Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-04-21

finally, but we live in North America
too An that young one was maddeI
n fury.
"The state of Names just - the
state CT Maine Says she. or course
there's lots of places in it amt never
seen. an mebbc your North Americas
one of 'Cm. but | guess it's some
where's way down in Sagadahoc OF
AnGr'sccSgin If 'tis.' An then she
burst OF laughin' us pleasant as ever
Her tcripcr's always over in no time
She cl;mccd ont of the window from
time to time and spoke in Il cautious
undc"tCne.
"Thc funniest thing | ever heard OF
her sayin' WAS one day in Sabbath
school last winter. There was some
thin CT other in the lesson that made
the minister ask 'em who was the
strongest man that ever lived, an Elec
try piped right up before anybody else
could speak an called out:
"'Tom Reedv
at come so unexpected it pretty near
upset the minister, an. every boy in the
room begun to giggle.
"Im sure he is went on Electry,
lust as calm's a clock, for the Chron'
icle says he's been holdin' congress IN
the holer of his hand for the last eight
DAYS, an there amt another man livin'
could do it.
"Mr. bennett passed over 1t as well
as he could an took up the next ques-
ton, but some of them that was there
will have it that the superintendent
had to get off behind the door an
laugh it out all by himself.
81 often wish her father could have
lived" she went ON, her kindly face
growing grave. HE made perfect
idol of Elcctry. an she's just his
breathin' image. It's from him she
gets her likin' for music, an If there
was one thing in this world Noah
Barker d set his heart on twas buyin'
pianner for her an lettin' her have
the good of it while she was CROWN
up. OF course poor Emeline can't az
ford to do it now; but, after all. l don't
know as there's happier Hello
Electry, Back so soon"
Mother loves to swap work Win
Mis- Chesley." remarked Electra, trail
Ing a great spray Of goldenrod along
the path as they went out. 1T don't
make her back ache half so much, she
tells me, to wash Mis- Chesley's bakin'
dishes us it does to wash her own
The next house was at the end or Il
long stretch of rising ground which
left them somewhat breathless. 1t was
a pleasant looking place. with honey
suckle vines around the open front door
and fragrant, old fashioned flower beds
in the garden. Electra began to speak
in low and confidential tone as they
drew near it.
This is where the Burleighs live,
Miss Dorothy. Les go right by, as
easy as can be- Mis- Burleigh's just
killed man," in an awestruck wills
per. "an' mebbe she wouldn't want to
see us"
Electra
IL don't know but mother d tune me
for tellin' you, but she didn't say l
mustn't. Mis- Curtis was talkin' to
her about 1t last night, an set there
on the cricket studyin' about the arctic
circle. almost know mother remem
bered was there.
"Mis' Curtis told lots Of things about
this man. He was soldier. drum
mer In Mr.. Jordan Marsh's company,
she said. He felt sick on the train an got
off here at the middle depot. Mr.. Bur-
leigh see him there an brought him
home-him an all his drums, | guess y
At this point she hesitated, but con-
scious rectitude upbore her. There
was somethin' about fever's runnin.
l didn't quite get that. An then she
said: 4 reckon poor Mis- Burleigh's
done 1t now for herself. She's took all
the care of that Mr.. Smith for two
mortal weeks, an now see how It's
turned out. He wanted to be histed
I'D in bed this mornin'. Mr.. Burleigh
said, after she'd given him his medi
cine, an she went an put her hand un-
der the back of his head, an he was
gone in no time That's queer thing,
to kill man, amt 1t? Mis- Curtis
said she was q sick woman an all
wore out with him. s'pose that's how
she happened to do it. Now. there's
the soldiers home over to TOgus. Like
ly the poor thing would "a been better
off there"
They crossed the road involuntarily
and went by the house with an air Of
virtuous avoidance. but under the pop
lar trees beyond the barn Electra sud.
denly halted.
81 guess I amt never told you about
Harry Sylvester, Miss Dorothy. He
hasn't got only one leg but his mother
says he makes up for 1t in hands. l
can't ever see any eXtry ones. but OF
course she'd ought to know. Poor Mis-
Sylvester! She has things enough to
make her feel bad DR.. Gordon says
Harrys father was poorer n one of
Jobs cats when they first come here,
an now he's gettin' to be four handed
man. Seems as If somethin' kept hap
penin' to him all the time, don't It!
Now Harry's had his leg cut Off, an
prob'ly he'll be four handed. too, before
he gets through with 1t. was thinkin'
that p'raps Mis- Burleigh d send him
some Of them drums if anybody spoke
to her about it." her frank eyes full OF
sympathy.
"I'm afraid you don't quite under
stand about the drums at Mrs. Bur-
leigh's, DEAR" said Miss Wagner faint
ly. Suppose we sit down here by the
brook and rest awhile"
Everybody likes Mr.. Burleigh," re-
sumed Electra after according what
seemed to her sufficient time for q
graceful change of subjects.
Spring Humors