The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-12-20

in at?' -,
well, if you don't know what ails
him, you'd ort to: so IN tell YOU
He's dyin' by inches ever since, you
turned his mother out O doors
Emarina turned white. Sheel
lightning played in her eyes.
"Oh. you'd ought to talk about my
turnin' her out" she burst out, furl-
ously. after you a settin, here
a-ouar'ln with her in this very
kitchen, an cggin' me on! Want
she goin' to turn you out o. your own
daughters home? Want that what |
turned her out fer? didn't turn her
ont. ANYHOW, only told Orvile this
house want big enough fer his moth.
er an me, am that neither o us 'n'd
knuckle down, so he'd best take his
choice. You'd ought to talk y
"Well, if egged you on, I'm sorry
fer t. - said Mrs. Endey, solemnly.
Ever sence that to- sickness | had
month ago, I've feel kind OF old an
no account myself, AS if Ia like to let
all hollis go, an Jest rest. l don
spunk up like | ust to. No, he didn't
90 to Peterson She's GAVIN right on.
NV land wonder T il amt old
grandma Eliot: she had bad spell
no, he didn't turn that corner. ! can't
think where he's goin to-
She sat down with sigh OF defeat.
\ smile gimmered palely across
Emarine's face and was gone. Maybe
if you'd 20 ur in the antic you could
see better she suggested, dryly
"Oh. Emarine, here comes old
gran ma Eliot herself! Run an open
the door fer 'er. She's limpin' worse
N usual.
Emarne flew to the door. Grandma
Eliot was one of the few people she
loved. She WAS large and motherly..
She wore black dress and shawl and
a funny bonnet with frill of white
clear round her brow.
Emarine's face softened when she
kissed her. I'm SO glad to see you,
she said and her voice was tender.
Even Mrs. Endey's face underwent
a change Usually it wore a look of
doubt, if not of positive suspicion, but
now it fairly beamed. She shook hands
cordially with the guest and led her
to comfortable chair.
II know your rheumatic is worse,
she said. cheerfully, because you re
limpin' so. Oh. did you see the un-
dertaker go up by here! We can't
think where he's goin' to. ID you
happen to know
mo, | don't: an | don't want to
NEITHER Mrs. Eliot laughed com
fortably. Mis- Endey, 70 don't ketch
me foolln, with undertakers: till |
have to. She sat down and removed
her black cotton gloves. II IN gettin'
to that age when | don't care much |
where undertakers go to SO long as
they let me alone. Fixin' fer Christ
mas dinner, Emarine dear?''
eyes, ma am said Emarine in her |
very gentest tone. Her mother had
never said dear" to her, and the
sound of it on this old lady's lips was
sweet. Won't you come an take
dinner with us?'
The old lady laughed merrily. "Oh,
dearie me, dearie me You don't guess
my sons folks could spare me now, do
you: spend ev'ry Christmas there
They most carry me on two chips. My
sons wife. Sidonie, she nearly runs
her feet off waitin on me. She can't
do enough fer me. My, Mrs, Endey,
you don't know what comfort
laughter inlaw is when you get old
an feeble - Emarine's face turned
red. She went to the table and stood
with her back to the older women but
her mothers sharp eyes observed that
ner ears grew scarlet.
AN | never will, y said Mrs. En-
ley, grimly.
you've got SON law, though.
who's worth whole townful of most
son in laws. He was such good son,
20: Jest worshipped his mother
couldn't bear her out o his sight. He
lumored her high an low. That's jest
he way Sidonie does with me. I'm
yettin' cranky s get older, an
m reel cross an sassy to
ler but she jest latfs at me, an then
zones an kisses me, an IN all right
ig' in. It's blessin' right from God
% have daughter law like that. ~
The knife in Emarine's hand
slipped, and she uttered little cry.
"Hurt you?' demanded her mother,
'ternly.
Emarine was silent, and did not
urn.
Cut you, Emarine? Why don't you
answer me? Aigh?'
"A little said Enarine. She went
nto the pantry, and presently returned
With narrow strip of muslin which
he wound around her finger
well, | never see! You never will
earn any gunption! Why don't you
ook what you're about? Now, go {
round Christmas with your finger all
led upn'
"Oh, that'll be all right by to-
morrow. " said Mrs. Eliot, cheerfully.
Won't il, Emarine? Never cry
Yer split milk. Mrs. Endey it makes s
body get wrinkles too fast. O. course {
)ryillc's mothers comm to take '
inner with you, Emarine. -
Dear me - exclaimed Emarine, in '
sudden fiutter Il don't see why s
hem cranberries don't come | told |
)rviIle to hurry 'em' up. I'd best I
lake the floatin' island while | wait. -
Il stopped at Orville's mothers as t
came along, Emarine. a
How" Emarine turned in
tartled way from the table. "
Il say | stopped at Orville's c
lother's as | come along b
"Ohr'
"She well?" asked Mrs. Endey. r.
"No, she amt: shakin' like she had g
he Saint Vitus dance. She's failed
arrable lately. She'd ben cryin' b
er eyes was all swelled up .
There was quite a silence. Then c
[rs. Endey said, What she ben p
ryin' about:" P
"Why, when 1 asked her she jest d
fled kind o. pitiful, an said: oh, 81
1ly my tomfoolishness, o. course. c.
aid she always got to thinkin' about d
her Christmases. But | cheered her t.
p. | told her what good time | al 81
avs had at my son s, an how Sidonie
st couldn't do enough fer me. An m
Id her to think what nice time g
led have here t Emarine's to to
N