Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-01-15
THE SONG.
WHY HANNAH DIDN'T GO

Marshall PcnrO6e In New HOrk Sun.
WHY HANNAH DIDN'T GO
The report started in Blake's store. To
disbelieve report that started in Blake's
store was an unheard of heresy at the
Corners. So, astonishing as this was, the
Corners received it without !, shadow of
doubt. 1t hardly needed to be known that
Mrs. Goodrich herself was the authority.
She was down at the store Saturday af-
ternoon as usual to make her weekly pur-
chases. Arson Blake, who never failed
when groceries were purchased to conduct
the customer to the other side of the store
to look at the dry goods, and vice versa,
endenvored to lead Mrs. Goodrich over to
look at some new winter goods. Then it
came out. With a bit of pardOnable pride
she let him know that she had no need to
look at fall goods in Witham Corners or in
Witham Center either, since cher Hannah
was going to the city next week to do their
fall shoppin; that she, Hannah, had an
aunt there who had the whole summer
been urgin her to come, and that now she
was goin for few days"
Mrs Goodrich shook her large skirts
and swept out-fguratively speaking, of
course, as her garments always escaped the
floor by some inches.
Meeting was hardly over the next day
before Hannah was interviewed as to her
intended trip, and the ladies who were not
present in the morning interviewed her in
the evening on the subject They were SO
numerous then and kept her SO long, that
Jerry Downing, waiting impatiently for
her outside, concluded she had gone out
the back door on purpose to cut him, and
walked home with another girl. His
mother, who had not been on speaking
terms with Mrs. Goodrich since that good
lady made some remarks on the strength
of the butter Mrs. Downing brought to
the minister's donation last winter, let
Jerry know when he got home of Han
nah's intended trip, and suggested that
girl who couldn't buy her winter dress at
the Corners, but must go to New York for
it, was too fine to be a farmers wife.
Jerry went to bed in despair, while Han
nah was crying herself to sleep, wonder
ing how she could have offended him.
The next afternoon, when she came in
from her school, Hannah was more than
surprised to find Mrs. Downing in the sit
ting room with her mother. As the visitor
had not been in their house for year,
Hannah was sure that she bore some mes
sage from Jerry and greeted her accord
ingly, wondering meanwhile why her mo-
ther looked SO grim, and knit as furiously
as if the whole family were barefooted and
suffering.
1t was no message from Jerry, however,
that brought Mrs. Downing there t. day.
The lad was blowing in distant field, and
", .<.e L,
her little remark last night about Han
nah's city shopping tour, she had thought
best to keep this visit secret from him.
II was just telling your ma" she began,
when Hannah, flushed and expectant, was
seated, that I'd been down to Blake's to
get my winter dress, and that there WANT
thing there I'd put on my back"
"Oh, not thingv' Hannah assented
quickly. Pm going to New York for our
winter things"
$50 l heard, and was telling your ma
that, as long as you are going to town and
going a-shopping, buying one more dress
wouldn't be no more trouble to you"
Buying whole wardrobe for Jerry's
mother would have been delight
"Oh, no trouble-a pleasurer' Hannah
cried, despite her mothers frown.
There's that brown merino got three
years ago last fall,'' Mrs. Downing went
on. "The wear I've had out of it just beats
all. I've worn it steady wherever | went
was telling your ma that didn't know
as l could be suited better than to have an
other just like it. So, if you won't mind
getting me ten yards of dark brown merino
say, about eighty cents yard-or you
might go as high as eighty-fve-I'd be
much obliged, and will do the same by
you"
"Don't mention itl'' cried Hannah, tax
ing out her notebook and adding the small
item to the long family list.
'The money'li be all right" added Mrs.
Downing.
'Of course it will" Hannah laughed.
"Going to stay long?"
From Thursday to Monday only. /
can't leave my school longer"
"I'll be over, then, Monday night
after it,"
"WaaI, must say" Mrs. Goodrich burst
out, as the door closed after Mrs. Down
ing 'she's got brass! The idea Of her ask
in you to lug a dress up from the city for
her! didn't give her any encouragement
when she spoke to me about it, / can tell
yOu."
sob, mother, ] wouldn't refuse for the
world" Hannah returned. How could
II"
Tea was over Mrs Goodrich was wash
ing the dishes, Hannah was drying them,
when the kitchen door was unceremoni-
ously opened. A tall, gaunt woman, with
a commanding air, IS ii she were at the
head of disorderly regiment, marched in.
It was Mrs. Moore.
81 was down to Miss Downing's," she
began, without a small prelude of greet
ing, "fur dish O tea an few minutes
set, an she was teliin me that Hannah was
goin to the city this week"
''Yes, on Thursday" Hannah answered.
"Wiil you sit DOWN."
II hain't no time fur set. Mary she's
gone over to her grandmother's and there
amt nobody to hum to git Moore's supper.
Mis- Downing was saying you was goin to
to git her brown mereeqer."
eyes"
81 pose it won't be no trouble, as you're
buyin, to buy me a black mereener. too,
at the same timer"
"None whatever" Hannah's smile was
getting hollow.
"How long be you goin to stay'"
',rill Monday"
"Pll be round Monday evenin with the
money. You can git me seventy cent
stuff, about seven yards"
She departed with as little ceremony as
she had entered.
Il told you SOL told you So" said Mrs.
Goodrich, as she lighted a candle and went
,Iuwu cellar Win the mix. III you 40
fur one you'll have to do fur the whole
town"
Miss Brown, the dressmaker, dropped in
little later.
~ heerd only just now that you're goin
to York." she said IS if to apologize for
not coming sooner, land that you're goin
to get some things for Mis- Dewning?"
eyes, a dress" Hannah returned, while
her mother gave tremendous "Ahem."
80 I heerd, don't get to York very
often myself, and PM afraid I'm getting
little behind the fashions. 1t don't pay.
you know, for me to get behind" she sim
pered. Miss Brown was more noted for
her shippers than for the correctness Of
bar CIV 1ac