You've omitted the most important item.

Abingdon--and every country town, I suppose--ships off her young people--to New York; to the factories; a few to the West.

That is why Abingdon is the saddest place I've ever seen.

Every farmhouse holds a tragedy.

The young folk-- "They are all gone away; The house is shut and still.
There is nothing more to say." Mary Selden stopped; she looked up at her companion thoughtfully.
Seashell colors ebbed from her face and left it almost pale.
"Thank you for reminding me," she said.