The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-02-24

comp'ny for n long time, IL does seem
hard TO give IL up for the sake OF
takin' care OF the old folks. And
then your sister M'randy gettin' bed.
rid. j amt sayin' she could help il (;
but we all know that some gets bed
rid EASTERN others; and your havin'
to bring up her children, and then
their clearin' right out and lookin'
out for nobody but themselves when
times was the hardest with you"
They're all real well provided for,
and that's a comfort, said Miss
Rumy.
Some folks always u.s." said Mrs.
Poet, crisply. "M'randy, she was one
Of that kind. Now, Rumy, amongst
neighbors, j be goin' TO say-that, up
or abed, M'randy was n real trial"
'I'm dretful lost without her, "
said Miss Rumy, wiping a moisture
from the wrinkled corner Of her eye.
"And then Nahum bringin' his
folks right on e. you when ne got all
run out and had a slack wife and,
then gettin' the farm away from you.
Lily Ann says when We was talkin'
yesterday, says she, we've all fit and
struggled, but there amt non Of us
that's been such a slave TO other folks
as Rumy Battles; and it does seem
real good that she's got TO II brcathin'
place at last, with nobody TO do for
but herself, and enough TO live on
with what little preseryin' and but
tonholc maxim she likes to do And
says Lily Ann, says she, i shouldn't
wonder n mite if she was better off
now than she would "a been
If she'd got married for
Luther Mcrridew was one Of
them that flares out q know it
don't hurt your fcclin's TO have me
say it, Rumy, now that we're all Of
us along i'm years, and have got "A
rcali2in' sense Of what men folks are
OF course Luther want to blame for
havin' a sunstrokc, so'st he had TO
give up studyin' 10 be n minister,
nor for havin' school kCcpin' disagree
with him, nor for gettin' burnt out
when he tried TO keep store; but
that kind Of men that can't seem TO
bring anything TO pass am dretful
wcarin' TO their women folks. II
he'd had a real smart wife like you,
things might have been
diff runt-bcats all how queer things
Quit Well, if Emcrcttc Small
edge hain'twished her cake was dough
before this time, III miss my guess
You never heard anything Of 'cm
they moved ont West, did you,
Rumy?"
NO" said Miss Rumy, except a
year or two after they went | heard
they were kind Of movin' round.
"Well, now, Rumy, you'd ought to
feel how well off you be at last. And
! was you I'd go right off and take
my vacation. I'd lock UP and not
come home till ] was n mind TO,
queer that you should feel as
II you couldn't, now that your hands
full for the first time in your
life"
II wish | was real reckless like
some, said Miss Rumy. Seems as
| must be here to look after things;
and there's dreadful things happenin'
on railroads, all the time, and there's
nothin' like your W victuals and
your own bed, come night. But |
one TO finch when duty calls.
The doctor says I'd ought TO 60, and
| IN goin'. | amt been through so
many tryin' things TO give out now"
Beats all how you feel about it,"
said Mrs. Poet. Now if ] had your
chance! And Pm one that's real
c~are-takin', too"
1--WE amt all got the same gifts,
Priscilla" said Miss Rumy, with a
touch of dignity.
Mrs. Poet FASTENED TO make neigh
.orly offers of care Of the second
crop of peas, the hens, the canary
bird, and to give practical advice
about the buttery window.
II haven't written TO Josiah's folks.
| thought I'd like to take 'em by sur
prise, and, besides, you can't never
tell what may happen. | calclatc to
next Monday. Seems as If
twas a good time, because you ear
get all ready Saturday and have the
sabbath TO kind of compose your
But Monday came and poor Miss
had not composed her mind.
She vas i'm such n state of p%erturba-
lion that she packed and %unpackcd
her great, old fashioned ~carpetbag n
dozen timcs-not even her grim de-
termination and sense of duty could
Miss Rumy to- the extent of
n trunk, and three times after
everything was settled she went over
TO Priscilla Poct's to give her more
minute instructions about the care
of the hens, and the vigilance neccs-
to guard them from %marauding
And, after all, she was ready, with
her castle well defended, an hour be-
fore stage time. 1t seemed TO Miss
Rumy that i'm all her anxious, toll
some life she had never known so
long an hour as that.
The stage left her ut the Carmel