The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-05-16

mummy, came in, and walking across
the floor seated herself in Mrs. Dab
ney's very corner-an old woman
dressed in q snuff-colored gown which
Mrs. Dabney had always worn, and
wearing a snuff.silk cap, while bag
depended from her arm.
Its cold, ladies'" she said, look
ing around with depreciating air,
"cold for the season of the year-and
they don't keep fires at Tewkstown."
Mother" said Mary, recovering
herself with hysterical gasp of relief,
cit isn't old Mrs. Dabney's ghost at
all. It's old Miss Abby, come back
from the Tewkstown Poorhouse."
''You don't mean" began the mild
widow.
THAT Mrs. Daniel Dabney and Mrs.
Everard Elberson let their old aunt
go to the poorhouse?" said Mary Mil
Ter. "Yes, it is quite true. Mrs.
Daniel leads society in San Francisco,
+ am told, and Mrs. Elberson is a
grand lady in Bridgeport, with re.
ception day and servants in livery.
What could they do with a half crazy
old nunt, who takes snuff and talks
uncertain grammer? Poor Mrs. Abby.
She has wandered back to her old
home. She was eighty last birthday,
and things are all misty and vague to
her"
"But what shall we do?" said Mrs.
Miller in accents of perplexity. "a
harnt 1na9n't
just right, Molly. does it,"
"I'll take her back after she has
rested little and had cup of tea, "
said Mary, cheerily.
"But perhaps she won't CO."
ooh, yes, she will" said Mary.
"Poor Miss Abbyl She is as gentle
as n child"
Her words proved to be correct.
Miss Abby Dabney suffered herself to
he led unremonstratingly back to
Tewkstown Poorhoise, where the
matron read her a shrill-voiced lee.
ture, and declared she should not be
allowed another grain of snuff if she
couldn't behave better.
Old Miss Abby smiled deprecat-
ingly.
"rhey are peculiar people here" ="
sho said. 'I think, my dear"-to
Mary Miller-"they forget sometimes
| an lady. But it takes all sorts.
don't you see, to make world"
The next night, however, Just rs
Mary and her mother wero sitting
down to tea, Miss Abby once more ap-
peared, in the midst of agentle shower
OF rain.
al hope / don't inconvenience any
body" she said, meekly. "But that
woman Mt Tewkstown has cut off my
allowance of snuff; and, after all,
there's no place like home"
And once more Mary Miller pa
tiently walked back with the poor old
crone to the poorhouse.
The matron was infuriate this time.
at amt human natur' to stand
this !" she declared. "l'll put her in
the jug!"
"lho---jug?' repeated Mary, in sur
prise.
''It's n room down cellar whero we
shut up the troublesome cases." said
the matron. 81 can't stand this run
ming away business, and l won't!"
The Jug" perhaps, proved eflica.
cious, for old Miss Abby Dabney did
not appear again for II week.
At the expiration of that period,
however, she walked noiselessly in
Just at dusk, and seated herself like
Ia silent shadow in the chimney cor.
ncr.
at is so good to be at home again, y
said she, rubbing her wrinkled hands.
"i somehow seem to get lost of late.
Elnathan is gone, and Betsy is gone,
and I'm left here all alone. Yes, &
cup of tea, please-sugar and no milk.
They never remember how | like my
tea at Tewkstown. This Is good AND
butter on my bread, too! We don't
get butter ut Tewkstown.
Mary burst into tears.
"Mother," said she, "Miss Abby
shall not go back to fewkstown! She
shall stay here! Mother, how should
| feel if you were wandering, friend
less and alone, through the world?"
"But, my dear"
"She shall sleep in her own olt
room, out of the kitchen" persisted
Mary. "She'll be no more care thar
canary bird. Oh, mother, do con
sent She will think then that she il
still in her own home. Oh, if yot
knew how dreary it is at that Tewks
town Poorhouse, with the grass al
tramped out, and piles of clam shells
lying around the door, and not 81
much as a dandelion or daisy to b
seen !"
And Mrs. Miller yielded to Mary
fearful solicitations.
''Do as you please, my child" sal
she.
The Tewkstown authorities were bu
too glad to be rid of the poor old in
cubus, and Miss Abby Dabney settle
down into her old home, as content
edly and unquestioningly as if she ha
nauar laft Sha uta and 1ranly I'm