Norwich bulletin., 1910-04-30
(Written for rms BuIletin.)

Crampton is not only a city of ter races, but q valley of p1anes- social, industrial. tholoGicaL Within its va-. existence as there are individuals to live on them; each individual uncou- scdously creating his own Like every other town, small or large, Crampton
 is the world itself in miniature Ir you live on the edge of the village green. Old Champion will seem to you love- ly cosy-dosey New England town, in- expressibly dear and biossomy and sweet, but one from which the glory has departed. but still and sleepy and slumberoa1s, and not likely ever to Waken out of it's long nap of one hun- dred years and more If you are pros porous and more or less newly rich and live on the avenue to you Crompton will mean arching elrns and close- clipt lawns, respectable houses with all the most modern improvements, includ- ing the garage, tennis courts, gardens, conservatories. saddle horses, autonso- biaes, afternoon teas. and dressing for dinner. On the other hand, if you live in the deep hollow under the brow Of the hill, Crampton will mean the busy lage that feeds the avenue-A big noisy factory. the deafenins roar of ma chinery, the changing of a factory bell daily toll from seven to six with pay tering about the streets of a summer evening, or being one of a -coupIe" on a stone wall under the shade of a friendly tree, with the one you expect live farther down, close to the river, if you are very, very poor. and too old to work, and are helped by the town, then Champion will mean to you one little dark room underground, base ment tenement, which you share with water rats from the river, a weekly or- der for food from the corner grocer, whoever he may be,never quite enough to eat, never quite enough coal or wood to cook with and keep you warm too, never anything to wear. except when some war-Worn, moth-eaten garment IS flung at you, or you can pick two soleless shoes. misf1ts, off the dump. It will mean not only hunger and cold, but rheumatism and tuberculosis, with friendlessness and utter loneliness; and then-weH, prehaps then you might be tempted to swallow few drops of the something ''comfortin' !" you know; even you
 A friend of mine lives in the Crampton that means all this. When I first met her. the day we introduced ourselves to each other. she was la boriously making her way from door to door, trying to sell topical songs; little, foolish, hfgh-coIored five and ten By the time she appeared at my Ixitch- en door she had walked miles, she was pale and breathIess, bent with weari- ness, and so old she looked hundred. bought two or three of her book lets (for kindling); then made her sit by to a cup of tea and bite of lunch, and after she was warmed and fed she told me her story A sick husband too old to work. an only son dead years ago in his youth, her own efforts to earn. the years when she had served as cook and housemaid in good families. and later had gone out by the day as charwomans-it was the old, old story, ending as such stories, always end, with, And pow. mem, I'm too old to york; We have been friends from that day. Several times let her do little light houseclean- ing, and she did it we'll I never knew a more conscientious worker. But even this was too much for her strength, and after I proved it to her, she permitted me to do the little I could for her without protest She comes to see me often, and sits in the kitchen rocker resting her tired old feet, and tells me of the days when