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New England Chattels; Or, Life In The Northern Poor-house
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| 1828 | "Why it is simply here, Captain," said Savage -- "when you find any of the folks gone, you feel it your duty to inquire after them, don't you?" | |
| 1829 | "To be sure." | |
| 1830 | "Yes; and so you inquired, as usual, about Mrs. Dodge?" | |
| 1831 | "To be sure." | |
| 1832 | "Yes; and so you would inquire for Tucker, or any of them?" | |
| 1833 | "To be sure." | |
| 1834 | "And if you are around about, if it comes handy, you inquire of strangers?" | |
| 1835 | "Oh, yes, to be sure." | |
| 1836 | "I thought so. Well, now, Mrs. Dodge, she went away and didn't come back -- and you couldn't hear any thing of her?" | |
| 1837 | "Just so, sir." | |
| 1838 | "Why, it is as clear as daylight, gentlemen," said Mr. Savage, "that Captain Bunce is O.K. He's an upright overseer -- a very careful, conscientious man in his contract." | |
| 1839 | "Well, gentlemen, what's to be done?" inquired the Squire. "I think, on the whole, it must be Mrs. Dodge, and that she wandered off last winter as was stated, and got into the snow. Think so. Haddock?" | |
| 1840 | ""We think it altogether probable," answered Mr. Haddock. | |
| 1841 | "Oh! there ain't any doubt of it," said Savage. "She's been gone, it seems, and couldn't be found all winter. Now, the spring has set in, up she turns, froze to death, and covered up in one of these d deep snows. Who in thunder could expect the old lady to come to light till the snows left? And so, it's all right and nat'ral, here she is." | |
| 1842 | This harangue of Savage's, which set out the case in a very vivid, life-like manner -- in striking brevity of style, after the usual terseness of earnest men, in right earnest ways of speaking -- was a perfect settler of the whole matter to the overwhelming conviction and satisfaction of both the Squire and the Captain; and it was ordered that Captain Bunce, accompanied by Mr. Savage, should go over to A , and if they found it the body of Mrs. Dodge -- the lamented and diligently --searched for, late a pauper of Crampton, and once the belle of Crampton -- they were to fetch it home, and as soon as might be, consistent with funeral proprieties, give it a (Christian) pauper's burial! | |
| 1843 | * * * * * | |
| 1844 | A dull, heavy tread -- a slowly moving vehicle -- wearied, jaded horses -- a heavy, lead-like load -- and the team draws up at the side entrance of the poor-house in Crampton. | |
| 1845 | "It is best. Captain -- altogether best, as you say," remarked Mr. Savage. "They would be terribly shocked if the body were carried in and kept over night. It is now four o'clock. Let the folks come out and see the corpse. Send word to have the minister meet us at the grave -- which is dug, I presume, by this time, for I told Whuggs to have one ready -- and let her be buried to-day." | |
| 1846 | "By all means," said the Captain. | |
| 1847 | Mr. Haddock was sent for, and counselled delay; but they out-voted him. And the poor folks came out as they best could to see their old companion, who had in this singular manner gone to her last abode. They were struck with the naturalness of the features, and with the very smile that the old lady usually carried about with her when she was pleased, and in her sociable moods. They all affirmed at once to the identity of the corpse, and in due time a little procession moved on -- and on -- and on -- towards the last old home that dying mortals, reaching, tarry in from generation to generation to the end. (7) (7) Woman Found Dead. -- The body of an elderly woman was found in the woods close by Three-Cornered Pond, in the south part of Granby, on Sunday. From appearances, she had been dead several months: the body had been covered with snow. A basket, and some small change, was found beside her. She was apparently an American woman, and may have been a pauper. An inquest was held, and the verdict was in accordance with the facts. From her dress, basket and bundle, it is believed she was Mrs. Lattimer, of Simsbury, who has been missing since last October. This supposition is strengthened by the fact that Mrs. L. was last seen in October near this spot, in a partially bewildered condition, endeavoring to find her way to Simsbury from her place in Granby, where she had been kept with some of the town poor. -- Hartford Times. April 1st, 1857. | |
| 1848 | * * * * * | |
| 1849 | Gathered around their cheerless fire, the lessening band shivered and paled before the striking testimony of their own dreams. | |
| 1850 | "Ah," said Mag, "I once was heedless about them. I didn't believe a word of them. I laughed at them -- and now see how they're fulfilled!" | |
| 1851 | "Yes," said Mrs. Prescott, "she was married to the 'misty white gentleman,' the winter's flying snow; it fell over her as a blanket, and kept her safely. She slept calmly all the winter and suffered no more. And then was she not taken to the great wedding of the Lamb, to the great and crowded assemblage there? Oh! Mag, what a dream -- what a dream was that!" | |
| 1852 | "A dreadful, solemn one!" she answered. "Yes, I'm now and forever a firm believer in them. Aunt Joanna Dodge has undoubtedly got to heaven, where she is happy, and now, who knows -- who knows but the other dream will come to pass, eh?" And Mag walked up and down the room with folded hands. " | |
