The Newtown bee., 1897-06-25

Just set to work for her as if they'd been
her brothers. The professor made out a
great list of the very best books for the
library, besides another shorter one for
the Cap'n and Mis- Parsons to read TO-
gether-i mprOvin' books on all sorts Of
subjects, and written out so plain that
folks without much schoolin' wouldn't
have trouble to understand them. And
the painter-he told her what pictures to
get and how to hang them ON the walls
so that they'd have the best light. And.
more than that, he. gave her one OF his
own for present, that good judges say
is worth thousand dollars If it cost a
cent.
"When they had got settled in the new
house those two folks went to readin'
and studvin' regular, like children and
if there was anything that Mis- Parsons
didn't understand, she'd go and ask the
minister about it and he'd explain it to
her.
''When the time came that Jerry, if
he'd lived, would "a been old enough to
go to school, Mis- Parsons took to visitin'
the school every week punctual. She'd
often take little present, to the teacher
flowers, or basket of fruit, or some
shing-and she'd always say:
81 brought this for my son.
"She and the Cap'n made all sorts of
good times for the children-Saturday
picnics and what not. And every Christ
mas Eve she had tree for them in the
dining room, all blazing with candles,
and with presents for every one marked
"A happy Christmas for Jerry's sake
'Then, when Jerry would "a had to
have been sent away from home, she
went around making Inquiries about the
best boarding-school for boys, and after
she'd picked out one that she thought
most proper she went with the teachers,
and had the boys introduced to her, aim
ing to help along any that were poor
and deserving. They used to go to all
the anniversaries, and he set on the
platform along with the distinguished
visitors, and Mis- Parsons would smile
on the boys speaking their pieces, as if
every one had been her own. Boys !!
why, she had the house swarmin' with
'em in vacation-time! The yard looked
like school playground, what with cro-
quet and tennis and hammocks and
swing poles and, for the matter of that,
there were some better things to be
learned OF her than they could get at
any school. She'd changed somehow
in her ways-=not but that she'd always
been ladylike, but there was differ
ence. She was finer, more understand
ing. I've heard say that manners are a
kind of outside dress-some folks have
| to pad theirs all over to make 'em smooth {;
but Mis- Parsons just fitted herl just
her way of listenin' comforted anybody
| in trouble.
"Well, the boys that Jerry would Ia
gone to the academy with, got through
there and went to college, and Mis- Par
sons, she kept right along with them,
| looking after them the, same as ever.
| She made up her mind, what society he'd
been likely to join, and then what did
ShC AV INV ENg khC zap IL W. OMk1A
house for it fraternity house,'I be-
lieve they call it. The young fellows
all knew her for 'Jerry's mother and
the widest of them would have knocked
down any body that dared to make game
of the little white-haired woman that
went to see them every commencement;
and they do say that her pleadin' turned
back more than one of them that had got
start on the road to ruin.
1.-THE house was full as ever in vaca-
ton. Some of the fellows thst had Sis
bers brought them along. The Cap'n
had bought the pleasurevboat--as neat a
craft as you'll see along shore--and he
used to take the young folks down the
bay. with Mis- Parsons along to do the
mothering. 1t was pretty sight TO see
them hangin' around her, and she is so
fond and proud Of them all.
"But there was one of the girls--speak
of angels--if there she amt a-comin'
now just look at her sharp, and I'll go
on with the story after she gets by
A young woman, simply dressed in a
gown of some light fabric, approached
Us, driving lelsurely In pony-earriage.
Her face, shaded BY broad hat, wore
an expression OF great purity and gentle
ness. She might have been thirty years
old. She bowed pleasantly in response
to the drivers respectful saIutation, and
when she was again out Of hearing be re-
sumed
"That is Miss Edith Hale. As was
goin' tc say, she came 10 the Parsons's