The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-11-09

By 7. L: Harbour.
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w died, his wife, to use
her own words, stepped
right into his shoes. Four days after
her husbands death, Mandana Doane
harnessed Old Tod, her husbands big
bay horse, hitched him to the cart con-
tanning the tinware and began her ca
reer as tin-peddler. Two hours later
she halted in front OF my rather
house. When my mother and sisters
went out 10 ths~art, Mrs. Doane, VINO
had the reputation Of being IAN awful
talker." gave free rein TO her tongue,
and said:
Eyes, I'm going TO take Dawes place
and go right on with the tin-peddlng
business. | know that 1t amt common
for women to go trailing over the coun-
try with tin-peddling outfit, but that
no reason why / shouldn't do IT, I've
got no children 10 keep me at nome
ana | have my own living to make. I've
often gone with Dave on his trips, and
/ know just how he bought and how ne
sold. and | don't see any reason why
folks shouldn't be as willing TO buy OF
me as of him, long as ] behave myself
and sell as cheap as he sold It's per
fectly respectable and honest business,
and feel better when I'm out OF doors.
Maybe some folks will talk about It,
but they can't say anything bad II they
tell the truth, and lies don't hurt any
body"
"Of course not" said my mother
81 don't know OF any other way TO
earn a living; and there's no good rea-
son why | shouldn't earn living this
way: so here | am, ready FOR business.
Fetch ont your rags, II you have any
YOU want TO trade for tnware or get
your pocketbook IL you want to buy for
cash. | have some good brooms, aud a
small but good stock OF crockeryware.
MY mother bought a broom and a
couple of tinpans, and Mrs. Doane went
on her way, saying at parting
'I'H be back this way in about three
weeks. intend to stock up with a
lot of new things when | get over to
Clay Center"
Three weeks from that day, Mandana
Doane again drew rein in front OF our
house. We were at the dinner table
when we saw her driving up the dusty
road, and father said to me:
GO out and put up her horse. We
must have her eat dinner with us
"Of course | will" said Mrs. Doane,
when the invitation had been given. j
said TO jamie as drove up to the house,
i hope to the land they will invite us
to dinner, for | am as hungry as bear
jamie didn't say anything but | know
that she hoped so, too"
jamie was a stranger to us. She was
scrawny, timid looking little girl,
about thirteen years old, who sat up on
the wagon-seat beside Mrs. DOane. She
had on "A faded blue and white calico
dress. a pink apron and an old straw
hat with soiled green ribbon, Her
bare. brown feet showed below her
scanty dress. She was n homely little
girl except for pair Of big eyes with
wonderfully appealing look in them.
at was her eyes that fetched me,
Mrs. Doane explained to my mother,
when they were washing the dishes to-
gether and jamie was looking for the
wild strawberries that grew at the edge
OF the orchard back Of the house. Il
got her OF the poorhouse over in Hoar.
| stopped there to dicker with Jake
Black and his wife, who run the poor
house now, and this girl came out into
the yard. Jake spoke SO sharp and
ugly TO her and his wife gave the child
such black look that | felt sorry for
the poor young one. The Backs are
tartars, anyhow. They don't treat any
of the town poor decent, and they went
out Of their way TO be ugly to jamie
Carter. When | got TO Zoar Center,
made some inquiries about the girl
from one Of the selectmen | know over
there and the upshot of IL all was that
/ got him and the other sclectmen ia
give me paper authorizing me to take
the girl away from the poorhouse on
my way back You know what | did
that for?"
Simply because you are always do
ing kind deeds, replied my mother.
"Shucks! ain't, either! I'm hun.
dred and eighty-seyen and hall
pounds of pure sellishness. had q sell
fish object in taking that girl out OF
ner found driving over the country
by myself an awful lonesome piece o
business Sometimes the houses ar,
three miles apart. And like some on,
to talk to. just made up my mint
TO take that child out OF the poorhouse
She has no father or mother, or no on,
else that cares for her. She hasn't haC
anything but abuse since she was borr
poor little thingl"
Mrs. Doane wiped the tears from he
eyes before adding:
THAT child had been so abused sh
would dodge every time | lifted m!
hand. The first day she was with m
she let q teacup fall and broke tn
handle of, and she began TO whimpe
and beg me not TO beat her with tin
wagon whip. AS II would beat he
with anything! She'd start up in he
sleep, and scream and say. oh, don
whip me any more! please DON'T Sh
seemed TO expect me to beat her
dozen times a day. And she's the aw
fullest coward in the dark, beCaus
shes been scared TO Geath and told al
sorts OF wicked stories about the dark
ness. Sometimes we have been out a
late as nine at nightAand that chill
would onuggle up 10 me and shiver an
cry out ~ every little sound. or at a
owl boo-hooinF It's a burning sham
90 treat a child so"
Indeed il is!" said my mother hear
sly.