St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-05-10


nre In the grate-"l say fellows, don't
believe he likes doing it .fter all. "
Townsend had lifted the kettle from
the fire and was making tea in brown
teapot with broken spout. While it
was sleeping he picked up the pieces Of
the shattered plate from the hearth
where the old woman had tossed it
when she had finished her omelet
Here's your tea, came distinctly
through the open window few min
utes later "What will you stir it with
today?'
He turned to motley collection Of
articles on shelf at the old woman's
side. She selected a toothbrush, at
which Townsend was seen by his watch
full friends to make grimace
"I'm ready go on, they heard her
say, and Townsend seated on the ia.
ble's edge in proximity to his cooking
appurtenances, swung his legs idly and
began to sing 1.-THE Sunshine of Para
disc Alley.
"Well, I'll - be - hangedl' said
Chadwick.
The tea and the music seemed to
have composing influence upon the
old woman The incessant swaying of
her body ceased. Only the nervous
hands beat continual time with the
toothbrush against the teacup
II went through a pork establish,
ment the other day, said Townsend,
resting his elbow on his knee and his
chin on his hand land there | learned
the intimate connection between the
rendering of. pig products and the rem
dering of song stored the informa-
ton in my memory to tell you.
The old woman showed some interest
''In rendering pork. you know, you
try the fat. and in rendering a song
you try the audience. Seer | will now
illustrate the rendering of a song, he
went on hastily, seeing that his patient
was growing restless in her effort to
understand his nonsense
He was singing "Ben Bolt in a
highly sentimental manner and tears
were running down his hearers with
cred cheeks when a step in the entry
caused an instant change in her de-
meanor Springing to her feet. she flung
her teacup straight at the door. Town
send sprang from the table and caught
it neatly on the fly.
"Out!" cried Grimston under his
breath
How has she been? p the newcomer
asked. with no trace of surprise at the
warmth of her reception. She was a
woman of 40. tall and angular. and her
features showed her kinship to the in
sane woman. her mother
about as usual, returned Town
send Il saved the cup today, you see.
but was too late for the plate, indi-
eating the fragments on the table
The listeners beneath the window
now thought it wise to make good their
escape-all except Allen He walked
along slowly after his friends who were
running in pursuit of an electric car
that had flashed by the end of the alley
He let Townsend come up with him.
Hello, old man. What are you do.
ing here?'
"Spying on you. returned Allen
frankly, and then made his confession.
ending with. And beg your pardon
with all my heart.
"Oh, that's all right. said Town
send, much embarrassed They re just
two old women found out about The
daughter makes neckties, and she has
to deliver them at shop in the square
every day at o'clock. so if | can stay
with the mother while she's out she can
keep her JOB. you see Then it saves
her some trouble if the old woman has
her supper while she's gone, 1t amuses
me, too he added rather shamefacedly
Allen never told Townsend who had
been his companions in the reconnoiter-
ing expedition, but it was not hard to
guess at some of them Chadwick came
to Townsend the next day with
81 say I've got some money here
that got the other night-no matter
how-and don't like to keep it. Do
you know any poor people that it would
help?'
And Morton, who had cut several
recitations for the purpose of going into
Boston to make some purchases, brought
him big bundle Of silks, saying
"Old man. Allen tells me that you
know a woman who makes neckties.
Will you get her to make me up some
out of thesei Pretty. aren't they3' he
added sheepishly.
And Grimston, who was fond of an
tiquities. implored him whenever they
met to "render a song to try men
souls. Mabel Shipper Clarke in Ma
tional Magazine