The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-07-25

thier cagerncss to assist in the search
"Somebody must have taken it ~ erie
one.
THAT Is impossible" answered another
"for aunt's muff is unlike all Others
That is true" said Fred laughing, "as
barrel is unlike a two gallon key And h
gave Lucy mischievous glance, which sh
interpreted to mean that he knew the where
abouts of the missing article better than an
one else.
ut certainly is not with any Of the ladies
things" said one of the young relations.
10, plague upon YOU all " was the kind re
ply; Il must hunt it up myself. suppose"
deacon Gray. YOU have not taken aunt
muff BY mistake, have YOU ." asked Fred, ma
liciously.
That functionary drew himself up stiffly, a.
though the imputation was unworthy of a,
answer. and stepped aside.
well. never" exclaimed one Of the
young ladies.
"Who could have done it ?" added another
"Be silent-will you?" cried the irritable
maiden; cor tell me where can find it,
"Why, it is in Deacon Gray's hat. pressed
in so tightly that We cannot remove it"
80, 6e upon YOU, aunt. Such hint. and
the deacon only a recent widower.. :" exclain-
ed the laughing nephew.
Aunt Sally seized her mutf; but the hat
adhered most atfcctonately to it. BY all
angry wrench it was liberated, and the Of
Tending hat flew across the entry. projected
by the vigorous foot of the inccnsed maiden.
When it arrived at the terminus of its short
journey, it had assumed a most questionable
shape, and its condition might certainly have
been termed shocking bad
II will pay You for this Young man.
don't trouble Yourself, dear aunt. So
far as | am concerned, You are entirely well
come
"You will perhaps tell me that you have
had no hand in this matter -
NO l will tell YOU no falsehood about it
but intended it as a Joke upon our stiff
deacon. as much or more than upon Yourself.
AT best it is bu: all i'll trick YOU have
played upon me, and now mark my words :
You shall have reason to remember this mutf
to the latest day of your existance.'
las You please, aunt. since YOU take it so
seriously but | didn't think silly joke
would have thus offended YOU"
Time passed on. and Young Strong pros
pered famouslv in his business lie had
amassed sufficient means to be enabled to
repay his aunt tho sum she had loaned him.
but she declined receiving i; alleging that
she preferred to have it remain on interest.
In the meantime he had also persuaded the
gentle Lucy to share his fortunes. As for
Aunt Sally, singular mania seemed to
possess her. In the matter of real estate.
stocks. etc. she had become a perfect alchem-
ist. turning all to gold.
The ncghbors Looked on and wondered.
but none vcntured to demonstrate with her
She was often seen to visit the Office of
Squire A., and it was rumorcd that she
was making arrangements for the bcstowal of
her property after her dcccase. The affair of
tho mutF was not forgotten. and it was cur
rent with the good villagers that Fred would
have to pay dcari ' for that Joke.
One morning the village was all action.
During the night the spirit of the rcdoutable
lady had quictl: taken its flight. She was
Found dead in her armchair. and had died
as she had lived. alone She had alarmed
no one during the night. nor had she suffered
previous illness. Curiosity. of course. was
intense on the subject of her will. and it was
produced as soon as dcccncy would allow.
All her connections We're present. and their
lager hopeful. anxious countcnanccs would
nave furnished rare subject for the pencil |
If an artist. The reading of the will pro-
'scded until it was finished. except simple
'odicil. Each Of the relatives. excepting her
nephew. had been remcmbcrcd-som to a
greater extent than others. but none consider |
able.
At all events. not one-third of her fortune
had been dispensed. and as the codcil only
remained, all eyes were turned to Frederick
Strong as the lucky one. after all. But what /
vas their SURPRISE when. they found it only
made him the recipient of her old sable mutf |.
and contents. The word "contcnts" again
excited curiosity. and. to satisfy them. the
article was produced. and found to contain
simple paper sewcd on to the lining. When
detached and opened in the bold hand
writing Of Aunt Sally were found these
words:
"DEAR NEpnEw-You will doubtless
this, the last joke shall ever be
guilty of, as appreciated yours on certain
time you will remember. God bless YOU and
yours. Farewell.
Frederick declared he was satisfied The
old lady had fairly rctortcd him, and he GER
tainly deserved nothing better at her hands
But what had become of Aunt Sally's
money? That was the mystery, and it be-
came more than mine days wonder" to the
worthy villagers, who had discussed it on
every occasion. She was known to have
large sums of money at various banks, but
oil this the anxious relative asccrtained was
drawn out a few days before her DEATH
Squire A was consulted, who had drafted
the will but be stoutly maintained that the
will, converted the whole of her property and
he would have nothing further to do with it.
One evening. about six months after the
old lady's death. while Frederick was con-
versing with his wife, the subject of the muif
was introduced.
That was costly joke Of yours. dear
Fred" said his wife, gaily.
but get the mutt, at all events. Lucy,
and what is better no one has come forward
to claim the three thousand dollars, which |
she loaned me. / feel confident that she
intended to present it to me and therefore
destroyed my note |
"Let us have look at the old relic, Fred,
il the moths have not eaten it wholly I'D. /
will return with it in moment"
The muH was produced, and. as Lucy pre- |
dlcted' the linIng was uofuly moth-eaten |