Morning journal and courier., 1891-09-07
COMMUNICATIONS.
The Wilder ,LiZy.

Tho Wilder 'L1Zy.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 One could not imagine quainter, or a more singular figure, than that of Widow Eliza-Widder 'Lizy the country folk called her-as she appeared before us in response to our rap for admittance upon the open door of small cottage situated in the midst of @ wide enclosure, we'll back from the pubic road. r-
 She was eighty years old or more, and was the oldest inhabitant of the town; at least that was what her neighbors said; and that-like many ladies have known -she was extremely sensitive about telling her age; that it had been so long since she had counted her birthdays, that now she had quite forgotten how old she really was.
 She was very slender and exceedingly straight, with bright half-frightened eyes looking out from a pale attenuated face, from which her gray hair was drawn tightly and smoothly away, and was fast ened securely in firm little knot at the back of the head. A portion of the front hair, however, was parted evenly and was rolled into compact circle about the size of a silver twenty-five cent piece, and pinned high on either side of her fore head.
 Her gown was of indigo blue calico, cut rather low at the neck, ,-thereby display ing the long scrawny throat to the utmost advantage-and reached a little below the knees. Gray woolen stockings, stout leather shoes and a long brown apron com pleted her strange apparel She always chose indigo blue calico for use for, as she used to say, s...they alus wash so good; there ain't no dependence on the caliker ye git meow days, nd the gingums ain't no bet ter, they fade so; nd arter 'beout two washins they look dretfully."
 In rainy weather the shoes were replaced by tall rubber boots, for she lived alone and had no one to help her; so she spaded, and planted and tended her garden; cut her summer fire-wood; and was a very busy woman indeed; walking as briskly and more energetically than many fashion able city girls.
 A good many years ago her young hus- band had sickened and died but then she had "Harrit, ,"-a niece whom she had adopted as her own, so she was not utter " OeSOlaIe. put aS tune went OH nbT- rit" grew to be tall, slim maiden, with 8 face like a doll, and the glossiest and blackest of hair, which she always primly arranged in even scallops on either side of her face, terminating at the largest and roundest stiff fiat curl in front of her ears.
 She was shy and demure little crea- ture; but even here in this lonely country town Cupid found her out; and, as girls have done, and will continue to do until the end of time, she left the kind mother, and, with the husband of her choice, re- moved to the hourishing city five miles away, where they established their Lsres and Penates in a home of their own. The neighbors said, Shed done purity well a-gittin marrid, fer he wury stiddy feller, and would make good Twin" In deed, she seemed very happy; coming of | ten to visit the kind woman who loved her so well. As the years rolled by "Harrit'' grew old; her beautiful shining hair changed to silver tint as her health be- gan to fail; then came the long, tedious | sickness which finally terminated in death. "Widder 'Lizy" did not go to the fune- ral, for, said she, ''its ben so many years sence I've ben intu a waggin thet I be a. | feared tu meow; nd I caant leave tn house | Tone so long nuther." So she stayed st home and mourned alone.
 | From that time she was more lonely l than ever; seeing no one-upless 6 neigh bor chanced to call-but the grocer who came up from the city once week and brought groceries to the people, taking ir exchange all the eggs that had accumula ted since his last trip in payment therefor
 She seemed very glad to see us as she slyly invited us to "come right in nd he, some seats. Her voice was pleasant and low, with peculiarly loving cadence a
 the close of her sentences, reminding ont of the cooing of a dove.
 The house, like it's owner, was rapidly
 falling to decay, but was sweet and clean
 A well-worn rag carpet covered the floor
 plainly accentuating the uneven board
 which had become warped by age, ant
 which, in their elevations and depression
 were like the waves of the sea. A tabl
 covered with plaided cloth of red ant
 white, four exceedingly hard and straight
 backed chairs, a rocker as stiff and up
 right as the owner herself, a stove and
 clock comprised the furniture of the room
 When we were seated she surprised u
 by inquiring what day of the week it was
 "Why didn't you know it was Sunday,
 said my companion, whom for the sake o
 convenience I shall call Mrs. Crane
 "didn't you hear the bell ringing fo
 church this morning?"
 'I didn't hear no bell," the 'Widde
 'Lizy' replied, ''the wind want in tn right drectiou fer me tu hear; nd the } I've ben SO pestered and bothered by ther cattil a-breakin into my medder. I wu so a-feared they'd git through inter th gardin thet I've ben a-fighten on 'sm tn hull day. S'most tu hard work tu mak |, gardins tn hev them critters a-trampin' C
 it deown."
 "You must have your fences repaired, } said Mrs. Crane. '1 hev ben a-tryin' tu, but oaan't g nobody tu du nothin' fer me, nd I'm 'bou : discouraged" said ''Widder 'Lizy." 'It is strange you did not know it wa Sunday" continued Mrs.. Crane. "Didn f you see the mail-carrier go by yesterday
 He drives white horse you know" ''There's good many white horses the goes by, nd shouldn't be no better of ( 3 I knows on," said the widow despondins ly.
 r "Well, you want to look and see if thel |, is @ mail bag in the back of the wagon persisted Mrs. Crane, "then you will hay l no trouble about the days of the week." l I smiled involuntarily, thinking, [
 there were three mail days each week, thu
 the good woman might be more puzzle b than before.
 2 AS Mrs. Crane also lived alone and hs a the care of a small farm, the conversstic naturally turned to their respective ga J dens.
 u "Hev ye had any new pertaters yitl" i d quired sfWidder Iizy."
 .- "No, haven't" said Mrs. Crane,