New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-07

the front door.
There is this popularity about Mrs. Holland
As soon as she enters a room everything In IL
seems to be set nuttering. She now sits down In
a shake and SAYS again that she come bout that
porringer
Inave placed myself opposite. prepared to enter
tain her. / say that don't understand
WALL" said Mrs Holland. dabbing her race
here and there with handkerchief carefully kept
in its folds II dknows YOU do know d'know
but did tell Gertrude she needn't say nothn'
bout It TO nobody. II the Town, you know.
should anyways cit wind that was givin way
nv thincs-oh land what a time there'd be-"
Here she hid her face In her handkerchief for
moment In a delightful pretence of being afraid
Then she raised her head. and everything In the
room began 70 hutter again. She leaned forward
and put one bony hand out with a gesture Of de-
fance.
81 guess" she exclaimed in a loud voice. Il
guess amt goin' to let EN- have that cane
seated rocker I Mr.. Holland bought when we was
first marrled-'n' paid for 1t dom washin's
cause twa'n't convenient for Mr. Holland; n he
never was real strong sence ne fell from old Mr..
Bant's mo- when he was boy. They thought
Robert had broke every rib in his frame. but he
hadn't done no SIGH thing he'd only kinder
squshed hsself altogether. jest like this"
And Mrs Holland put her thumb against her
forehnger with great force. and repeated:
Jest squshed you know. But somehow 1t don't
much hurt a man like Mr. Holland to git squshed
But what was l a-sayin' of? Oh. know Bout
the porrnger. Last week give 1t to Gertrude
She said she'd like TO have II real well. And por-
ringers Is gittin skerce l was tellin' OF Mis-
Marks bout this one: n she said she'd always
wanted one. n she'd give me dollar for it, N
that's why come to see Gertrude.
H0rA ho kor
dabbed her face with her folded handkerchief
You mean you're going to take the porr'nser
away from Gertrude" asked.
yes" brskly. that's what thought. did
give 1t to old Mary Lodge fore Christmas. but |
changed my mind. n knew Gertrude sui lot
by pewter things Amt she to home?
AS II in answer 10 this inquiry, the door opened
and admitted Gertrude
felt uncertain as TO whether ought to stay
for the meeting might he going into secret session
for all knew. | decided to remain until | was
requested to withdraw.
My friend mildly went somewhere and returned
with the porringer. which she promptly delivered
up. But knew she parted from ii with twinge
and when Nancy Holland was on her way to Mrs
Marks ! asked her II she enjoyed returning the
quaint old thing. And she confessed that she
had longed to have pewter porringer from
which to eat bread and milk; and sh. had forgot
ten that Mrs Holland liked to change her nina,
but now-and that porrlnger had neen IN the
Bradford family: and II probable that Gov
ernr Bradford had eaten from il: and there wasn't
an article in the house which was 50 dear to her
the pewter and .hen she going to have IL SET
on the sideboard. where she could see 1t all the
time: but now
Gertrude paused Then she said that she hoped
I would never allude to the subject. for she
couldn't bear II II did.
After this the days went on. as summer Gays 90
go on In Ransom. full Of sweetness and that pene-
trating loveness which makes a New-England
summer dream Of bliss"
1t was Gertrude who called our summer
dream OF bliss As for me there were so many
weeds In the beet bed and the bugs ate the cd-
cumber vines So and the dry time was So long
continued and when the rain did come II washed
I'D 50 many roots. and then II raincd every Day
and the mosquitoes were so thick. ana a new
kind OF caterpillar came toward the end OF the
summer and devoured everything that the earlier
bugs and worms had not rel!shed-well. love
New-England summer as ardenty as any human
being can possibly love 1t. and should Ike at
this moment 10 write whole pages ABOUT thls
warm faint sky and the pufs Of clouds upon II
the breaths Of air that sigh over the meade"
where the ederbows and the swamp pinks bloom
the Harry Wickets AMI the bluebirds. and the
song sparrows and the bobonks. and all the
other birds that light on that old chestnut thar
stands the orchard slope-and the sounds or
crickets and treetoads in the highland me
whip Wills cry at the back OF the house Ana
like IL because the chestnut was growing there
when the Indians gave Up this tract OF land TO
the Balcher Of .ha, day. long ago. who coveted
H. Yes Ike all this we'll that often forget
the bugs and the new kind Of caterpillar. and al
most become reconciled 10 having Gertrude :"
absorbed by Nancy Holland.
But suddenly Mrs. Holland ceased coming.
neirhbor said that the old lady wasn't very
well. mebby she was kinder breakin' down.
When we used to go upstairs at night We
looked across the fields and saw light shining
from the window Of the little house. and then
Gertrude would say that She must go over and
see her. But We had company and she ola
not 20. .
They do say Nancy Hollands faln'." said
the butcher one day T. she sent word 10 you
docking at Gcrtrude) 'for you 10 go over soon's
YOU could. Twas something bout her accounts:
couldn't make out what she did mean"
So Gertrude gathered together the money and
the little blank book. and the ambrotypes OF rhe
Hollands and the Brookses. for Nancy was born
Brooks and went over the pastures to the Farm
ham road.
up on a lounge She had chair drawn up near
her. and on the chair stood tumbler Of water
a cup without any handle. holding few spoon
fuls Of 'painkiller'' and sugar, and a bowl with
some meadow pinks In IT,
She began to cough pitiably as soon as she
tried to speak. but presently she said she knew
Gertrude would come and now they'd count over
the money ON she guessed the Town d be
surprised enough II they knew how much she'd
got"
Here she strangled took a spoonful Of pain
killer and sugar coughed and strangled again.
AS soon as she could speak she said:
IL tell YOU won't the Town be all took down II
they find out had nough to bury me- AFTER ail'
How much is It now"
Gertrude spread out the money, all in silver
Twelve dollars and thirty-seven cents" she
! answered.
Nancy chuckled.
9TH help won't IT," she asked. Il do wish
twas more, but / can't help IT. ] amt goln' to
worry bout that now would you?
NO. indeed. And when you are better you
can add to the sum-" was the reply.
II s'pose So"
She sank back on the pillows. She gazed In
tently at her companion her pale eyes calm and
bright.
But guess this II about the end OF me.
she said cheerfully. i've got kind OF feelin
that this 3 goin' to be my last sickness Robert
ne knew when his last sickness came. n
d'know why shouldn't know. ! wish you'd GIT
me water I s colder n that I'm dretfu
tired Of that lukewarm water to drink.
Gertrude drew some water from the we'll In
the backyard and filled the tumber with It,
Mrs Holland drank hurriedly, spilling II as she
did So
II do git kinder lonesome" she said when she
had wiped the drops from her face. but. then
I'm useter to ben lone since Robert died. I've