Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-03-11
MERE SUSANNA.

When first saw her, she was stand
ing in her cottage doorway, leaning
both hands on her stick. The sunset was
OH her face, clarifying the cottage win
dows and the little garden, and there
was a noise Of singing birds about her.
Her eyes were turned westward She
was little old woman, with gray hair
and small, determined face. Her lips
were thin and her eyes bright and deep
set, with penthouse brows.
fingered, wondering little. From
inside the cottage there came the con-
tinual oheep oheep and twitter Of birds.
near the door, and ono even on the door
step The old woman looked straight
across the fiat fields to the sunset. She
had oolorless wrap about her head,
and she wore colorless dress and a
blue apron. The sunset glorifed them
all
thought she did not see me, but as
back. She came down to the little gate
and said, Monsieur is a strangerr'
YES, madame.
"And he has Travelled perhapsr"
"In many lands.
HAS he ever met u tall lad, a SOL
der, very fair and handsome. with blue
eyes?"
Il have met many soldiers, madame.
But this onel Think, monsieur,
she urged, You could never have for
gotten him. His hair was like the sky
yonder she pointed to the ruined
gold OF the sunset-"and his eyes
danced, danced alwaya He was always
merry.
II am very sorry madame. do not
remember him.
She seemed little saddened and was
turning away when said, You Keep
many singing birds, madamer
They oall mo Mere susanna, she
said. Come IN, monsieur, II you Will,
and see them. "
The cottage was two roomed--ODs
room where she lived and slept; learn
ed afterward that the other was q
shrine-empty-where she went to
pray when her heart and hope were
numb.
The little Kitchen was filled with
birds In cages. She had to put one on
the floor to offer me seat. AS for her
self she sat down on a stool In the
midst OF them. Then she took up the
cage from the floor on to her knee, and,
putting in her hand, captured the song
ster. 1t was a chaffinch. She stroked Its
wings and laid 1t against her face. It
did not try to escape, but nestled con-
tentedly against the wrinkled cheek.
1T knows you. l said.
She gave a contented little laugh.
"They all do. But won't need them
when he comes home.
WHO il her.
"He-my boy that told you OF.
Some OF them used to say he would
never come back when they thought /
didn't hear them. But know. "
The twilight was closing in. A grad
ual hush had crept over the linnets and
inches, the canaries and the rest. She
put back the bird into its cage and rose
| too ohe did not ask me to go again.
went out into tho little garden and
the twilight and continued my walk;
but, returning home the same way, l
heard strange sound through tho
spring darkness IL was Mere Susanne
crouched up by tho garden paling, cry
ing to herself
lew days later came across her In
the helds- She was piucking dandelion
and herbs for salad and groundsel Tor
BIRDS She told me that she went about
selling them 10 those OF tho neighbors
VINO had no timo to come and look Tor
their own.
The new green was springing up
around uS Inc SKY was blue A spring
wihd wandered about ana blew apart
the Ola woman hair ON her forehead
az sne WORKED.
you leave your birds alone all dayF
SAID
YES she answered but hear
them sihglrg all the same. "
now theh' since your cottage IL not
near heref
How do l know" she said, straight
ening herself. at gets palmer and
palmer AZ ! go home In the evenings.
ana when get In at the gate they all
begin together " She stopped down
again, smiling ITS almost like hay
ing child waiting for one, - she said,
but not TO me.
thought OF her that evening when,
looking out OF my window, l saw that
the SKY IN the west had turned primrose
l saw ner trudging home with the light
on her face and the singing OF her birds
IN her ears growing nearer and nearer,
tiil ~ last she turned IN at the little
gate.
Often after that met her In the fields