Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-06-19
ALL FOR THE BEST.

three Kingdoms a blither old maid thar M;sz
MeiHcent Orme, otherwise Aunt Milly, for so
she was universally called by her nephews and
neices, first, second and third eousins-nay.
even oy many who could not boast 'of the
smallest tie OF cOnsanguinity But this sort of
universal aunthoOd TO the whole eghborhood
was by no means disagreeable to Miss Milly,
Tor In very little body she had n large heart.
OF sn almost India rubber nature; not indeed
rs the simile used in speaking of female hca rts
that never break-but always stretch Bnt
MISS Mtlly heart possessed this elastic nature
In It's best sense-namely, that il ever found
room for new occupants, and moreover, ii was
remarkable for Its quality Of effacing all un-
Kindness or injuries ss easily rubber removes
pencll marks from paper
Aunt Milly-I have some right To call har
-, being her own nephew, Godfrey Eastport-
was an extremely little woman. She had pret-
~ little features, pretty little hands and feet,
pretty little figure, and always carried n
pretty little work bag, in whose mysterious
reccsses ali the children in the neighborbood
loved to dive, seldom returning to the surface
without somc pearl of price, in the shape of a
lozenge or sugar plum. Her dress was al
ways neat, rather old-fashOned perhaps but
invariably becoming; her soft brown hair-it
really was brown stiil-lay smoothly braided
under tiny cap; her white collar was ever
snowy; indeed, Aunt hiily's whole attire
seemed TO have the amazing quality Of never
looking worn, sOiled, or dusIy but always
fresh and new. Yet she was faT from rich, as
every one knew; but her little income was lust
enough to suffice for her little self She lived
IN nutshell Of a house, with the Smallest of
small handmaidens; indeed everything about
Aunt Mlily was on the diminutiye scale She
dld not abide much mt home, for she was eyery-
where In request-at weddings chrstcnings
Ac And to her credit be it spoken, Aunt
Mlily did not turn her feet from the house of
mourning. She could weep with those that
Wept, yet somehow other she contrived to
lDluSe hope amidst despair. And in general
her -blitlc nature converted all life's minor
eviiS into things 10. worth lamenting abou.
Livery one felt that Aunt Milly's entrance into
their doors brought sunshine. She was a sun
beam IN herSeif; there was cheerfulness in her
hght step, her merry laugh; the jingling of
the keys in her pocket, dear little soul, was
musical. She had word of encouragement
fnr all, and an inclination to look at the SUNNY
side OF everything. n o one was more welcome
In mlrthtul days, no one more sought for in ad-
VersIiy, tor she had the quality of making the
heaviest trouble seem lighter, and her unfail-
best" WV
All my schoolboy disasters were deposited in
Aunt Silly's sympathizng ear: and ubsn
grew up l still kept the old habit. I came to
her one day with what L considered my first
real sorrow, 1t was the loss, by the sudden
failure OF country bank, of nearly all the
lew hundreds my poor father had laid up for
me; My sad news had travelled before me,
ana L was not surprised to see Aunt Milly'.
cheerful face really grave as she met me with,
MY dear boy, L am very sorry for you
was the greatest misfortune 1 could
nave cried, = wish that wretched Shar-
Piles"
Don't wish him anything worse than he has
to bear already. poor man, with his large fam
iy said Aunt Mily, gently.
bur you do not know all 1 have lost. That
-'nat-Laura-" and / stopped looking L
doubt not, very miserable, and possibly silly.
ou mean to say, Godfrey, that since in
slead OF having little fortune to begin the
world with you have hardly anything at all,
Miss Laura Ashton will not consider that her
engagement holds expected it
=, On, Aunt Milly, she is not SO mean az
mat but we were to have been married in two
years, and l could have got a share in Mort
i"he once, and we should have been So hap
Py All that is over now. Her father saws
we must wait, and Laura is to be considered
iree. Lie Is nothing to me, / will 90 to
America, or shoot myself"
how old are you, Godfrey" asked Aunt
Miiiy' with quiet smile that annoyed me-
snail be twenty next June" | said
Young people always put their ays in the fu-
ture sense IL sounds better
LII Is now July, so that may call you nine
teen and e month. My dear boy. the world
must be hOrr;d place, indeed, for you to grow
urea oi II 50 soon L would advice you to wait
o..
" Aunt Milly,' said, turning away, "it is
easy Tor you to talk-you were never in love"
shadow passed over her bright face but
Aunt Milly did not answer my alIusion.
:, do not think any boy of nineteen is doomed
TO be victim of loss Of fortune or homeless
love-" she said af,or a pause. NV dear God
Trey this will be trial 10 your Laura's con-
Stancy and OF your own patience and industry
Depend upon it, all will turn out for the best
Oh sighed, you talk very we'll, Aunt
Milly; what can do2"
81 VIII tell you. You are young, clever,
anu nave been Tor two years in a good profes-
SION. IL Will be your own fault if you do not
rise In the world. Every man is in q great
measure, the architect of his own fortune. and
"here as IN your own case, the foundation of
good education is laid, much the easier is
~ To raise the superstructure. You NAV be a
rich man by your own exertiOns, and the best
of fortunes, is a fortune self-earned"
ms was the longest ard gravest speech
had ever heard from Aunt Milly's lips Its
truth struck me forcibly, and / felt rather
ashamed OF having so soon succumbed to dis
"ster; IT seemed cowardy and unworthy the
manly dignity of nearly twentyiyears
Aunt Milly, with true feminine tact. saw her
advantage and followed il up
NOW, as to your heart troubles my dear
nephew To tell the truth, / hardly believe
IN ooyish 'o'e II is 50 much of dream and so
Ittle OF a reality. Do not be yexed Godfrey
but should not be surprised IT, Eve years
hence, you tell me how fortunate it was that
tnls triai came Men rarely see with the same
eyes at nineteen and twenty-five
energeticaHy quoted Shakspere:
Doubt that the stars are fire.
Doubt that the sun doth move
Doubt truth To be liar
But never doubt I love ,;
Aunt Milly laughed. As both these as
trononical facts are rather questionable, Won
must excuse my doubling the final fact also
INT inns rrI1l h
be diligent, and be careful OF the little Won
have left. Matter, might have been worse
with you
"Oh - Aunt Milly, what a cheerful hear,
You have But trouble never comes to YOU 8.
as it does TO other people,
" lou are a little mistaken for once Godfrey
BY Sharples' failure have lost every farthiny
had in the world"
Was struck dumb with surprise and regret
Poor dear Aunt Mily, when she was listening