The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-05-29


man, silver-haired and shriveled like
mummy, came in, and walking
across the floor seated herself in Mrs.
Dabney's very corner-an old woman
dressed in Il snuff-colored gown which
Mrs. Dabney had always worn, and
wearing a snuff-silk cad, while a bag
depended from her arm.
''It's cold, ladies' she said, looking
around with deprecating 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 re-
lief, sit isn't old Mrs. Dabney's ghost
at all. It's old Miss Abby, come back
from the Tewkstown Poorhouse."
"You Ion't mean," began the mild
widow, "that Mrs. Daniel Dabney and
Mrs. Everard Elberson let their old
aunt go TO the poorhouse?'
"Yes, it is quite true. Mrs. Daniel
leads society in San Francisco, | am
told, and Mrs. Elberson is a grand lady
in Bridgeport, with a reception day
and servants III livery. What could
they do with half crazy old aunt, who
takes snuff and talks uncertain gram
mar? Poor Miss Abby. She has wan
dered 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
crazy woman here! 1t doesn't seem 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 gO.n
"Oh, yes, she WILL" said Mary.
"Toor Miss Abby. She is "a gentle as a
child"
Her words proved to be correct.
Miss Abby Dabney suffered herself
to be led unremOnsiatingly back to
Tewkstown Poorhouse, where the ma
tron read her shrill-voiced lecture,
and declared she would not be allowed
another grain of snuff if she couldn't
behave better.
Old Miss Abby smiled deprecat-
ingly.
"They are peculiar people here"
she said ~ think, my dear'-to
Mary Miller-''they forget sometimes |
am a lady. But it takes ali sorts, don't
YOU see, to make n world"
The next night, however, just as
Mary and her mother were sitting
down to tea, Miss Abby once more
appeared, in the midst of gentle
shower of rain.
al hope don't Inconvenience any
body" she said, meekly. "But that
woman at Tewktown has cut of my
allowance of snuff; and, after all, there
no place like home"
And once more Mary Miller patient
ly walked back with the poor old crone
to the poorhouse.
The matron was infuriated this
| time.
at amt human natur' TO stand this"
she declared. "I'll pat her in the
jugr
''The-jug?" repeated Mary, in sur
prise.
ats a room down cellar where We
shut up the troublesome cases" saic
the matron. "I cant't stand this run
ming away business, and ] won't"'
The ''jug," perhaps, proved eiiica
cious, for old Miss Abby Dabney die
not appear again for week.
At the expiration of that period
however, she walked noiselessly in jus
at dusk, and seated herself like silent
shadow in the chimney corner.
at is so good 10 be at home again,
said she, rubbing her wrinkled hands
~ somehow seemed to get LOST Of late
Elnathan is gone, and Betsy Is gone
and Pm left here all alone. Yes, Gu
of tea, please-sugar and no milk
They never remember how | like m
tea at Tewkstown. This is good! An
butter on my bread, too. We don't ge
butter at Tewkstown.'
Mary burst into tears.
"Mother," said she, "Miss Abb
shall not go back to Tewkstown! Sh
shall stay here! Mother, how should
feel ifyou were wandering, friendle'
and alone, through the world?'
"But, my dear"
''She shall sleepin her own old room
out of the kitchenw persisted Mar,
"She'n be no more care than canar
bird. Oh, mother, do consent! 81
will think then that she is still in III
own home. Oh, if You knew no
dreary il is mt that Tewkstown poo
house, with the grass all tramped on
and piles of clam shells lying aroun
the door, and not so much as Il dand
lion or daisy to be seem"
And Mrs. Miller yielded to Mary
fearful solicitations.
The Tewkstown authorities we
, but too glad to be rid of the poor o
: incubus, and Miss Abby Dabney s'
, tied down into her old home, rs co
r tentedly and unquestioningiy rs II s.
had never left il. She ate and drai
:. but little; she talked less, and seem'
i, to regard Mrs. Miller and Mary
| guests, who had come to visit the o
I farm.
y "The Widow Miller and her daught
: must be rich folss, To undertake
: support old Miss Abby" sneered o
neighbor.
e "She was well enough provided
t at the poorhouse," said another.
d al never yet saw farm suece
= that was worked by women-folks
: jeered a third.
"Tbere'll be the biggest kind Of
Il smash up presently" observed nul
q Der four, "And an auction sale ofevel
d thing; and I'll be on hand-for do
: deny that them little Alderney cows
the cunningest creeturs L ever
e ewes on, and good mixers into
e bargain"
:. But time wore on, and there was
e fiutter of any red flag over the por
~ Al. .oo.rarv matters fhroye a