Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-04-01
By Lucille Lowell.

RON wooden fOOtstOOl. They
We're sewing on a long, straight gray
garment
Somebody's always had to bring up
Jane Anne Leach's sewing" Mrs.
Thomas remarked a smile broadening
her face.
You couldn't expect woman to
sew on her own shrOud," Mary Martin
observed, pensively.
mot afterwards" Mrs. Thomas re-
turned, dryly. "Still, there amt many
that wouldn't have had something laid
by besides magenta barege and a
Powered muslin. But not Jane Amer
.'She spoke to me about 1t that last
afternoon" said Mrs. Martin, mildly.
"Sald she'd been meaning for some
time to sort of plan it out; that she
had plenty to do with, only hadn't
got about it,"
Mrs. Thomas smiled again, under
standingly, but not disagreeabIy. "Oh,
yes" she said. "Jane Anne always
had a plenty'-plenty Of everything"
After all, what we're making up
was her own clOthw
Mrs. Martin spoke with gentle heat
You needn't snap me up So" Mrs.
Thomas said, cOolly. Il had a soft
spot for Jane Anne, same's you had.
But you know as well as you want to
that she was all arson nothing"
II don't know as I'd call it airy"
Mrs. Martin said, with wavering de-
tiance.
That's what call it," retorted Mrs.
Thomas. Now take that night ten
years ago, when l went over to Jane
Anne's and found her rocking and
looking on while Louisa Morse was put
ting her poor old buds into trunk.
Louisa she says, I wouldn't put
that light delaine on the bottom; it
muses. awful easy. It's seen its best
days, but it looks nice by lamplight,
and I may want to dress up some even
ings.'
You spea.. s if you were going
away says.
am s'she, but didn't tell where.
Il kind O. wondered, same s anybody
would, for l knew she'd no money for
travelling. and that none OF her folks
had any to give her, so finally 1 asked
her. She didn't answer right off, and
her head went down. Then she perked
up.
My medical adviser has been tell
ing me for long time that needed n
change, and I've decided TO take one,'
s'she.
Where are you goingY / asked.
"She sort o. hesitated. Pm going to
the poOrhouse tomorrow she says,
then frightened up. L do hope you'll
come and see me SOON she says.
You'll most always find me, and I'd be
so glad to see you, Lucy
IF that wasn't airyw challenged
Mrs. Thomas. DO you suppose any
body else would call going to the poor
house "a change"
Jane Anne could have gone to her
Cousin Heman's," Mrs. Martin said.
quickly, but" with unconscious irony,
"she preferred the poorhouse."
Il don't blame her; Heman's wife al
ways was a terror" Mrs. Thomas has.
tened to say. II never felt above Jane
Anne. We went to school together,
and her folks were as good as anybody
once. 1t wasn't that. But somehow
she always hit my funny-bone."
"She didn't hit NINE" said Mrs. Mar
tin, reddenlng.
What" Mrs. Thomas lively coun-
tenance expressed amusement and sur
prise. "Not when we called Mt the
poorhouse to see her, and she asked IL
we wouldn't like to meet Mrs. Peter
son. who had Just arrived|"
"NO."
"Nor that time when she said she
thought little music would be pleas
mt, and had in old Joe Jennings to
play 'Ye Banks and Braes' on his
mouth Organ?'
mo-
"NOr that afternoon when Louisa
took over the blanc mango, and Jane
Anne sent some up TO that weak mind
I'd Scott girl, that they always kept in
he garret when there was visitors,
with Miss Leach's compliments? Miss
Scott was not feeling quite as well as
usual size said. Now, don't you call
hat little mite AiryY
II call it fine manners"
80 do l too fine!'
Mary Martin raised her fine, woman.
y eyes to her companions face, then
dropped them frightened. IL admired
lane Anne-and envied her." she said,
softly.
"Enyied her? With all you've gotr'
'l've got things, but 1 amt en-
lowed. Jane Anne was. I'd give !
everything 1 possess If 1 could stand
tut OH my front steps and ask people
N the way she could"
"She did make you feel kind of
pleased with yourself and everybody |
Use" Mrs. Thomas admitted.
They stitched on silently for q while, |
hen Mary Martin spoke with the au-
bority of shy woman reused.
''lf Jane Anne seemed airy 10 you" |
he said, sit was because you couldn't |
zee her without her mean surround
nGs. | could
Il never claimed 10 have q fancy i'm
lglna tom Mrs. Thomas TetOrted. |
And | never knew you had"
s. Jane Anne was never where she'd !
'ught to have been" Mary continued.
I've always thought that like as not
Ter rlghtful place in the world was
HE'D by some woman without single
'retty way or lively thought. And she
must have known all her life how
much better she could have done than