Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-02-18
THE BELLIES OF sPRuCELAND.
~. Mervin Hull in Youths Companion

THE BELLIES OF sPRuceLAND.
~. Mervin Hull in Youths Companion,
"HIs story about the old ladies' re-
uT union you can hear as many
Ill times as you have patience to lis
ten to it, from any of the old
ladies of Spruc' land. They never
tire of repeating it. Amy and
Lucy Weston planned the affair, and
Aunt Charity Cram, who lives alone in
the little white house by the old store,
says that she knows 'tjest when and
where the idee was fust started"
sit was the mOrnin' arter the seventh
snow storm we had that Janiwary," say s
Aunt Charity, "and | thought, NV suet
| never could sweep off my steps an
other time, it docs start nay rheumatic
so. But done it the best could, and l
was a-bumpin' the snow out of the
broom on the aidge of the top step, when
/ see two young women comm daOwn
the road, an it seems if they wus havin'
good time in the snow. Land Jest as
USE to myself sixty year ago.
"fhinks to my self, says l, who I'M
der the canopy can them be?' But in a
minute see they was Mial Weston's
gals; that he bein' so forehanded he sent
'em off to high school a spell, and naow
Lucy, she keeps books in big store in
Boston, where she charges up sometimes
more'n thaous'n' dollars and Amy she
plays on one of these ERE writin' ma
chimes, and it fetches her in fust-rate
pay.
Then the gals looked up'n' see me,
and they sung out, jest as they did when
they was little tots, and went by from
school:
$50 good morning, Aunty Cram,
May we have a slice of ham?
For we're hungry, hungry, hungry on the way.
''And then them blessed gals. they run
up the steps and kissed me in their good
clothes, and me a. standin' there in faded
caliker; and they whewed me into the
haouse like a gale, and sot me daown.
whilst they took off their things and
made great stew of washin' my dishes
one plate and one cup m sasser and
two or three little things.
!Then they begun to ask me about
Francelia, and Abigail and Vashti and
all the rest Of the old ladies, m jest
told 'em that l didn't know nothin' t all
about them; I we hadn't seen one mother
for two three years, and nobody seemed
to care for the old ladies, only It we
didn't starve m l broke down and
gals planned out the visit, and started
out to bring 1t TO pass"
Soon after noon one day, just week
after Lucy and Amy called on Aunty
Cram, Ira looms started out on the
proudest expedition Of his life.
Ira was proud man as he appeared on
the street Of Spruceland-if 20 houses
scattered along mile of h lily road can
be called street. In the first place he was
proud of his oxen. They weighed $500,
ssand never sounder, stiddyer pair stood
in the state of Vermont In the next
place, he was proud of his conveyance.
To the fl or of his long woodsled he had
firmly chained two old-fashioncd settees
borrowed from The town hall. These
would hold ten people, sif they amt toe
ALFRED big" as he said.
And last, but by no means least, Ira
was proud of himself. He wore the long
green great-coat and plush cap which
had been in the looms family for three
generations and he had been asked, tt
use his expires ive language. ''to haul the
women to the party, on account of bein
SIGH safe driver"
Slowly and Ostentatiously Ira drove
down the long street. ''Whoa-hish
Broad, along! Gee up thar, Bright
what We dreamin' On?'' he commanded
marking the time with his whip:
"When can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies,
I'll bid farewell to every fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes,"
Ira's plan was to take in the first pas
senger who lived farthest from Mr.. Yves
toms and to collect the others on his re
turn. So he drove on until he reached
the last house in the village, just in thu
edge of the woods
After some fine evolutions he drew VI
his team in front of the house, where
Almira F. lit lived with her nephew
family. Report said she was 'solt
maidish," and that her nephew's wifi,
didn't treat her very well. In spite O.
all the noise that Ira ma lie, no one ap
peared.
"Wall," said he, 81 guess they ain
nobody goin' to the party, here.' How
ever he went to the door and raped
with the butt of his whipstock. Tn
door was jerked open, and a sharp voic
arked, ''What's wanted?'
Ira's pleasant features broadened int,
smile before he answered, "Nothing tt
hurt, Violy. Is thew an old lady her
that is goin' to the Weston gals part,
this arternoOn?'
81 dunno nothin' abaOut it. Aun
Miry," she called, ''you gittin' ready t.
Ego anywheres?"
s'Land alive! Have they come afte
me already ?" ans v cred shrill voice
and thin, nervous old lady of about z
years made her appearance. She ha
tried to silk up" for the occasion, bu
there were no kind hands to help her
Her bonnet was on one side, and he
shawl uneven.
ssOh, how de do, Elmiry? Chariot
waitin'." said Ira. Better take holt o
nv to hand stiddy yourself"
Almira put forth her hand, then sud
denly drew it back. ssI'm afaid the.
might get up story abaout us" sh
said.
"Oh, massy! sho!" exclaimed Irf
ssTbey'll git up a story abaout me picl
in, IN We mn and carryin' We, il We don't.