Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-09-23

Well. when tho folks wus ariea anu
dressed over we all went 70 supper, and
we praised IL up as much as we could,
but Mrs. Wigans sot down In her place
like ghost, and folks began 10 talk and
laugh and help everything. But che
didn't smile.
She passed the chicken salad plates 10
the help. and tho help gave 'em TO the
, folks. and we all tasted Il, but II didn't
relish. Still we tired 10 cot Il fur her
sake. Most Of us done 1t, too, and the
coffee wus, good, and we cheered up
some. Mrs Wiggins didn't cot no salad
herself, 30 she didn't know how II tasted
After supper We all went into the parlor
and sot around, and 81 Barker wus try!n
to git mp dancin. and I did hope things
would end happy, when all Of suddin
folks began to look pale and say they
wus pisoncd. So they seemed to be.
One arter the other wus took sick, and
they all said the same thing-it wus the
salad. felt very poorly myself, and
80 did my Obidiah. Tho minister. had
gone homo sick. and there wus a regular
panic. There wus one doctor there and
he.sent fur another; and old Miss Pee
bles said II wus like old cholera tfmes.
II wus awful. anyways but Jest as we
wus at the wust, we ladies lyin about in
tho up stairs rooms expectin to die and
feelin sure II wus arsenic, Mrs. Wigyins
appeared amongst Us.
Friends and feller Sinners ebe said,
I'VE air all on the pint OF death, and
here, before You all. ! make confession.
am a thief and a robber. and I shall
never be pardoned. II wus me that
robbed my husband, and. more than
that, l stole tho chickens TO make the
sallad-one of 'em from each Of my good
friends and neighbora Judgments has
fallenr
"You wus driv TO IL, Mrs. Wiggins, :
sez I. "by your pardner's meanness. We
all knowed IL, and none OF us blame you.
"You don't know al, said Mrs Wig
gins. "More'n that: went to the store
and TUX my chances and stole a bottle Of
ile-the recipe said 30 make tho salad
dressin with he. ia never made none.
stole the bottle. Ohl sha'n't never be
forgiven-I sha'n't never DO forgivenl
I've TUX bottle OF Pison Of some sort.
fur It wus in the drug department where
lies is kept, and I'm a murderer
"Oh-ho" says the doctor. Bring Inc
the bottle, Mrs. Wiggins, and guess I'll
find out how to cure EN-"
Mrs Virgins fetched IL; doctor he
tasted It,
"This amt p'ison, ladiee,- sea be-
"There ain no gret harm donei only, l
don't suppose the recipe mentioned cas-
tor oil for salad dressing. 'Tisn't usual,
anyhow. Nobody is goin' to die this
time, Mrs. Virgins, unless 1t Is you
yourself. You lie down and quiet your
SELF"
Poor Mrs Virgins, enc dropped on
her knees and prayed right there fur
tbankfulness, and we all jined In, and
as soon as folks knowed they hadn't
TUX arsenic they oil got better. Mrs.
Wiggins solemn and distracted looks.
and her not eattn any, had made them
that worn't In the secret think that she'd
gone crazy and done IL purpose, which
scared 'em more.
And they do say Mr.. Wiggins amt
quito 30 near Us he used 10 be since he
saw what might como 6 drtvin q
woman into a corner fox want Of n
penny.
Still, we shant forget Melindy Wig
gins wedding in hurry-those Of us
that went to it.--Mary Kyle Dallas IN
Fireside Companion.