News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-05-14

10 entering her nHuU puBUOH OUC'
again, while she reiterated to tn,
white-capped maid some directions
concerning old Ann Mudgett's rheu
matism, when the matron hurried in
"Oh, l beg your pardon, DR.. Clar
imont, " said she, "but l clean forgot
the new old woman"
1.-THE new old woman 7" repeateC
DR.. Mary, with a smile.
"That is, exclaimed Mrs. Gun
ningham, "she only came last night
"a quiet old soul, half blind, and
quite bad with the asthma. Perhaps
you'd better just see her before yor
90. She brought a card ofadmissiOT
from DR.. Merton, the New York cler
gyman, who is one of our directors
you know. And she seems a decent
body enough"
SO DR.. Mary went cheerfully into
the little brick-paved room, with its
white pallet bed, cushioned rocking
chair and neatly-draped easement,
where sat a poor, little, shriveled-uT
woman, wrapped in a faded shawl.
She looked timidly up, as DR.. Mary
came in, from under the borders OF
her cap.
"I'm a poor body, miss" said she,
"a and Pm sensible Pm making a deal
of trouble in the world. But the
Lord don't always take us, miss,
when we'd like to go. "
"This is the DOCTOR" said Mrs.
Cunningham.
The little woman would have risen
up to make a feeble courtesy, but DR..
Mary motioned her to keep her seat.
"What is your name?" said she,
pleasantly.
Louise NARROW, miss. "
"Marlow? That is an unusual
name, isn't it ?" said Mary Clari-
mont, coloring in spite of herself
"We're English, miss" said the
old woman, struggling bravely with
her asthma. "There amt many of
us in this country. I've a son, miss,
in the law business. as any mother
might be proud Of "
ga son /" echoed Mrs. Cunning.
ham, "and you in the almshouse?"
"NOt that it's his fault, ma'am, .
the old creature made haste to ex.
plain. " My son is to be married to
a fine, proud young lady, as is fit for
any prince in all the land, and, OF
course, he can't be expected to bur
den himself with a helpless old wo.
man like me. He says I'm to write
and let him know how | get along
and if I'm sick or anything he'll try
to see me. | sewed carpets until the
asthma got hold of me, and support
ed myself comfortably. But, o
course, / couldn't lay up anything
for u rainy day-who could? Anc
Henry couldn't help me, for he's get
ting ready to be married, poor lad
SO | went to DR.. Merton and asked
him did he know any decent place
where an old woman like me could
end her days in peace. And he gave
me a card to come here and some
money to pay my travelling eXpen
ses-God bless him!-and here
am"
Mary Clarimont listened quietly tC
the garrulous tale, but the color va
ried in her cheek more than once as
she stood there.
"Is your sons name Harry Mar
low?" she said slowly and thought
fully.
Yes, miss, at your service, saiC
the old woman. with a duck of he
white-capped head, which was meant
to do duty in place of the impossible
courtesy.
is he like this?" said DR.. Mary
taking a photograph from her pock
ct.
The old woman, with trembling
hands, fitted on her iron-boweC
spectacles, and looked at the picture
uttering a little cry of recognition.
"Sure, miss, " it is his own self,
she cried. You are acquainted witt
him, then? "
Somewhat" said DR.. Mary, com
posedly, as she returned the photo
graph to its place. "And now L viii
leave you something to relieve thi'
difficulty in breathing.
But the old crone eyed her visit
fully.
Perhaps you know the young la
dy my son is to marry"
Yes" said DR.. Mary, writing
something in her prescription book
81 have seen her.
Perhaps, MISS" faltered the ole
woman, "you will give her my hum
BILE duty, and tell her l would JUS
like to look at her for once and SCI
what she is like. There's no fear o
my troubling her, miss, for | meal
to end my days here. But | woult
like to see her just once. And if i
wouldn't be asking too much, miss
would you please write to my sol
and tell him where | aml-for I'm NJ
scholar myself, and I'm his mother
after all"
& will write to him. said DR.
Mary quietly and so she wen
away.
Il never see a lady doctor afore,
said old Mrs. NARROW, with a Ion,
sigh. "But she's a pretty creetur
and it seems good to have he
around. l hope she'll come agail
soon"
"You may be very sure of that,
said the matron, brusquely. "DI
Clarimont amt one to neglect poo
people because they are poor"
That evening aunt 10, frying crul
ers over the kitchen fire, was SUI
prised by a visit from her niece, VIII
came in all wrapped i'll furs, with he
cheeks crimsoned with the frost
winter air.
"Bless me I! this amt never you
said aunt 10, peering over the rim
of her spectacles.
81 drove over to see you, aunt 10,
said Mary, "tO tell you that yo
were right. The metal was counter
felt"
"Eh?" said aunt 10, mechanical
ladling out the brown, curly cruller
although she did not look at wha
she was doing.
Il have written to Harry Mario
cancelling our engagement, " sal
DR.. Mary, calmly, albeit her vol,
faltered a little. 1.-The man who wi
heartlessly let his old mother go I
the almshouse, sooner than to tai
the trouble to support her, can
no fit husband for any womanl "
And then she sat down by the fl
and told aunt 10 everything fl
grabbed, crusty old aunt 10 had be-
like mother to her, and the girl
heart was full to overhowing.
When she had ceased speaking
aunt 10 nodded her head.