The Newtown bee., 1892-08-05
The Town Poor.

ca Wright were driving along Hampde
 east road, one afternoon in early Spring
 Their progress was slow. Mrs Trimble'
 sorrel horse was old and stiff and tn
 wheels were clogged by clay mud. Tn
 frost was not yet out of the ground, a
 though the snow was nearly gone, excer
 in few places on the north side of tn
 woods, or where 1t had drifted all Winte
 against length of fence.
 The old horse plodded along and tn
 sun, coming out from the heavy Sprin
 clouds, sent sudden shine of light alon
 the muddy road. Sister Wright dre,
 her large veil forward over the high rir
 of her bonnet. She was not used to driv
 ing, or being much in the open air; bu
 Mrs Trimble was an active business wom
 an and looked after her own affairs her
 self, in all weathers. The late Mir Trim
 ble had left her good farm, but no
 much ready money and it was often sait
 that she was better off in the end than i
 he had lived. She regretted his loss deeply, however; it was impossible fol her to speak of him, even with intimate friends, without emotion and nobody had ever hinted that this emotion was insin. cere. She was most warm hearted and generous and in her limited way played the part of Lady Bountiful in the town o1 Hampden.
 The sorrel horse, though somewhat puzzled by an unexpected deviation from his homeward way, willingly came to a stand by the gnawed corner of the door yard fence, which evidently served as hitching place. Two or three ragged old hens were picking about the yard and at last a face appeared at the kitchen win dow, tied up in handkerchief, as if it were case of toothache. By the time our friends reached the side door next this window, Mrs James came disconso- lately to open it for them, shutting it again as soon as possible, though the air felt more chilly inside the house.
 ''Take seats," said Mrs James briefly. You'll have to see me just as l be. have been suffering these four days with the ague and everything to do. MrJanes Is to court, on the jury. Twas incon- venient to spare him. l should be pleas ed to have you lay off your things"
 Comfortable Mrs Trimble looked about the cheerless kitchen and could not think of anything to say; so she smiled blandly and shook her head in an- swer to the invitation. "We'll just set few minutes with you, to pass the time O day, an then we must go in an have a word with the Miss Brays, bein' old &C., quaintance. It ain't been so we could git to call on lem before. I don't knows you're acquainted with Miss R'becca Wright. She's been out of town good deal.''
 ''I heared she was stopping over to Plainfields with her brothers folks" re- piled Mrs James, rocking herself with ir- regular motion, as she sat close to the stove. "Got back some time in the Fall, I believe?''
 "Yes'm," said Miss Rebecca, with an undue sense of guilt and conviction. We've been to the installation over to | the East Parish an thought we'd stop in; we took this road home to see if it | was any better. How is the Miss Brays l gittin' on?"
 They're wells common," answered | Mrs James grudgingly. 'I was put out with MT James for fetchin' of 'em here | with all I've got to do, an own was kind O surly to lem long to the first of 1t. He gifts the money from the town an it helps him out; but he bid 'em off for 30 month, 'an we can't do much for 'em at no such price as that. I went an dealt with the selec'men an made lem promise to find their firewood an some other things extra. They wus glad to git rid O the matter the fourth time l went an would ha' promised most any thing. But MT James don't keep me half the time in oven wood, he's off so much; an we was cramped O room, any way. have to store things up garrit good deal an that keeps me trampin' right through their room. do the best | for 'em can, Mis- Trimble, but 'tain't so easy for me as 'tis for you, with all your means to do with" .t..
 The poor woman looked pinched and miserable herself, though 1t was evident that she had no gift at house or home keeping. Mrs Trimble's heart was wrung with pain, as she thought of the unwelcome inmates of such place; but she held her peace bravely, while Miss l Rebecca again gave some information in | regard to the installation. r..
 "You go right up them back stairs," the hostess directed at last. "I'm glad | some O you church folks has seen fit to come an visit lem. There ain't been mo- body here this long spell, an they've aged sight since they come. They al- ways send down taste out of your bas- kets, Mis- Trimble, an I relish it, I tell | you. I'll shut the door after you, if you don't object. I feel every draught O cold air.r
 five always heard she was a great hand to make a poor mouth. Want she from somewheres up Parsley way?" whispered Miss Rebecca, as they stum- bled In the half light.
 sPoor meechin' body, wherever she come from, " replied Mrs Trimble, as she at the door.
 There was a silence for moment after this unusual sound; then one of the Bray sisters opened the door. The eager guests stared into small, low room, brown with age and gray, too, as if former dust and could not be made wholly to dis appear. The two elderly women who stood there looked like captives. Their faces wore a look of apprehen- sion and the room itself was more bare