Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-01-04

The, she turned 10 the boy, who, hold
ing his carpet bag with both hahds'
siiu stood uneasily ON the mat While
TN. slim lady fidgeted In front OF him.
BRADLEY" said the plump lady-she
WAS dressed ia some sUrt OF black ma
terial that rustlel aud wore lsce col
Lar. lei earrings and a breasipin with
braided lock Of hair In the center OF II
-~Bradley. were real glad 10 see you
I'm Miss Priscilla; this is my sister.
Miss Temperance
YES. Bradley" conceded Miss
Tempy." were real glad 10 see you
She was the younger of the two ANA
vas gpwued in what the boy learned
Later was her brown pOplin.' Her
hair was not worn plain. like her Sis
tor's. but had a little bunch OF curls
over each ear She also wore hair
Lreastpin. but her earrings were gold.
Bradley shook the extended hands.
Miss Prissy's red and dimpled ana
Miss Tempy's thin and white. with
two old fashioned rings OH the fingers.
Won't you-won't yoI set DOWN.
veutered Miss Tempy after rather
awkward pause.
"Why. YES, Of course" said Miss
PriSsy. "and take your things right Off
do"
Bradley placed the carpetbag on the
corner of the mat and pulled off the
shabby Overcoat The jacket and
trousers beneath were also shabby, but
II was at his shoes that Miss Prissy
glanced. and. oddly enough, their con
dition served TO break the formality.
My goodness me,' she calculated.
Jest look at his poor feet. Tempy
Allen. Come right over TO the stove
this minute and take off those shoes.
They're Soppin' wet through"
NO ma'am,"' protested the boy.
"Thcy amt, honest They only look
So"
Don't tell me.' commanded Miss
Prissy. Go right over to the stove
this minute"
Bradley reluctantly obeyed, stepping
gingerly across the spotless oilclOth
and taking as long strides as possible.
1t did not add To his comfort to see
Miss Tempy shake the melting snow
into the center Of the rope mat. fold
the latter carefully together and dis
appear with ii into the kitchen,
Miss Prissy piloted him to the chlntz
covered rocker by the big alright"
stove Then she proceeded to unlace
the patched brOgans, commenting in an
undertone upon the condition OF the
stockings beneath,
Tin 'fraid," said Bradley feqrfully.
that I've got some snow water on
your floor. ma'am."
Don't say Il word. Thank goodness
your feet amt SO wet rs | thought they
was. put 'em right on the rail Of the
stove there while | % up TO the gar
ret and get those slippers of fathers.
I'll he right back"
She hurried out Of the room Just as
her sister entered it by the other door.
"Now. set right still" said Miss Tenn
by, bustling about with the stelming
teakcttle in her hand. I'm goin' to
make you some pepper tea. There's
nothin' in the world like pepper tea
when you're likely II catch cold"
Pepper tea" was a new prescription
for the boy ava he watched with inter
est while Miss Tempy turned some
milk into howl flooded it with boil.
Ing water. aldcl spoonful VI sugar
and vigorously shook the pepper box
over the mess.
There" she said. "Now. drink that.
every drop. Amt YOU hungry
Bradley. with tears in his eyes. the
result Of the first swallow of peprer
tea, gaSpingly protested that he wasn't
hungry. not very The sight and smell
Of the loaded supper table were so
temptin: that the denial was rather
half hearted
Not very. When did you have any
thing to eat lastE"
mfr. Battlett-he's the s'lcctman nj
Wellmouth-gave me a sandwich at
the depot fore | started. ma am. and |
bought turnover at Harniss."
My sakes! Prissy''-to her sister.
who came rustling in-'he hasn't ct Il
thing bat sandwich and IL turnover
W.
TO the table. Bradley, and set down.
As the boy ate he looked about the
room. 1t was big ROOM with Il low
ceiling spotlessly whitewashed The
olicloth on the door was partially Gov
cred with braided rag mats with car
pet centerS. On the window shades
We're wonderful tinted pictures of cas-
ties and mountains. The table was
black walnut. and there We're five rush
seated chairs, each in its place against
the wall and looking as if it were glued
there. The sixth of the set he occu-
pied. Then there was the chntz GOV.
cred rocker and another rocker painted
black, with worn picture of ship at
sea on the back. There was another
snip over the face of the tall wooden
CLOCK III the corner. This craft was
evidently the Flying Dutchman, for
every time the clock licked it rolled
heavily behind fence of tin waves
out didn't advance an inch. On tina
walls were several works of art. in
GLIDING spatter work motto, wreath
made of seashells under glass and
an engraving showing Il boat tilled
with men, women and children rowec
by solemn individual in his shir,
sleeves, moving over Il placid sheet O,
WAFER toward an unseen port.
"Cap'n Titromb." remarked Bradley
whose baShfulness was wearing or
came over in the coach with me to-
night"