She still has a weakness for hot
gingerbread and mince pie, and, though she is turned of seventy,
would walk a mile any afternoon with such an inducement.
Should any of my readers at any time visit the small town of
Sparta, and encounter in the street a little old lady dressed in
a brown cloak and hood, and firmly grasping in her right hand a
faded blue cotton umbrella, they may feel quite certain that they
are in the presence of Mrs. Mehitabel Payson, relict of Jeremiah
Payson, deceased.
Little Pomp has improved very much both in his studies and his
behavior. He now attends school regularly, and is quite as far
advanced as most boys of his age. Though he is not entirely cured
of his mischievous propensities, he behaves "pretty well,
considering," and is a great deal of company to old Chloe, to
whom he reads stories in books lent him by Frank and others.
Chloe is amazingly proud of Pomp, whom she regards as a perfect
prodigy of talent.
"Lor' bress you, missus," she remarked to Mrs. Frost one day, "he
reads jest as fast as I can talk.
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