Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1895-06-20

SELF an old maid; her skin was so
kinder pink and her eyes. so shiny
a-thinlzing about that silk dress,
s'pose it was. But she didn't git it.
didn't see her for most week, and
when / went over who should I see
setting in the corner of the kitchen
knitting, as big as life, but old Granny
Lucas, knitting and nodding to me,
and a-saying: I've come to live here
with Philury.' What dooz this mean?'
says to Philury, when I found her up
chamber; whats old Mis- Lucas here
for?' An pom that Philury set down on
the bed and pulled me down beside her
and begun to cry. Don't scold,' says
she, I couldn't help it. The poor soul
come to my door Sunday night, the
sea test thing you ever see, cos she said
they was going to take her to the
county farm, and she thought mebbe
I'd let her stay with me. She's some
relation of mothers, Lily says PHI
Jury. 'Fiftieth cousin says 1, kinder
short. Wall, come over to see your
black silk. I didn't see it laying
round nowhere, so l s'pose it's cut and
made up an hanging in the closet.
'Lizy,' says Philury, looking as
'shamed as could be, L don't b'lieve I
shall git one jest yit; I had to buy a
few things for granny, her shoes was
all out, and she hadn't on warm fan
nels.' felt jest like giving Philury a
good shaking, and telling her, the
same time, that she was saint on
earth. But 1 didn't do neither.
went right on home, and Philury never
knew how worked up l was.
"That was Almost ten years ago.
You know how Philury kept and
done for Granny Lucas long as she
lived, set up with her nights and
tended of 'er days till 1 wonder her
feet didn't drop off sometimes.
when she died, I says to Philury,
81: Now, if I was you, I'd git me a
good rich black silk; I'd trim it with
lace and I'd have it NICE why don't
you have one?' says she. 4 don't want
it, ST. "A good wool is all ever
wanted; l could "a had one dozens OF
times 81, if I'd felt SO; but you al
ways wanted a black silk YES
says Philury, 4 alwuz did, and l be.
lieve I will have one Now don't
change your mind ST; and I went
home thinking of nothing else but
Philury's silk. Thinks I, something
will happen to prevent her Citing OF
it, jest as they alwuz have, and SO
no SiI do thof uoryy oft h,,+
put Nathan's supper on the table and GO
overto Philury and stay right by her till
I'd put her up to buying it that very
day. But never, in all my born days,
see anyone SO nervous as she was. Her
hands trembled when she tied on her
bunnit, and more'n once she said, on the
way to the store: 1t don't seem right
to spend SO much money jest on my.
self. Jest think, it would feed poor
family over month, and there's Sc
much misery in the world; but lar
rupped right along, pretending didn't
hear, and when we got to Harmon's
says to Mr.. Harmon, 81: My sister
here wants to look at your black silk.
a good piece?' he says. Yes 81, the
best you've got.
"Wall, twas easy after that. Philury
was perfectly delighted with the piles
an piles he spread out of the black,
soft, rich, shiny stuff. I'most made up
my mind to buy me one. Wall, Philury
picked out the thickest, shiniest, soft
est piece they was, and had it done up
with the trimmings and carried it
WhA,, bor clo
turnt round and says to me: Lily,
you hain't no notion of how foolish
be, but never was so happy in all my
life BEFORE and she looked jest as hap
Ply as she said she felt.
Il went over and helped sew on it.
Miss Jones cut and fitted it, but Philury
and made it. 1t set like glove, and
fore we finished it she began to fail up.
l see it, and Miss Jones see; and
Philury told me the day we finished it
that she didn't b'lieve she should ever
wear it. You will, 81, for I'll put it
on to you myself, and make you go to
church, But come Sunday Philury
want able to set up, and Wednesday
she died"
Mrs. Bean gave dry sob at the
recollection. Then she looked into the
sympathetic faces of her audience, and
said: That's why wouldn't have
the back breadths cut out. I know
they do it, and it's jest as folks feel
about it, Ispose; but Philury robbed
herself of the joy of wearing of it
while she lived, and shaved all her life
for others. Now, she's dead, she shall
have it; and b'lieve, do believe, and
and don't care who thinks me foolish
for saying of it, do believe that
Philury, wherever she is, knows that
she's dressed in that black silk" and
Mrs. Bean looked around de6antly.
II don't blame you," said Mrs. Dol
lard, in her most sympathetic manner.
Nor I neither" murmured the 9th.
e1s.
And in the next room the face on the
pillow wore the calm, glad look which
seemed to affirm that her sister had in.
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