Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-06-30
From tho Massachusetts Journal
AUNT BETTY.
1ErH IN a GqG]

Aunt Betty Saunders was maiden Ia
dy, tall, gaunt and stumbling in her fig
ure, with grisly locks, which she every
morning curled carefully with hot fork,
aud face that looked as if she were IAN
honest woman, and an honest woman like
to be- There is no accounting for human
yauity-it will feed on lighter food than the
camelon, and one can see through II as
easily as they can see through the emacla-
ted man Aunt Betty never received a
compliment in her life; but as her neigh
Dor, Captain Teazle said, 1T was obvious
the old fool thought herself we'll to look
upon, and altogether extraordinary agree
able. No love was lost between this cOu-
pie, for she was meddlesome, officlous
and prudjsh; and he was dogmatcal, sau-
cy and mischieyous. Aunt Betty's a.
partmeuts were separated from his only
by thin partition; and more than once
when Captain Tcazle had heard a distinct
breathing behind his elbow char, ho had
thrust the icathery end of his quill thro'
a knOt-h0le in the wall, aRd laughed loud
AMI long, when a start and an exclamation
from Aunt Betty. betrayed who was list
onng there. A stop was put to this game
10y the Captains using hot sIewer m
stead Of a feather. The old lady wore a
handkerchief round her head for many
DAYS after; and whenever the Captain saw
her, he asked in "a most provokingly com
passionate tone-'well Betty, how Is
your earache to-dayP Tho old lady
would glare at him for a minute, and then
spu round Indignantly on her high-heelcd
shoes, with a half grunt, half shrek, that
made the old man laugh tlll the house rang
again. But Aunt Betty, though she new
er beard any thing but abuse Of herself,
could not live without listening: and when
the summer evenings came, and the moon
was out of the way, she would often snug
ly casconce herself behind the Captains
open door. The keen eye Of her neigh
Dor soon discovered what was going on;
and YOU may be sure the ancient maiden
heard enough to cure her Of vanity and pa
tience the rest of her life. But as abuse
and indecency failed TO drive the intruder
of his premises, Capt. Tcazle next tried a
plentiful shower Of cold water. This had
the desired effect; Aunt Betty became as
afraid of the door-crack as she was Of the
kaol.holc in the wall.
Abont this time, the Captains bcd-rld-
den wife bsde him farewell, and he became
y wiJowcr. Notwithstanding the bot
sl,ewcr and cold water, and numerous
other proyocations too unseemly TO be
mentioned here, it Is certain that after this
event. Aunt Betty regarded her neIshbor
with kinder looks, and regarded his greet
ms ina milder tone. Nay, she became
convinced that his insOleut treatment of her
4 lad arisen entirely from deep love, which
during his wifc's lifetime had exaspcTaleG
him with is utter hopelcssness. i have
been told, said Betty, that lovers and
crazy people always treat those worst
whom they Ike best; and setting aside any
criminal prediction which tho Captain
may have had Tor me, always thought his
upper story little oul Of ORDER
This comforting belief was considera-
Big strengthened by the nisclheyous via,
over, who enc day threw bis arm rouho
her waist, when size was carrying an arm
iul Of wood; and when the honhec pruoo
lct lho wood fall, and screamed, aud when
every corn on her feet was tpingiag unacI
the blows ihey received from the iumOHne
sticks, he made a very polite bow eno
said, be really asked her pardon; but 10
save himself from slipping DC had caught
hold Of her, thinking she vas The gate
post.
Poor man. thought Aun, Beliy--Ii Is
evident his feelings carry Ism away; and
bis bashfulness throws al The blame on
the slippery walking
One of Bot.y's acquaintance vas IA the
habit Of sending her newspaper 10 read
loace . week; add soon a.lef re .asi men