The Davenport gazette., 1854-06-15
MY AUNT POLLY

Old mald to be Sure--and you OF my reader
J who have never been blessed with relative
!, of that kind, cannot appreciate true worth
: Aunt Polly was a jewel in my casket o
!, aunts, uncIes, and cousins-a shining ligh
to my pathway, and terror to my misdo
Iings She was prm, thin. and tall, as oil
: maids generally are. Some say that sht
was beauty in her younger days, and tha
many lad had sought her hand Well,
don't know but she might have been, fo
those faded eyes might have been once more
lustrous, and that sharp-peaked nose had
more Of the Grecian curve, and that shril
clarion voice more Of melodous swell
II this was really the case, she had ample
reason for admonishing my pretty slstel
against pride and vain glory.
Ny Aunt Polly was an industrious lady
don't mean gossip,-oh, no. She uset
: to rise bright and early in the morning, sci
!, things to rights, give orders to Biddy the
maid-and then, if it was summer, she en-
closed her head in prodigious sun-bonnet
took the basket in her hand, and went ou'
to gather herbs. And her herb closet il
would have done your eyes good to see it
There were boneset, and sweet fern sage
4 ard tansy, smart weed, and catnip, dc.
all arranged in alphabetical order. And
when any Of US little ones had an attack Of
measles, whooping- cough, or any Of the ills
that flesh is heir to, with what stately steE
would Aunt Polly proceed to that closet and
bring b tck the remedy needed.
But am going to tell you little Incl
dent in the life of my Aunt, in which my
brothers, sisters, and myself were engaged.
! It was sad thing to her, and still sadder
one to us, who took most active part in
the ceremonies.
Aunt Polly is dead now; she died many
years ago, :. at an advanced age as the
orbitnary said. If she was alive to-day, and
was to read my story, know that she woult
not lansh--no, not she-but would draw
her face down longer than ever, and say
Il should think the remembrance Of that
night would make Won more humble.
The little ones all wished that Aunt Polly
would get marrcd-that she would take
] her old red chest out Of our play-room. and
| leave us the herb closet for dolls house.
We debated upon the probability OF such an
occurrence, and the grand result that would
follow, for some time, until our patience
grew weary, and we determined to bring
matters around ourselves.
We met, one summers day, behind the
currant bushes, to consider the proposition
Of marrying Aunt Polly" | will not give
a full account Of the convention, but short
sketch must suffice. Jacob my Oldest
brother, said that if any of us would propose
good match for our venerable relative, he
would '' bring it to pass" Dead silence
reigned for a few moments, until Shadrich
shouted-sI know know - and affirmed
his intelligence by joyful clapping Of his
hands.
| Now who do you think he selected as q
companion for our dignified Aunt, and who
| do YOU think we decided should become her
consort Cor life You couldn't guess, 50
shall tell you.
A littlcway from our house lived Grinny
Johnson," as everybody used to cali him
although his proper name was Samuel
| They called him Grinny because of hi,
cheerful countenance, which was the very
picture of good humor. But Grinny was
not .verv bright for he would sit all day
upon the fence. and white and whistle
which was rather simple employment for a
youth of twentvsX or seven. lie had gol
| the mitten'' from every unmarried Wo-
man in the place but Aunt Polly; and we
thought ii satisfactory arrangements could
be taken on both sides, the old red chest
would be taken from our play-room-the
Heb closet placed under our jurisdiction
and :. Grinny Johnson" be placed under the
strict discipline of Aunt Polly.
Jacob went to " Grinny" that afternoon
and told him that Aunt Polly really lovet
him-that she had ever since the time sht
/ first saw him-(which was when he was ;
babv) that she was pning from the effect:
of concealed love, and that for the sake Of
his dear Aunt. he had ventured to lay the
i case before him.
"Grinnv'' was delighted He kissed
Jacob. and said that he loved Polly Simp-
kins better than any other girl in Tumble
town, and that if his mother would let him
he woul marry her that minute.
"You must first tell her that you love
her" said Jacob; but don't let her know
have told you this
j It was then decided that he should meet
her that evening by moonlight, in the gar
den, and offer his heart. hand, and fortune
Nv sister Prudence Betsy, was Aunt''
! fayoritc. so she was made delegate to ar.
range that side Of the question. She found
Aunt in the kitchen frying out fat, which
she carried by pansful into the cellar where
by some process unknown 70 Us, It as to
be trans formed into lard.
..Oh. Aunty - said Prudence, "Grinny
Johnson says he has got something to tel
you.'
"Whv don't he tell ii then"
i 81 don't know replied the delegate; III
lis something secret and important he says
ooh. know very we'll what it is" sale
she, with an important toss of the head
+" and guess Grinny' can tell me whether
they we're tender or not, have suspected
him all the time but if he wants to confess
I'll hear him.
Prudence vas at loss for reply; sht
feared that our hopes were blasted
.Well, Aunty," said she smiling, :. he
wants you to meet him in the garden ut hal
past eight this evening"
i Aunt hesitated a moment. and then SAID
:. Yes rll 70: his guilt seeks the cover o
darkness"
Half past eight found all US youngsters
anxiously waiting in the cellar way, tha
onened into the garden, for the lovers,
ns we called them We had everything
arranged for retreat into the Gel ar III cast
we should be discovered spies.
"Grinny' came first, dressed IN his sun
, dav suit, and a bunch Of hollyhocks IN hl
, bulton-hoes. He sauntercd tor some tlh'
AMONG the uooseberries and currant bushes
before Aunt Polly made her appearance
and when she did come, VIC were obiiged u
, stuff our aprons in our mouths to keep iron
Ik,,rayipu ourselves,