The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-01-09
AUNT sALLY,S MUFF.
BH c. Y. Kendall.

Miss Sallie Strong was a peculiar woman.
For forty years she had retained her name,
which exactly suited her hard nature; and
the man having the assurance to ask her to
exchange it for his own, would have been a
rare companion for Cummings in his tiger
hunts in the jungles of Africa. At least no
one in the village Of B-would dare
question his manhood.
been born an old maid in prospective. Be-
fore she had arrived at her teens, she used
to stone the boys with n malignant delight ;
and Gro she was outof them, her contempt for
tho opposite sex was so strikingly manifest,
that all prudent young men, if accidentally
upon the same sidewalk to avoid meeting,
would very quietly cross to the other side,
and allow her the whole of it.
Yet she was privileged person. and peo-
pie would smilo at an ill-natured remark
from her as though it was compliment
Even the young minister at the parish treat
ed her with marked respect, although he was
certain to have his last sermon criticised in
answer to kind inquiry respecting her health.
The secret of all this might have been writ
ten in three words-she was rich; and even
the clergymen were worldly-minded enough
to desire to be on good terms with one who
was the largest contributor to his support.
Aunt Sally, as the villagers universally
called her, had received the bulk Of her
property from deceased aunt, which her
shrewd business qualities had enabled her to
invest so advantageously that she increased
in wealth as she did in years, and like many
other rich people advanced in life, had scores
of aifectionate young relatives, who each
hoped to obtain large slice of the cake Of
real estate which would be cut up::in the even,
Of her deceasc. Her cold gray eyes were
attentions to the very sci6shness Of their
course.
One nephew, however, did not belong to
this class of schemers. On the contrary,
the old lady was very often the victim of his
jokes, and he wonld dispute with her just
for the sake Of having hot argument. Yet
for any real service, she would oftener apply
to him than any one else. She had even
loaned him sum sufficient to stock a fne
store, hut still this Frederick 80 often an.
noycd and vexed her that public opinion
extended no further of course, than the
limits of the village-was equally divided
as to whether he would be the favorite heir
or be cut Of with shilling.
One evening, upon the meeting Of the
parish sewing circle at the house of the cler-
gyman, this nephew perpctrnted joke upon
his aunt, the result Of which he never for
got. She, unlike most maiden ladies, con-
sidercd. these gatherings a sort Of fashiona-
bic nuisance, but usually was present to in
dulge in her sarcastic remarks. Her neph-
ew was there, ostensibly to wait upon his
aunt, but the fair Lucy, daughter of the
worthy practitioner, DR.. Blood, particularly
allured him with her charms. s'Did it ever
occur to you, girls, what you are here for?''
"To be sure, aunt" answered one Of the
nieces, "simply to make clothing for the poor
heathen."
"Wheres''
ooh, Siam, Burnam, and other like
places" s.s. rs v
"Indeed! Well, heavy wooden shirts are
scrviceable garments, upon my word, for
the people living under tropical SUM-
They will doubtless be very grateful for
clothing SO suited their climate"
"Well done aunt. exclaimed Frederick
ga good shot, and no mistake. But these
circles are grand affairs after ALL" ~
"Grand affairs, indeed, for young men to
say soft things, and silly girls to listen to
them! Grand affairs to dispense the accu-
mulatcd gossip Of month. Grand affairs
for scandal moving, and for everything but
the purpose they profess"
And Aunt Sally looked about her with :
triumphant glance, As though her charges
were unanswerable.
In fact too many felt the justice Of her re-
buke to measure words with her. Even
Frederick agreed 20 much with her in tho
abstract that he was content to remain si-
lent. Having achieved such moral victory
the lady continued in unwontcd good humor
during tho rest Of the evening.
When the party broke up, Is Frederick
was taking leave Of his young friends. with
his aunt upon one arm and the fair Lacy
upon the other, the old lady suddenly Ye.
menbered that she had left her muff.
ooh, never mind aunt" said tho Young
man. ~ win get it and send it up to you in
the morning."
'sBut do mind, Fred Strong, for it is not
my way to leave things about in this msn-
ner. But where can it be? l certainly left
it with my bonnet and cloak. !"
"Somebody must have taken it," cried
one. Ss 49, laHas
"That is impossible . answered smother,
ssfor aunt's muf il unlike all Others"
..That is true," said Fred, laughing, ssas
. barrel Is unlike . two gallon keg." Asd
he gave Lucy mischievous glance which
she interpreted to mean that be know the
wherebouts Of tho missing article better than
any one else. &es AsFs
"lt certainly Is not with any Of the ladies'
th,ng:," said one Of tho young relatives. ~
.Oh, plague upon you all - was the kind
reply; II must hunt il up myself, | sap
pose." ,.-a
.Dsaeon Gray, you have not taken suas's
mum by mistake, have you?'' asked Fred
malieiously. g - . IS ~.
That funetionary drew himself up ssi1y,
- though the impatation vas unworthy of
IN answer, and stepped aside. ssrs .
"Wsll, l}nsverys exelainsd en4 Of The
young ladies. .T9ss-'sS "a
"Who coald have doas its,' addsd g
other. $50 ~ s 6gs9
ssBs silent-will You p cried the irlita-
bic maiden; "or tell me whore can ipd L y