The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-14

Old John Mcnnce was a small. very
small woman and land owner. He had
acquired acres in this manner. The
road was turned in 1918, amt no sooner
was il turned than he hedged in the
old track and appropriated II, Former,
" every highway had broad spaces OF
turf on each side for The accommoda-
tion of drovers, VINO could pasture their
cattle on these stretches on their way
to fair and market Now John Mounce
not only enclosed the old road with its
side stretches of turf but he also took
in y good deal Of the land on the side OF
the new road. and no man forbade HIM.
Indeed, squatters other than he d!d the
same. There was likewise an adjacent
common. and John Mouncc annexed un-
rebuked n portion of this also. He had
house. not a mes cottage, by the
highway. But John Mounce got into
difficulties in his old age by entering
into a law suit, and when he died he
left to his sole surviving child, Rebec-
ca, his house and his debts. so that most
of the land went TO the creditors and
his daughter had little or nothing left
10 her but the house. a tiny orchard.
and cabbage garden.
I believe that Rebecca had an afalre
de couer with the son of a farmer near
by, bui when the young man found how
badly lef, she was, he broke on the
engagement Whether it was this dis
appointment, or her pecuniary losses, or
both together, or whether a vein of SIN
gularlty were in her from birth, can
not say; but Rebccca thenceforth be
came a character of some note aud
much comment in the neighborlood.
She never had another attachment,
and lived on alone in her house till the
catastrophe, which | shall relate by
and bye.
How she lived, on what she lived, for
something like thirty-five years ] am
unable to say, for my connection with
the neighborhood was interrupted,
When / returned she was more Of a
mystery than before She did not go
out charring, she had no oSicnslble
means of livelihood. Yet she always
had some money, and once a week went
to the village, and paid coin down for
her bread.
1t was said, with how much truth I
cannot say. as | was never invited 10
share in one of her meals, that she col
lected slugs and snails. and out of them
produced an appetizing soup in which
she stepped her bread. Al one time she
kept 8 pig, but when | came TO renew
acquaintance with her after thirry-ive
years. she had none. for the roof of the
pig-stye had fallen in. Her apples and
cabbaees certainly formed the staple Of
ntT ulti. u oT Itd Sne WIS eHIlTtIN III
debted 10 the parson s wife, and to 9TH
er kind ladies who pitied her.
She brewed poppywine, and would
offer it to anyone whom she favored.
She brought il out once for me, very
nasty stuff it appeared to be. but I put
it to my lips, and had a sip. "There
now said she, "you re not proud as
others be. There was a young lady here
t'other day as burst out laughing when
| presented her with glass of my wine,
and / threw the contents in her face
and spoiled her bonnet AS for YOU
] shall pray for YOU night and day, be-
cause YOU tasted my poppy wine. -
The rector's daughter was favorite
and to her one day she brought out a bit
of really beautiful lace and presented
il To her. But as the young lady was
retiring with the lace, Rebecca called
after her, ''Come back ] want my
lace.
But, Becky, YOU gave it to me. -
And ! have given IT to scores Of
others. we nothing else to give, and
| want the lace for a score of others. -
One day, IN confidential mood she
talked of her early engagement to Joe
Turniturve. "Ah,' said she. and her
wild eyes flashed; ''Joe thought | was
not good enough for he, when the law
yers came and took away my land. At
ter that he never throve He had no
stomach for his meat. He grew listlcss.
ind couldn't t work on the farm He