1 ever see,
and I've taken a heap Of trouble raisin'
'em, said Miss Liddy,Ewith an air of salts
fed pride; ''but l can sell EN-, and the
COW too. The butcher down to the Cor
ners said only the other day ttat she'd be
a fine COW to fat for beef He'd take her
any minute And l guess there's roast
turkey to be had at Christmas-time any
where"
"What you goin' to do with Princelv
asked Mrs. Ditson.
The Maltese cat, who had followed his
mistress indoors, and was now curled up
in her lap, raised his head and purred on
hearing his name.
"That's the only trouble, said Miss Lid
dy, her thin old face flushing as she gently
stroked her pet. 'He must have his saucer
of warm milk and his basket to sleep in,
and he'd grieye himself to death If he
wasn't petted and talked to- He's just
like child to me. and sometimes | feel as
if ia ought to stay and take care of him;
but it would be flying in the face of Prov
idence to give up such chance of seein'
the world as I've got now"
81 never hankered to 60 travelin'," said
Mrs. Ditson II was away week once,
the time sister Susan was married and
went to the wedding, and was never so
thankful in my lie as when | got home.
The noise and joggle of the cars gave me
an awful headache, and 1 was most chokcd
to death with the cinders, and clean beat