The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-04-18


wife came hack here M lived up what
little she had. After that there was
uo,llu' but The poortouse. Now. I've
always held pooraouse was stronger
lhan grave for hidln' folks"
Well, we viii ind her" eagerly
Perhaps she viii be able to give US
some assistance or advice. win you
80 with mc Mrs. Peryf"
The woman hesltated little. then
threw back her head with sudden de
elsion.
why, yes, don't mind n do.
/ Cynthia Bray was as much Of a lady
as anybody round, an don't know as
a poorhousc Il the worst thing In the
world, Still, while II want her fault
goln' there It's hardly to be expected
! folks VIII keep on visltin Just the
same as though she was IN some other
place"
blackboard paused in front Of the poor
house, and he and Mrs Perry allghted
/ Several men and boys Were slouching
( about the yard. and on bench near
the door were -four or five old women.
Mrs. Perry looked them over critically.
mot there" she declared concisely,
cynthia wouldn't grow to look like
them Wen 90 in"
In answer TO their knock a harsh
featured woman came to the door a
ring Of keys dangled from her waist
"Mis Bray3" she repeated In answer
TO their question, "Oh. Aunt Cynthia
we call her. No, she amt here; she's
inside You see, we have to get as
much work from the paupers as we
can Most Of them are lazy an no
count but now an then we find good
worker Aunt Cynthia's one, SO we
keep her in the kitchen, She scasely
ever gifts to this side o. the house. !
don't s'pose she's really had visitor
afore In five years. Won't you come
inT
They entered, and after long and
detailed account OF her trials with the
paupers the woman went through
door toward the back part of the
house. Another five minutes passed;
then a little old woman with bright,
deprecatory manner stole softly into
the room.
"Dld-did you wish to see mef' she
asked TREMENDOUSLY and little wonder
ingly.
Mrs. Perry sprang forward in quick
forgetfulness of the lmmeasurable dis
tance which lay between her social po
sition and the poorhouse.
'Why, you poor soul!' she cried sym
pathetlcally How old you've grown!
My hair amt begun to turn yet an
here yourn Is perfectly white, an still
| believe I'm two months the oldest"
Its been long time since you and
| were young, deary," answered the
old woman gently. "Such weary
time, II seems as If my hair was al
ways white" Then she colored with
sudden remembrance and drew herself
rs there anything you wanted me
for, Mrs. Perry-anything | can do for
your she asked.
Come, Cynthia, don't talk that
way" demonstrated Mrs Perry. "You
know farmers wives are always work
in, an'-an' it's a good piece from our
place TO the
"Poorhouse," said the old woman
calmly.
"Wel, yes, poorhouse," deprecating
ly. AN, besides, folks give up old
customs as they git on in years. !
don't call anywhere as much as | used |
to. But never mind that" briskly |
"Tm calm today, an I've brung the
minister. Do you know him|
II don't think I've had the pleasure |
of meeting Mrs Bray before" said the
rising, "and yet have call
ed here several times"
NO we haven't met" acqulesced the
old woman. Il generally stay in the
kitchen"
He held her hand for Il moment.
Il must acknowledge this visit is
mostly business one, Mrs. Bray he |
said, resuming his seat you see, ! |
am planning to have the church deco
rated for Easter, but the ladies' OF my
including Mrs. Perry |
here, assure me that such a thing is
utterly impossible-in short that they
cannot undertake the work and that
there are no flowers TO undertake II
with have come to you as a last re
sort. Can you.hclp meF
The old woman, who had not had
caller IN FIVE years, looked from one
to the other with sudden yearning In
her tender old eyes. 1t was as though
she questioned the possibility Of the
world still having use for her Then a
soft flush began to steal over her face.
at isn't easy to decorate without
anything 10 decorate with" she said |
Iremulnusly. "In the city we used to
have palms and Easter lilies and no
end Of ferns and delicate things TO
bank with
'Iut there are the woods" suggested
the minister desperately Il notice lots
of pretty things on my walks"
Yes, the woods are beautiful around
here IN the spring ! notice them from
The kitchen windows. and sometimes.
before anybody Is up take short
walks" Her hands were stlll trem-
bling but into her face was coming an
expression which Mrs Perry remem
bcred TO have belonged 10 her old days
before the long sitting experience Of
poofhouse seryIttde.
"Do YOU mean for me 70 take charge
Of the decorating" she asked, Ito do
II In my own payF
"Yes. but of course with plenty OF
help don't know much about ar
flowers myself"
He turned hastily and glanced
through the window. Something IN the
wistful, even rapturous expression on
the old womau's face made him lose
command Of himself for a moment
We'll shall need help IN gathering
the decOmtl0ns" she was saying as be
turned hack. There VIII be things ~
puf ANA hiring home and hoYps aft