Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-08-18
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Boston transcript.
One pleasant winter afternoon Mrs.
DOrcaS Allison sat in her comfortable
rocking chair mending stockings. She
lived in one large room-she and her cat,
both dear friends of my childhood, Aunt
Dorcas IN her seTenty-sixth year, and |
in my ninth. l had been told that l
must do an errand for her whenever ask
ed. as snowy and slippery weather made
it hard for her to get about
On this afternoon she tapped on the
window pane and beckoned me in.
left my coasting rather reluctantly and
went to her.
Now, child" she said, "warm yer
hands an then yer kin go ter the store
fer me; I'm goin' ter have hasty puddin'
fur my supper, and l want a gill er mo-
lasses. Yer kin take that dipper on the
table an the three-cent piece long side
it. Don't lose yer money, an be sure
yer git good measure: an yer kin step
inter the pOst-Office an ask if letters
cum yit fer Mrs. Dorcas Allison. | bin
lookin' three days past fer Andrews let
ter, an L dunno what's got it; it never
missed the fust of the month afore."
left and soon returned with the gill
of molasses, but no letter.
"Well! well?" she said. 81 hone an
pray t will cum termorrer. Now take
off yer pellise an muller and set ter the
fire; yer must be beat all out coastin'."
L did as L was told, and was soon con-
tent sitting before the bright little cook
ing stove, where the kettle of hasty pud-
ding bubbled and sputtered. Back of
the stove was high .manteIpice and on
it were shells and coral. brought from
over the sea by the husband, who had
been washed overheard in storm 35
years before. In one corner stood the
mahogany four poster with its white
valance and cOunterpane, piled so high
with featherbeds that getting into it
necessitated first stepping ON the cricket
and then on chair.
In another corner stand, and on it a
Bible and plaster praying Samuel. On
a shelf IN the third corner was the clock,
and in the fourth another shelf, and on
it full-rigged ship called the "Rosa-
bella"
The chairs were old fashioned and
moderately comfortable, except the rock
er, which was exceedingly SO. Bright,
braided mats covered the floor.
Aunt Dorcas was thin, bent little
woman with tan-colored complexion
and black false front, which she wore
done up in three little knobs one above
the other on each side of her face: a
rusty black lace cap; and black alpaca
dress and little red plaid shawl over
her shoulders. a pair of steel bowed
spectacles always rested on her nose.
Her nephew, Andrew Hobbs, from
whom she expected the letter, was
young man who had broken the family
record by learning the tanners trade in
stead of going to sea.
The fathers and sons had been seafar
ing men, and the daughters had married
the same as far back as the old ladv
could trace, and she was not sorry when
Andrew decided to "live ashore;" for he
was the last of her kin. He now for
some time had sent her s. the first of
each month, and it was the non arrival
of his letter containing the money that
worried her.
81 tell yer, child" she said, drawing
her chair to the fire, "it's mighty tough
work to live; but | could live well if t
weren't fer the tarnal rent. It's the rent
eats me outer house and home. It's well
fer yer, child, yer pa owns the house
that shelters yer. l barely git vittles,
an eZ fer close-Lawk! L amt he'd
dress fer ten year 'cept two calikeIs, al
yer ma give me one O. them. An bum
dye see that bunnit a-hang-
in on the peg? That bunnit | ben a.
wearin' of 30 gear odd ;it's ben spliced
fore an aft, an rugged frum stem [ O
stern, an it's mos ready ter cast its ole
hull mp on the sand, an when it does |
want ter go long of it,
81 VOW, never keered fer the fashions. |
There's Mis- Manly-she that L take up
ter dinner at yer mas when she Gums ter |
spen' the day with me. She's all fer the
fashions, an always a wOrryin' fer fear
she amt in the latest style. Says she to
her daughter Ad'line las time went
ter spen' the day with her, an we had |
dinner at Ad'line's, says she, 'Ad'line,
charge ye to lay me out in my black |
silk, with my pint lace collar, an be
sure ye put on my watered ribbon belt, |
an the gold buckle yer pa brought me
frum Spain; an | want on my lava
breastpin an my gold hoop earrings,
emember-SOll,m, the voice O. them
as has he'd their warnin' is ter be obey
i'd She's he'd her warnin', an I'm look
IN fer mine right along now; | lissen
fer it stiddy. My grandma he'd herr,
an my ma he'd hern on the headboard er
hat very bed ye see standin' in the
very corner-it Gums three raps plain,
IN when mine Gums I'm all ready ter
90. Well, child, now it's mos supper
lime an ye'd best be goin'' | want We
er run to the post office afore We 60 ter
school in the mOrnin' an ask fer nv
etter-please the Lord yen git itl-an'
ell yer ma I'd like cup 90 sugar an
/ couple drawin' o. tea, fer can't buy
lOthin' more till git Andrews letter."
l went home and related my after
loon's experience to my mother, who
old me she would see Aunt Dorcas the
lext morning.
Next day before school 1 appeared at
he post-ofiice and found the letter had
lrrived in the early mail. With many
harges from the postmaster not to lose
t, hurried to Aunt Dorcas, who was
and called "a fright smart gal"
But on returning from school | was told
hat | must not go to see Aunt Dorcas,
IS she was very ill and could not speak
o me.
When my mother went to her an hour
lfter l left her, she found her uncon-
cious in her rocking chair, and the let
er held tightly in both hands. Fearing
,ad news she had taken it from her and
cad:
DEAR AUNT-YOu've been good to me, ?nd I've
one well as could by you, but now am married;
nd my wife says we shall not he able to do any
lOre for you This five dollars is the last | can
end you | am sure you have some other friends.
Your nectiOnate nephew, ANDREW HOBBS.
-. l.