The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-06-11
Icopyrlght, 1903


About the time there was an escape
from the asylum ait Petersboro Farmer
Eregg's sister widow, came for
slsit Mrs. Gregg proposed that they
make q match between the widow and
Deacon Watkins, and he was Invited
10 call. One afternoon the farmer and
his wife set out for town, leaving then
guest all alone. This was the after
noon selected by Deacon Watkins for
his call.
There were reasons why the deacon
arrived at the Gregg homestead in a
rather excited condition. lie was kick
ed BY one OF his cows Just before leav-
ing home. one OF the hogs got caught
In the fence and had to be released, Il
stray bull that he encountered In the
road ran him up wild cherry tree,
and IN some Of the adventures be lost
a jackknife that used to belong TO his
grandfather. He was therefore more
on less perturbed when he knocked at
the kitchen door and then entered to
find the widow asleep in the room be-
yond. He had turned to retreat when
she awoke and uttered scream at
sight Of him. she had been dreaming
of that escaped lunatic. She had
dreamed that he had his fingers on her
throat and was choking her to death,
and here he was before her! The dea-
r.,4v r,,vtkfovad T,fa =, ~ orA a.. a,,eInn<,-
and the widow sat up. She had read
and heard a great deal about lunatics
and how they should be treated. This
one didn't look very fierce. but she
must be careful not to arouse him.
she must be soft and gentle and dis
senbling. Therefore as soon as she
could catch her breath she smilingly
asked the deacon II he wouldn't sit
down. He replied that he would and
did. He didn't ask for the Greggs.
Notseeing them about, he inferred that
they had gone to town.
The widow had been told always to
look mad dog or lunatic in the eye.
AS she kept her eyes on the deacon she
read cunning, craft and cruelty in his
face, and she realized that her life was
at stake. 1t was rather embarrassing
for the caller, but he talked about In
dians, Canadian thistles, potato bugs
and the weather and grew more at
ease as the minutes slipped away. On
her part the widow tried to be as en-
pertaining, but 1t was hard work. The
fear was constantly present that the
iunatic would suddenly break out and
rcnd her LIMB by limb. She was
hysterical, but she didn't cease to
smile When the deacon finally got
around to tell her Of his trials and mis-
fortunes be found sympathetic listen
er. She had read that she must al
ways pretend to sympathize with the
insane, and she made the effort of her
life. by and BY her caller went fur
Their He said that when his dear com
panion died be made up bis mind never
to marry again, but 1t was possible
that he would change his mind IL he
met the right party. 1t was lonesome
living all alone and having no one to
pet. II was 50 lonesome that some
times he went cut and sought the com
partnership Of the oxen.
The widow had been told that she
must seem to agree with lunatic, and
she heaved sigh and replied to the
deacon BY saying that when she had
laid ner Joseph meath the weeping
willow she thought the light had gone
out forever. Time had assuaged her
grief and caused her to change her
mind. She had come to feel that per-
haps it was even her duty to marry
again. She could cook, wash, bake,
iron, make soft soap and all kinds Of
preserves, and for three years running
her crazy quilts and rag carpets had
taken first prizes ait the county fair.
The deacon then limited that by hard
work and industry he had accumulated
about $1,000 worth of property. The
widow saw bis object and stated that
her Joseph left her about that amount
and she had increased it somewhat,
As a matter of fact, she lied about It,
but she had read that one must always
lie to Iunatics, and she didn't propose
to provoke the one before her.
Deacon Watkins became interested.
He admired. He would come again
II his lost relict was to be replaced,
Indiana should have a fair chance in
the race. He liked that smile. He
liked that chatter. He liked q woman
that could hustle with the homework
and knew by instinct when q boiled
dinner was ready to put on the table.
he got up to 60, and the widow felt
that her life was saved. He fingered
with his hand on the back of his chair,
and her throat CONSTRUCTED He might
or might not have taken his leave as
soon as he had finished telling her that
he thought ailing humanity ought to
drink more catnip tea when steps were
heard outside A hog buyer and tin
peddler had arrived in chorus. The
widow cried, "Come inr' and they
came, but the instant they entered she
cried something else. Pointing to the
deacon, she half shrieked:
Secure hint He is an escaped lu-
natic"
Then the deacon was thrown on his
back and tied up with the clothesline
md threatened with death, and, though
he suffered and stammered. no atten-
ton was paid to him. He was bum
died into the drover's cart and logged
over to the asylum, and It was only
then that any attention was paid to his
remarks. When the Greggs returned
ma found out what had happened the