St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-01-25

The captain nodded
Yes be answered.; you're truth
tellin' chap. Bailey I'll say that for
you. You don't exaggerate your state
ments."
Hard of hearin'r' snapped Mr.. It'd
dit IF the last trump amt a steam
whistle she'll miss Judgment day III
stop into Simmons on my way along
and buy you a bottle of throat balsam.
Cy You're goin to need it"
The captain needed more than throat
balsam during the fortnight which fol-
lowed The Widow Beasley's deafness
was not her only failing. In fact, she
was altogether a failure so far as her
housekeeping was concerned She could
cook after fashion. but the fashion
was so limited that even the bill of
fare at the perfect boarding house
looked tempting in retrospect
Baked beans again. CyP' exclaimed
Asaph. dropping in one evening after
supper. .'''Tain't Saturday night so
soon, is it?"
mo-" was the dismal rejoinder.
ITS Tuesday, If my almanac amt out
and they amt all gone yet, so | pre-
sumo wen have 'em till the last ones
swallowed. Aunt Debby's got what
the piece in the Reader used to call a
frugal mind She don't intend to
waste anything. Last Thursday /
spanked up courage enough to yell for
salt fish and potatoes-fxed up with
pork scraps. you know. same's we used
to have when / was boy. We had
'em, all right, and if beans of Satur
day hadn't been part of her religion
we'd be warmin' 'em up yet. L took
in cat for company t'other day, but
the critters run away. To see it look
at the beans in its saucer and then at
me was pitiful / felt like handin'
myself over to the cruelty to animal
foIks''
'1s she neat?" inquired Mr.. Tidditt.
81 don't know. l guess soon the
installment plan. 1t takes her a week
to scrub up the kitchen, and then one
end Of it is so dirty she has to begin
again; consequently the dust is so
thick in the rest of the house that /
can see my tracks. If 'twan't so late
in the season I'd plant garden stuff in
the parlor-nice soil and lots of shade
with the curtains down."
From the rooms in the rear came
the words of a gospel hymn sung in
a tremulous soprano and at concert
pitch
Music with my meals, just like a
high toned restaurant" commented
Captain Cy.
yInf QI-n H1rp SIN
lastin loud?''
Cant hear herself if she don't.
could stand her deefness, because
that's an affection, and we may all
come to it, butt
The housekeeper, still singing, en-
tered the room and planted herself in
a chair.
Good evenin', Mr. Tidditt." she said,
smiling genially Nice weather we've
been havin'''
Asaph nodded.
'Sociable critter, amt she!" observed
the captain. Always willin to help
entertain Comes and sets up with me
till bedtime. Tells. about her family
troubles. breaches about her niece
out west and how set the niece and
to have her make EN- a visit. told
her she better go-I thought 'twould
do her good. | know 'twould help me
considerable to see her start
''She's got so now she finds fault
with my neckties.'' he added Says
must be careful and not get my feet
wet Picks out what l ought to wear
SOS won't get cold. She'll adopt me
pretty soon. Oh. it's all right She
can't hear what you say. Are your
dishes done?' he shrieked, turning to
the old lady.
zone? One wfat?" inquired Mrs
Beasley.
''They won't be done till you go,
Ase," continued the master Of the
house. She'll stay with US till the
last gun fires. Tother day Angie Phin-
ney called, and l turned Debby loose
on her I didn't believe anything
could wear out Angles talkin' ma
chinery, but she did it. Angelina
stayed twenty minutes and then quit,
hoarse as a cow"
Here the widow Joined in the con-
rersation, evidently under the impress
she last spoke. Continuing her ia
vorable comments on the weather. she
observed that she was GLAD there was
SO little fog, because fog was hard for
folks with "neuralgy palms." Her
brothers wife's cousin had ''neuralgy''
for years. and she described his suf-
ferings with enthusiasm and infinite
detail. Mr.. Tidditt answered her ques-
tons verbally at first, later by mods
and shakes of the head. Captain Cy
fidgeted in his chair.
"Come on outdoor, Ase." he said at
last mo use to wait till she runs
down, cause she's a self winder. guar
anteed to keep goin' for a year. Good
night!'' he shouted, addressing Mrs
Beasley and heading for the door.
Where you goin'?'' asked the old
lady.