Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-10-25
TWO PENSIONERS.

More than one of the passing throng
that went to and fro over the pavements
of the little city park had noticed the
small, tidy, comfortable and serene
looking old lady sitting on one of the
park benches near the fountain.
The old lady had nothing to sell and
no favors to ask of any one. Had she
offered any explanation as to why she
sat in the park sewing or knitting stead
lily she would have said simply:
"I love to be out in the open air
where the sun is shinin an the birds are
singin, with the blue sky overhead.
Then like to set an see the people go
by an wonder where they're come
from an where they're goin. I've got so
know lots of 'em by sight, an good
many of 'em nod an speak to me SO nice
an fr'en'lylike, an some Of 'em stop an
chat little once in awhile.
But como here, - and then there
would be quavering and pathetic note
in her voice, because somehow or
other seem to kind of make trouble at
home, though, land knows, try not to,
but it don't seem to do any good. You
see, live with my son an his wife. My
daughter-in-law, Susan, she seems to
think it's kind of hard to have me round,
though I do every stitch of the mendin
an all the plain sewin, an there s lot
of it to do, for Susan has big house an
rents furnished rooms, an there's al
ways sheets an towels to hem, an I'm
never idle, so can't help feelin that I
earn my keep.
Then I've got pension of $12 a
month that draw every three months,
but somehow it always happens that my
son is in tight place an needs the pen
sion money to tide him over, an then
guess he an his wife fergit about it, for
never git it back ag'iu. wouldn't
mind that if they could only feel that
the pension money an the work 1 do
paid for my keep. do hate to feel that
Pm burden to 'em, an can't be any
great Of a one, fer I'm no eater to speak
of, an Pm real savin an careful of my
clothes.
"I'd go into an old ladies' home if 1
could save my money so as to pay the
entrance fee, but even if did my son
an Susan wouldn't be willin l should
go, because it would make talk, an
reckon they'd miss my pension nightly.
So after git the dishes washed up
an things kind O. put in order 1 git my
sewin ready an come out here in the
park where amt in anybody's way
an where don't make trouble for any
one. Susan says she don't think ao-
complish as much sewin as would if I
was in the house, an mebbe don't,
but I'm happier out here where folks
seem fr'en'ly and pleasantlike. The
policeman on this beat comes round an
chats with me now an then an calls me
'gra' ma am, an sometimes tighten up
button on his coat. We're real good
fr'en's. Then the old apple woman is
real fr'en'ly an often runs over an
fetches me a speokled apple or pear.
There's lots o. fr'en illness in the world.
That gray haired old gentleman over
there the other side o. the fountain is
one o. my fr'en's, an we chat together
great deal He's got pension, too,
an is situated good deal as I am in
other respects. He lives with his mar
ried daughter, an gether from what
he says that she wouldn't have i'm
round if it WANT for his pension. He
gifts $12 month, same as do, but his
daughter don't let him keep but dol
lar of it, an she begretches him that. It
hardly keeps his pipe goin. -
The old man referred to was an in
offensive looking man of about 60 years.
He was pretty shabbily dressed and
would have been even ragged at times
had not the little old lady ''kep' him
mended up It was not uncommon to
see him sitting in his shirt sleeves by
her side while she skillful1y mended or
sewed up rents in his shabby old coat.
He had kindly face and childish
blue eyes, in which there was often a
look of mute appeal. He spent most of
his time in the park, because he, too,
was Gin the way" in his daughters
home. She was a shrewish and slattern-
ly woman, with tongue like blade.
Few kind words ever fell from her lips,
and none was ever spoken to her old
father.
When the old mans pension money
came, it was seized by his domineering
daughter quite as if it were her own
and some months che failed to allow,
him even his dollar for spending
money"
1t was 'tkind of comfort, . he said,
to talk over his troubles with some one,
and he found the cid lady to be will
ing and sympathetic listener They had
not known each other until they had
kind o. got acquainted, " as the old
lady said. Now they were the best OF
friends, and the old man frequently
read the newspaper to her while she
diligently piled her needle. They made
pleasant picture sitting there under
the elms, and more than one passerby
had said, 'They would make good
study for an artist. Z"
! The old man had found her sitting