Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-07-05

Good morning, Mis- Brigham So he
gone, poor man, and you're a wilder tC
day-and it gives a body a sort O. mike
feeling to think that it's a thing tina
might happen to anyone o Us. cNcep
Layiny here. she can't be a wildly won
an! But mebbe she is just as happy a
if she could be. ] amt one that's Away
a-thinking that a woman don't more1
half live unless she has a man to hurr,
her up to her work at sun-up. and hos
her all day-no, no! Sometimes
think that the old maids have the hes
of it all round, if they'd look at it right
Bat you've got a good deal to be thank
full for, considering that you've beer
married to a man; now you can begin
TO take some comfort, and YOU anC
Mari-Jane can do just as you're a minc
to, long as you live, if you keep clear OF
men folks. Have you got your pie
meat a-boilin yet? Seems TO me / smelt
it. l can stay and help you all day as
we'll as not, and twill be a change for
me. I'm tired o lookin at my back
fence. I amt hardly been out O. the
yard all winter"
There's no denying that moneys
handy and comforting at all times. but
more so at times like these" shifted
Deacon Jones wife, who had been
waiting to get in a v ord edgewise."
Mrs. Staples, too. had put away her
things herself" as neighbors do at
such times, taking it for granted that
their help and companionship are both
needed and welcome, and when Mrs.
Jones paused, she said: well. if YOU
and Mari-Jane are a-going to have as
much money as the men folks say YOU
be, you ought TO bloom out i'm pretty
good sort o. mourning for the funeral.
If the men are right, you hadn't ought
er buy anything less than good all
wool. And then, soon's you get to il.
should put a good, fair-priced stone
IN him, not very snowy, but pretty
heavy"
They wouldn't say so, II they had
heard Harris Brigham declare. as
many times as l have, that Mari-Jane
md l were sending him every day a
little nearer the poorhouse!" sobbed
he widow.
you've been kept in the dark, SOS
lie could keep on pinching you; now,
'ou listen TO me. l know what I'm
alking about, for I've had two hu;-
'ands, and men fair TO middling. too
mt men for all that! And / tell you
hat you may just as we'll begin 10
njoy your freedom to-day as neNt
'eek--for Brigham is just as dead
$ he will be after the funeral So
on just fax round and look up his
apers and find out where you can
ct hold of some ready money quick
ST. You may find a wallet full hid
p somewheres; there's my first hus-
and, who was, to be charitable 10 |
he dead, near If not mean with his
Ioney, and we found $50 wadded up ]
dirty paper in an inside coat
ocket! A regular tramp's wallet?
is, but he come of a family as DIFF
rent from folks as they could be.
I'd not been born with fur nor feath-
5 on 'em, Mis- Brigham, I'd
op sniv'lin' if I was YOU: we &
| know who and what old Brigham 6
as as well-nigh about, as you!
ou've kept at it pretty Study and I
I'VE done enough now to show re- a
ect to him that's dead and gone
to last till the funeral-unless 7
special should call TO sea !
IA! So, as ] say, brace up and find
It how much you're worth, if yos j
N, and tell me what YOU want e
oked up for the funeral supper. and
wv many you expect will CONS back u
ON the grave, to eat. Then tn 90 t
cad with the cooking, and my I
mil go 10 the village for anything
can't borrow round the neighbor- b
.od. For the lands salles alivel "
no is that coming up the lane? 1t b
1ks like-it can't be?"
Who could it be, to create such ex. n
emeRt? Even the widow and Mari II
ne hurried TO the window an, II
cred over their neighbors' Shout.
rs. y
Ma! Ma! It's Jiml Oh, I'm so G
Id, so glad!" and Mari-Jane started a
r the other door. u
Mrs. Brigham caught the hem Of
r daughters back breadths. as she II
ached the door, and pulled her =
edward so far that Mari-Jane's out "
etched hand could only nervouslv Il
mble the latch with her finger tips,
l not unlatch It'll D
'Mari-Jane! Remember that your =
won't have Jim Reed in this housed :,
can't hear his words now-'Never. "
lri-Jane, so longs I live, so helm me -
d.! oh, Mari-Jane, your pail make
awful row! I'll go an tell Jim ha
lst go right away, and well never
on to your pa that he's been here
late to see and hear your pa when
5 crossed in anything"
Mis- Brigham, Remember the.
u're now a free woman, an you've
longer got to 90 like a dog. when =
Rriwh1m eavs sE,fH - -. -.... I =