The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-30
AN OLDMAID'S
$4,000.
BY M, QUAD
Copyright. 1911, by Associated Lit
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1911, by Associated Lit
erary Press.


went five years better Sarah had al
ways. lived alone and on what she
could earn at sewing. She did go to
church, and there was n legend that
once upon time she attended Sun
day school picnic, but she was by no
means a high fller.
the chance to marry had not come to
her. She had never complained of her
poor earnings and poor living. Ii any
one eondoled with her she sighed a
sigh or two and let it go at that. She
didn't even hope for a change for the
better as far as any one knew.
Then, after years and years, Sarah's
day dawned A relative died and left
her a cold $4,000 in cash. 1t made
her the richest person in the village.
1t brought her hundreds of congratula-
tons and good wishes, but to all in
quiries as to what she was going to
do with her money she said she must
have time to think 1t over. When she
had been given fortnight she was
ready. She announced that she was
going to have good time on her
money, and she started right In.
Sarah had always wanted bottle of
ketehup. Now she bought one. She
had longed for a rocking chair for
twenty years. Now she paid SO for
one and sat up long after her usual
bedtime to rock back and forth. Then
came a pair of tan shoes, then new
looking glass. then brown stockings
where she had always worn black. She
stopped there to count her money, and,
finding that she had about $9980 left,
she was encouraged into other extrav-
agances Then she suddenly developed
what the villagers called streak"
Her minister, who had heard of her
reckless expenditures. called to sound
note of warning. but bumped up
against a bit of obstinacy totally I'M
looked for. He had once invested half
thing, and, though he had lost it, he
claimed to be business man. He
was going on to tell Sarah that she
must do so and so when she interrupt
ed to say that she felt herself entirely
competent to handle her money.
Then a second streak was developed.
The old maid announced that she was
going to have a good time with her
cash In spite Of warnings and argu
ments and protestations she set off for
Boston and took the best rooms at the
best hotel. She ate of fried oysters,
Holsters and crabs. She drank wine
and tipped walters. She rode in taxis
and attended theaters.
She next went to New York city and
her performance in Boston.
only more so. She became acquainted
with a so called count, and he swim
died her out of $1,000 The fact got
into the papers. and when she got
home she found that special prayer
meeting had been held on her account. |
~ am sorry you went TO the trouble"
she said to her minister
"But you needed it, Sister Johnson"
"Well, | don't know ] always want
ed to know counts and lords and dukes, |
and I've got off for $1,000 where more
than 200 American women have paid |
several millions each. Ii is plain to be
seen, parson, that you are no business |
man."
Sarah took fier in corn. She did |
Ii without advice and lost 1t. though /
she might have lost 1t just the same |
had every resident of the village adj !
vised The news stirred up the VII
Iage again, but Sarah was complacent, |
even smiling. II all belonged TO
good time, she said TO ALL Then she
that she was going to Eu-
rope. She was member of church.
and now some of the other members
raised the question of "churching"
her. The majority weren't quite clear
IN the matter, however, and nothing
was done. Sarah took in Europe for
six months. She ate of everything
here was TO eat, and she saw all there
was TO see. She had a maid, and she
bought her clothes in Paris. She knew
hat her money was being rapidly ex-
but she did not pinch on that
account. 1t thus came about that
when she once more landed In her
native village the sum of $3.50 repre-
'ented her original $4,000.
Did Sarah Johnson collapse at the
lepot? Did tears blind her as she en-
cred her little weather beaten cot
age? Did she SIT down on the floor
ind bewail and wish she hadn't done
{? oh, no. Sarhh WASH that kind
# an old maid. Sue sat doSn in her
ocking chair and thought of the good
lines she had had and smiled and
macked her lips. Her minister was
he first to call 1t may be that he
lad the heather In mind If he didn't
he woman did. The last of her for
une was in silver. She selected a
fifty cent piece and extended il with /
he observation: ,
For the heather. parson."
"But-but"- !
ut is all can give, and l give it
With cheerful heart"
"Sister Johnson. do you mean to tell :
ne you have squandered your &c., I
COZ" !
II have about SO left"
IL can't conceive of i'll I can't
anti d
"0h. it's easy enough. 1t costs money J
D have a good time. and / have had
!. Please send the money to the
eathen. and IL your wife has any