The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-12-29
II II T. N E w E II A =.
A ISLANDER CASE.
g Now let it work. Mischief thou art af


either tell or hear some thing, lived Squire
T., faceious good natured soft of a body, whose
Jokes are even yet matter of village record, and
ire retold through various editions, from folio
down to duodccimo
Aunt Lizzy was Deacon Snine's wife's sister
"a maiden lady of about ffiy-she went to all
the meetlngs-kept a regular account of every
olrth, death and marriage, with their dates
doctored all the babies, and knew every yard in
the Observation-Disclosures all the Young married
women how to make soap, and when they had
Dad luck, make every child in the house sit cross
legged until the lnck changed. In fine, she was
Kind of village factotum-spent her time in 90
ing from house to house. grinding out grist of
SANDER to each as occasion required bnt always
concluded with 60 the way of the transgressor ia
hard poor Mrs. A. and b., Gas the case was,)
pity her from the bottom of my heart" or some
such very soothing reflection. Aunt Lizzy was
. always very fond of asking strangers and others,
without regard 10 time or place, "the state of
their mind how they enjoyed their minds, Sc"
These questions were generally followed by
string of scandal. which was calculated to desirov
the peace and happiness of some Of her best
neghhors and friends; but she like other nara
tors this kind considered such murder
. as either establishing her own fair reputation,
or az The only mode of entertaining the village;
and thereby rendering her society agreeable
One warm sumner's afternoon. as the Squire
"S Sit',"H "edr MS "ilice uoor, smoking his pipe,
Aunt LiZzy passing by with great speed.
eliminating on the news of the dav when the
squire brought her suddenly to, as the sailors
say, ny " what's your hurry. Aunt Lizzy ? walk
n. The old lady, no never wanted a second
invitation, went into the Office and the following
dialogue soon commenced:
g Well. Squire F., have been thinking this
afternoon, what useful man you might be, if
you'd only leave off uifling conversations, as the
hpcnmp
might be an ornament to church and state as our
minister says"
- Why, as to that. Aunt Lizzy, cheerful
oountenance, | consider IA the best index of a
grateful heart, aud you know what the bible saws
~ that subject When We fast be not as nv po-
critics of sad cOunteHance; bat anoint thy head
and wash Thy face, Aunt i.izzy began to feel for
her pocket handkerchief, for she was ,aker of
snuff that thou appear NOT unto men to fast"
" row there, Squire, that's just what | told
you, see how you have the Scripture at sour
tongues end what useful man you might be
IN our church, IT you'd only be dUer as well as
nearer of The word.
g AS 10 that, Aunt Lizzy, don't see that your
professors as you call them, are a whit better
than am, in private. respect a sincere pro-
iesslon as much as any man, but know enough
u one oil your church whom you think great
deal of, TO know that she is no better than she
should be-" AT these inuendoes, Aunt LizZy's
lille black eyes began 70 twinkle; She sat down
beside the Squire, in order To speak in n lower
'one, spread her handkerchief over her lap, and
began to tap the cover of her snuff box in true
Style, and all things being in readiness for reg
nlar siege OF scandaluin magnatunI, she comnenc-
ed fire.
% Now, Squire, want to know what YOU mean
by one OF oDr church ! know who You mean.
he trolIoP, didn't like many curls about her
head, when she told her experience"
49,
III his boots, had no occasion TO add spurs To the
heels, Tor the old lady had one in her head that
was worth both Of them. Accordingly, he had
no peace until he consented to ex plain what he
meant by the expression, g in priyate;" this was
dear word for Aunt Lizzy
" Now, Aunt Llzzy, will you take bible oath
hat you Will never communicate what | am
about TO tell you 10 a living being, and Won will
:ret %
g Yes Squire, declare | won't never tell no
body nothing about it as long as | breathe the
breath of life and I'll take a bible oath on il:
there, sarlin as live, Squire, before you or any
pther Magistrate in the whole country"
Well then, you know when | went bp to
Boston a year ago7"
Yes, yes, Squire, aud know ~ no went with
you too; Susan b. and Dolly T., and her sister
Prudence"
Never mind who went with me, Aunt Lgzv.
there was whole lot of passengers But,
but"
g None of your butts, Squire, ont with it, if
folks viii act so--tToIlop--"
But Aunt Lizzy, Pm afraid you'll bring me
into a scrape."
I've told you over and over again, that nobo
ny mover shall know anything about it, and your
wife knows amt leaky."
My wife | wouldn't have Ter know what
] am going TO tell you for tho world why, Aunt
Lizzy. If size should know it,
" Well, then-if you must know til silent
with one OF the llkeliest Of your church members
nearly half the way up"
Aunt Blz1y drew IN a long breath, shut ND her
snuff box, and put it in her pocket, muttering TO
herself
The ljkeIiest Of our church membsrsi
thought il was Susan b Likeliest! this comes
Of being laltered--a trollop. Well, one thing
know" the way Of the iransgrcssur is hard ="
but hope you'ii never tell no body ont, Squire.
Tor saTtln as The world, il such thing sbond he
known. our church would be scattered abroad.
like sheep without shepherd"
lu few minutes Aunt Bzzy took her depar
tufe giving the Squire another caution and a
sly wink, as she said "good bye--let the alone
for . secret ~