Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-08-22
THE TO WV POOR.

Mrs William Trimble and Miss Rebeccs
Wright were driving along Hampden east
road, one afternoon in early spring. Their
progress was slow. Mrs. Trimble's sorrel
horse was old and stiff, and the wheels
we're clogged by clay mud. The frost was
not yet out Of the ground, although the
snow was nearly gone, except in few
places on the north side Of the woods, or
where il had drifted all winter against a
length Of fence.
There must be a good deal o. snow to
the nOr'ard Of us yet, said weather wise
Mrs. Trimble 81 feel il in the air It's
more than the ground damp. We amt
goin' to have real nice weather till the up.
country SHOWS all gone"
81 heard say yesterday that there was
good sleddin' yet, all up through Parsley, ''
responded Miss Wright IL shouldn't like
to live up in them northern places NV
cousin Ellen's husband was Parsley man,
an he was obliged, as you may have heard,
10 20 up north TO his fathers second wife's
funeral got back day before yesterday.
Twas about twenty one miles, an they
started ON wheels; but when they'd gone
nine or ten miles, they found twas no sort
o. use, an left their wagon an took sleigh.
The man that owned it charged EN- four
an six, too. shouldn't have thought he
would they told him they was goin' to a
funeral an they had their own buffaloes
an everything"
We'll, | expect it's good deal harder
scratchin', up that way they have to git
money where they can the farms is very
poor as you go north" suggested Mrs
| Trimble, kindly. "Tain't none too rich a
country where we be, but I've always been
grateful / want born up to Parsley"
The old horse plodded along and the sun,
coming out from the heavy spring clouds.
sent sudden shine Of light along the mud.
dy road Sister Wright drew her large
veil forward over the high rim of her bon
net. She was not used to driving, or 10
being much in the open air but Mrs. Trim.
BILE was an active business woman, and
looked after her own affairs herself, in all
weathers The late Mr.. Trimble had left
her good farm, but not much ready mon
ey, and IL was often said that she was bet
ter off in the end than if he had lived. She
regretted his loss deeply, however it was
impossible Tor her to speak of him, even
with intimate friends, without emotion.
and nobody had ever hinted that this emo
tion was insincere She was most warm.
hearted and generous, and in her limited
way played the part of Lady Bountiful in
the town Of Hampden.
why, there's where the Bray girls lives,
amt it y she exclaimed, as, beyond thick
ct of witch hazel and scrub OAK, they came
in sight of weather beaten, solitary farm
house. The barn was too far away for
thrift or comfort, and they could see long
lines of light through the shrunken boards
as they came nearer. The fields looked
both stony and sodden Somehow, even
Parsley itself could be hardly more forlorn.
Yes m, said Mics Wright, that's where
they live now, poor things. | know the
place, though amt been up here for years
You don't suppose, Mis- Trimble-I amt
seen the girls out to meetin all winter. I've
reilly been covetin'n-
''Why, yes, Rebecca, of course we could
stop" answered Mrs Trimble, heartily.
The exercises was over earlier'n expect
ed, and you're goin TO remain over night
long o. me, you know. There won't be no
tea till we git there, so we can't be late
Tn in the habit o sendin' basket TO the
Bray girls when any o our folks is comm
this way, but l amt been TO see 'em since
they moved up here. Why, it must be a
good deal over a year ago. know twas
in the late winter they had to make the
move Twas cruel hard, must say, an
if hadn't been down with my pleurisy fe.
yer I'd have stirred round an done some.
thin about it. There was a good deal o.
sickness at the time, an'-well, twas kind
| o rushed through breakin' of 'em up, an
lots o folks blamed the selec men but
when twas done, twas done, an nobody
took holt TO undo it. Ann an Mandy look
! ed same's ever when they come to meetin'
| long in the summer, kind o. wishful, per
haps. They've always sent me word they
was gittn' on pretty comfortable"
THAT would be their way" said Rebec-
ca Wright. They never was any hand to
complain, though Mandy's less cheerful
than Ann. If Mandy'd been spared such
poor eyesight, an Ann hadn't got her lame
wrist that want set right, they'd KEEP off
the town fast enough. They both shed
tears when they talked TO me about havin'
to break up, when | went to see 'em before
| went over 10 brother Asa's. You see we
was brought up neighbors an went to
school together, the Brays an me. Twas
a special Providence brought us home this
road, I've been so covetin' chance 10 git
to see 'em. Ny lameness hampers me. !"
"pm glad we come this way, myself, "
said Mrs. Trimble.
'Id like 10 see Just how they fare" Miss
Rebecca Wright continued, They give
their consent to goin' on the town because
they knew they'd got IN be dependent, an
80 they felt 'twould come easier for all than
for few to help 'em. They acted real
| dignifed an right minded, contrary TO what
most do in such cases, but they was dread
full anxious to see who would bid 'em of,
town meeting day they did so hope I
would be somebody right in the village. l
! Just sat down an cried good when found
Abel Janes's folks had got hold of em.
They always had the name of bein' slack
an poor spirited an they did it for just
what they got out o. the town. The select
men this last year amt what we have had
l hope they've been considerate about the
| Bray girls"
81 should "a been more considerate about
fetchin' of you up, apologized Mrs. Trim
BILE. "pve got my horse, an you're lame
! footed tits too far for you to come. But
time slips away with busy folks, an for
git good deal ought to remember"
'There's nobody more considerate than
you be, ," protested Miss Rebecca Wright.
Mrs. Trimble made no answer, but took
out her whip and gently touched the sorrel
horse, who walked considerably faster, but
did not think it worth while to trOt. 1t was
long, round about way to the house, far
ther down the road and up a lane.
81 never had any opinion of the Bray
girls's father, leavin' 'em as he did, said
Mrs. Trimble.
HE was much praised in his time, though
there was always some said his early life
hadn't been up TO the mark, ," explained her
companion. "He was a great favorite of
our then preacher, the Reverend Daniel
LOngbrother They did a good deal for
the parish, but they did it their own way.
Deacon Bray was one that did his part in
the repairs without urging, You know
twas in his time the first repairs was made,
when they got out the old soundin'. board
an them handsome square pews. 1t cost
an awful sight O. money, too They hadn't
done payin' up that debt when they set TO
TO alter it again an git the walls frescOed.
My grandmother was one that always spoke
her mind right out, an she was dreadful
opposed TO breakin' up the square pews
where she'd always set. They was countin'
up what 'twould cost in parish meetin', an
she riz right up an said twould cost Dothin'
to let 'em stay, an there want house
carpenter left in the parish that could do
such nice work, an time would come when
the great grandchildren would give their
eye teeth TO have the old meetin' house look
just as it did then. But haul the inside TO
pieces they would aud did"
There come TO be a real fight over it,
didn't there" agreed Mrs. Trimble sooth.
ingly. "Well, twa'n't good taste. re-
member the old house well l come here
as a child TO visit cousin o. mothers, an
Mr.. Trimble's folks was neighbors, an we
was drawed to each other then, young's we
was. Mr.. Trimble spoke of it many's the
time, the first time he ever see me, in a