The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-11-08
Going Back Home.

There were 10 or a dozen of us seated
about redhot stove in a back country
store one fearfully cold December evening,
and the wag of the party had just finished
a story that convulsed us all with laughter,
when the store door was slowly pushed
open and a little, bent old woman came
hobbling in. She was poorly and thinly
dressed in Calico and her face and hands
were blue with the cold. She stood shlver-
ing by the door and looking at us appeal
ingly as she faltered:
"Mayn't please come and git warm"
In an instant every man was on his feet,
offering her his seat by the stove. She
came forward as quickly as she could, tuck
ing lock of white hair back beneath the
poor old fashioned bonnet.
''Thankee, thanked" she murmured as
she sank down and held her withered, trem-
bling hands out toward the stove Its
dreadful cold tonight. When a body its
long in years they can't stand the cold like
young folks"
Not one of the party had ever seen the
old woman before, and all were filed with
wonder. Finally Judson, the storekecp r.,
ventured to inquire how She came to he on:
on such night.
Pm jest goin back home, =" she explained.
81 couldn't stay away any longer, tnp4gIl
don't sposc joe ;,;d Mandyll b. tichird 40
see me. Joe's H-y boy, and Naudy'~ his
wife. Joe was ullns tola to his o;d man.
though r.i.. bees hVtn powerful! ttcfpne
TO Lev ruut4 .DDJel,mcs. It wiz Mandy as
got hIiH - t.Ec rlc or to ~pnlc KIND OF a
home Wurtr jl'y sud IA be treated first
Glass. t..,.. hiGG tne treatment, though
some "a Co., ,n.t~ lhc,e do yell and hoiIer so
/ can't sieeD night, hut I'm jest hungry
fer ii SIGH, Of lay boy and the old home, so
run away, and Pm goin back"
The men looked at each other signifi-
cantly, and one Of them whispered in my
ear
She's been in the asylum over in Rox-
bury, next town cast. Guess she's a little
daft"
What's your boys namef" asked Jud-
son.
His names Joe"
"Yes, but Joe WHAT"
II forgit the last of it," she faltered, pass
ing hand over her forehead. My menu
rvs powerful bad of late"
"Where does he live"
Down by the foot Of tho hill close to the
old bridge Oh, know jest how the place
| looksr' she heamed. "Joe's dad and me
worked pretty hard to clear the place and
build the house. Some say pa worked his
self inter the ground, for he didn't live six
months arter we got all the debts paid 1t
hain't more'n MATERIAL for me ter love the
old place, and Pm powerful glad Pm Roin
back home"
She leaned her head back againsta crack
er box, tired sigh coming from her lips,
her weary eyes dropping 1t was warm and
comfortable there by the stove, and she
soon feemed to be sleeping.
Poor woman" muttered more than one
Of the rough men as they thought of her
sad lot-an outcast from the home she
had labored SO hard to obtain. They spoke
in whispers, 30 she would not awaken, and
one by one they slipped out and went home
TO Their own lresides until thestorekeeper,
myself and two Others alone remained.
81 hate TO wake her up" declared Jud-
son as he blew out one of the lights. "She
must be completely tuckered."
He went round the stove and touched
lsr on the shoulder saying gently:
Come, come, wake up now" She did
not stir, and he shook her bit, adding,
tits time to close" Then all at once he
fell back, gasping:
"She is dead!'
10 was true. She had gone "home"