The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-09-09
from The Ohio State Journal.
AUNT "fHlN."

"If there ain't Aunt Phinn' said my
Grandmother, locking ever her spectacles
rom The narrow window by the door, one
frosty morning in autumn. "lt's nobody
e!se, she'll stay week, III be bound; y
saving which she gathered up her work
md with lips still in motion, though moth
lng artculate, moved toward her room
with an air slightly impatient and closet
herself in.
We children were as glad as glad could
he 10 see the descent Of the litte old "Aunt
from the high wagon, and ran out 10 vel.
come her and bring in The small bundle,
tisd in red handkerchief that always ac-
compaaied her, containing change OF I'm.
en- and snaff bag Her black, restless
ey es sparaicd when she saw the troop o
children come 10 meet her, aud she at once
took hand Of two aud started with short.
quick steps up the pathway 70 the door.
turning her bead TO look if all was right
with the bandauna bundle, which t,ure
proudly behind them, and 10 nod gaiig Is
nv Cousin Russell, who had In her annuat
round once more brought her to our door.
rs we bad seen him many times before.
As we nenred the house, she went slow
er aud lo, 90 the little hands TO draw the
thin mourning shawl closer across her, and
pull her brown, black silk bonnet little
more forward, and cast nervous look
down her dress and hlmbazet apron, and
lastly brush her little hooked nose one side
snd the other, 10 dissipalo any lingering
Macaboy when she stopped entirely anf
said: SIS your Grandma at home? ''iA>
ma,ain," we all exclaimed, though ever
mile head was thinking she wished she
vas no,--,hen they could have such good
lime with Mother and Aunt Phn."
She ac,cd as we felt when we were
bont 10 enter the presence Of new
school mistress, for she held my Grand
mother in great respect and some dread
She was so much taller. and grander, and
wise-and she. little vacilatng spright
~ nobody. had no sympaihies in common
with such an one.
She halted vet again on the steps, tc
take her bundle into her own hands, am
| smooth down her apron, and then made
some aoitated motions with the door knob
which we're answered from within with the
ape ming oft by my Mother, who took ths
ancient little woman warmly by the hand
nd ledlher to the stove, taking OFT her lack
Ius,re bonnet and chatting the little wrink
led hands ill she began to warm up anc
chirp like cricket.
She could no, help looking anxiouslt
NOW and then towards my Grandmo.her''
door. if there was pause in talk. She
ope ned i. by and by with knitting work IN
hand aud morning paper under her arm
and tried TO descend from her grandeur
and speak as kindly as she could, as she
shcok hands and said, in strong, heart,
tone: SHOW do you do, Aunt" CHOW
dive do ma'am." sighed Phn, as she rose
not moving from her chair, snd dropped
humble little courtesy, setting down quick
Nv again close by my Mother, where she
had taken her place with the children :
Conversation grew frostier and iros'ler
and The children suddenly drew in them
selves, grew silent as they often did il
such presence, till Aunt Phin, quite despe
rate it folks did not talk or she could no
herself, ven,nrcd with some effort-'lt'
quite pleasant"-though she had hnrdl,
done shivering from her exposure to tn
frosty morning in her poor thin clothes.
"Pleasdnt! its always quite pleasan
with you," said my Grandmother, darken
ing. ("Ifsh could talk and visit, she a
wsys though, i, was very pleasant sh
lcontinued in an under tone. not intende'
| for .Phin's" ear, but which her quick eve
, caught from the motion Of her lips an
r made her half rise in her chair in dread
Some recollec,ions were reused IN m
: Grandmother evidently no: so pleasant
and she said loudly
slave You heard anything yet from m
Q poor old Unclew
This brough. cloud over Aunt PIN
in n,msnt, ar ahe "a her handke