St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-03-03
THE MEMORY OF MAG.

and after a little d1ffculty M Otner
Grubb tied it. Her wrinkled fingers
were slow and clumsy, but the work
was done at last, and then the old
woman laid the bundle carefully on
the table and looked at it. She
stood silent for a moment and then
began to grope clumsily in her
pocket. Mother Grubb was crying.
After another tender look at the
queer object the old woman reached
for the faded green shawl that hung
on a lonesome nail in the corner, and
tremblingly placed it upon her bent
old back. 1t took time to get ready
to put on her shabby bonnet, and to
get the snake-like crutch that stood
against the wall Old M other Grub
was not so young as she had been,
and a journey of this sort was not
common thing with her.
At last she was ready. With a
tedious hobble she went to the table,
took up the awkward bundle, kissed
it and started off. The wind Slam
med the door as she crossed the sill.
She saw the crowd of scapegraces
ahead of her, ready to make fun OF
her faded clothes and her old-fashion-
ed bonnet, as they had done in years
gone by. But Mother Grub set her
teeth and hobbled on.
When the old woman saw that she
was going to be bothered again she
clasped her bundle more tightly and
tried to hurry but all in vain. The
boys came up with malicious grins
on their impish faces, all primed for
sport.
81 say, Mother Grubb," said one
youngster, with saucy look on his
dirty face, "what yer got in the
bundle?"
That's so," said another warty
young one; what is it ?"
Mother Grub did not appear to
notice the boys, but clasped the roll
passiouately to her breast.
Come, nanny" said the first
little fellow, "show US, or we'll
plague yer"
Nanny did not pay any atten-
ton, but, with an added effort, walk
ed steadily on.
~ say, Mother Grub, yer don't
come out so much now as yer useter
fore Mag died, do yer!" said an
other grimy urchin, as he prodded
the old woman with a stick.
Mother Grubb did not seem to
mind the stick, but the sound of
Mays name worked change. The
tears began to roll down her wrinkled
cheeks, as she thought of the little
child with her brown eyes and
bright smile. Still she pressed on
along the dreary road.
Her step was heavier now, and she
was getting tired. The youngsters
followed her closely, and piled her
with all sorts of questions; "When
are you going to sell the bonnet,
Nanny ?" and "How old is the
shawl?" Still Mother Grubb pushed
YEARLY on.
"Say, amt yer goin' show us what
yer got in the bundle?" said the
curious lad who had spoken first.
-Show US what yer got"
Mother Grubb stopped short and
looked at her tormentors. The tears
facet 1t was old and homely and
wrinkled, but there was such a low
ing look upon it. The tears seemed
to add to the sadness. The boys
were abashed. Old Mother Grubb
had never cried that way before.
Without word the old crOne
SLOWLY united the DuIOIe. TIC kIIOlS
were hard and yielded stiff1y to the
awkward attempts; but a t last they
were united The youngsters were
still eager to see the contents Of the
bundle, and watched every move
ment of the withered hands. The
wrapper came off slowly, but soon
it was off. With a look Of ineffable
sadness the old woman lifted the OBJ
iect to her lips and then held it up to
the boys. 1t was only a piece Of
wood in the form of a cross, with a
few words struggling upon it.
The boys fell back. They had not
expected that. They didn't know
what to say. In a moment, however
one little fellow spoke, as he took his
hat off: 1--WE didn't think it was
that, Nanny. We won't trouble
yer any more. Excuse us, ma am
The old woman looked at the boys
for an instant and seemed to say yes
Then she slowly wrapped up her
cross, and YEARLY hobbled on.
Her steps grew feebler as she near
ed the graveyard. Now and then she
would stop with twinge of pain a.
some obstinate stone got in her way
and bruised her tired feet. Her face
however, became brighter the farther
she went The sunshine was kissing
her aged cheeks. Slowly she pioddeC
on amongst the gloomy headstones
but those marble slabs held no inter
est for her.