New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-17
AGAINST HUMAN NATURE.
BY MARIA LOUISE POOL.
Copyright 1925: By the Trtouns Association.
OLD MAID DROWDY'S.


the first time this spring. She knew that it
too early to wear that hat but she said that
somehow it seemed to bring the warm days
nearer if she brought the old thing down from
under the caves. 1t made her feel as # the
volets actually coming.
In HOyt. Mass. 1t often seemed to the
impatient resident that spring never would
actually arrive.
Mr.. Wilson had ploughed up patch of land
on south slope for early peas. That ploughing
was an encouragement to Almina She decided
that if Brother Wilson could plough she could
leave off her white cloud and resume her hat.
She was expecting Mr. Wilson now. He
going bring Freddy TO spend the day with his
aunt lie would necessarily bring him early. for
ne would be on his way to the next town with
eggs and milk.
Freddy had grown in the three years that had
elapsed since Amna had gone to North Caro-
lima She had left him making perilous totter-
ing Journeys across the kitchen floor, and occa-
sionaly swallowing shoe buttons.
Freddy had set up a dog, young bull dog
that squinted and that made charges at peoples
ankles in the most ferociOus way but who would
not have bitten any upon any provocation.
Only the people upon whom he charged did not
always know this; and this Ignorance caused
great deal OF unpleasantness in the hearts Of
some of Freddy's acquaintance. Indeed. that
acquaintance threatened to narrow down to those
who would submit TO having their ankles num-
bed by the puppy. Those who would not sub
nit Freddy unhesitatingl called darn fools"
Freddy's mother thought that person must be
extremely mean who was irrtated when a cum
ming little boy like Freddy called him darn
fool" And as for being afraid of bulldog
puppy
Mrs her he2 md
leave the sentence unfinished
Almina once told her sister that the world
seemed TO be divided into two casses-those who
we're friends with Freddy's puppy and those who
were not and Livy judged everybody with refer
ence TO their standing with jefferson. for the
dogs jefferson, usually called Jeff"
Almina as she stood in the yard on this April
morning. conscious of a decided wish that
jefferson would not come-not that she
afraid Of him. but that 1t usually impossible
to watch him closely enough to prevent his chew
ing some valuable article
The last time jefferson visited her, accompa-
MED by his young master. ne had chewed and
swallowed the whole vamp Of one of her. best
boots.
She had not expected the boy to be sorry, but
she had been tried when the boys mothers only
remark in the case had been:
Il want 20 know. Wall, Jeff s dretfu fond of
leather"
A pair of bluebirds clrcled down into the yard
as AlmiDa stood there. They called TO her--or
was it to each other?-and the womans heart
sweed joyfully.
The frogs were peepng in the meadows.
Almina turned her face upward. She spoke
aloud.
There certainly is a look in the sky-there GER
tainly is look" she said.
She went into the house and brought out a
shawl. This size wrapped about her and began
walking brisky back and forth in the yard, for It
was chilly in spite of the soft sky.
AlnIina poked the toe of her rubber into the
black mould around the peony root red tip
would soon show itself. She had found saxifrage
among the rocks at the south of the house the
day before.
When her eyes swept over the country. how
ever. the hills and valeys-they were hills and
valleys in smallest miniature-were till lare
and brown and desolate. But she knew a bit of
swampland where skunks cabbage was already
green and Furnishing
As her eyes. in their cursory glance rested
upon cartpath that wound over the pasture in
front OF the house. she made a quick step for
ward, then paused. gazing with dstrustful air,
as II she could not believe what her eyes told
her.
"Mercifu sakes!" she exclaimed. 81 d'know
but I'm gittin' so old can't straight"
There was note of strong excitement in her
voice. She ran across the road and to the bars
Of the fence; these she let down with trembling
hands; then she stood still in the opening.
A white pony coming at leisurely amble
along the rough way. He did not seem to mind
that 1t rough but used TO I'M
even roads.
His intelligent face, with its ears at full cock,
toward her.
On tho animals back tall. stawart
woman OF dusky countenance. This woman
began to smile broadly. her white teeth shining
She threw up her hand.
II reckon It's you. Miss she called out;
"howdy, Miss Drowdy?'
Instead of responding to this greeting Almina
said helpessly:
"Oh. good land | can't b'lieve my senses"
BY this time the pony had brought Sally nearly
up to the bars; and he stopped his amble
and walked forward. his slender legs looking Just
as much like "injy rubber they had always
looked to this Yankee woman.
Sally continued to grin.
We've done brought roun' hyar" she re-
marked.
What! cried Almny. you amt come I'D
from North Carliny that pony have your
Sally laughed. The rich throaty sound seemed
quite out OF place opposite that strictly New
England house. and in the hearing Of that
strictly New-Engand woman.
Dress yo' heart. horey" she answered, "of
co'se amt. Use jest curm urp fun de deepo-
house. We uns curm in de kyars. we uns did
Thimbles awful scraped n rubbed on his aigs.
But he KEEP urp er good heart all de way, he did
Fore de Lawd reckon de pony knew he war
comm ter Miss Temple. He knew all te same's