Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-06-23
AUNT SALLY'S MUFF,
By c. NJ. KENDALL

!
Miss Sally Strong was 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 ex-
change it for his own, would have been rare
| companion for Cummings in his tiger hunts
in the jungles of Africa. At least no one in
the village of B-would dare to question his
manhood.
| She was one Of those who seemed to have
been born an old maid in prospective. Before
she had arrived at the teens, she used to stone
the boys with malignant delight; and ere
she was out of them her contempt for the op-
posite sex was strikingly manifest, that all
prudent young men, if accidentally walking
upon the 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 people
would smile at ill-natured remarks from her
as though it was a compliment. Even the
young minister at the parish treated her with
marked respect. although he was certain to
have his last sermon wonderfully criticized, in
answer to a kind inquiry regarding her health.
The secret Of all this might have been written
in three words-she rich and even the
clergyman was worldly minded enough to de-
sire to be on good terms with one who was the
largest contributor to his support.
Aunt Sally, as the villagers universally cal
led her, had received the bulk of her pro-
perty from deceased aunt, which her shrewd
business qualities had enabled her to invest so
advantagcously that she increased in wealth
as she did in years, and, like many other rich
people advanced in life, had scores of affec-
| tionate young relatives,who each hoped to OBJ
tain a large slice of the cake of real estate
which would be cut up in the event of her de-
cease. Her cold gray eyes were too shrewd
not to see through their eager attentions to
the very selfishness of their source.
One nephew, however, did not belong to
4. I'll. 8 a. Al.
Old lady was very often the victim of his jokes,
and he would dispute with her just for the
sake of having hot argument. Yet for any
re,l service, she would oftencr apply to him
than any one else. She had even loaned him
a sum sufficient to stock a fine store, but still
this Frederick often annoyed and vcxed
her that public opinion-extended no farther,
of course, than the limits of the vllage-was
equally divided as to whether he would be the
favorte heir or be cut off with a shilling.
One evening. upon the meeting of the par
ish sewing circle at the house of the clergy
man, this nephew perpetrated joke upon his
aunt, the result of which he never forgot.
She, unlike most maiden ladies, considered
these gatherings sort of fashionable nuisance,
but usually was present in order to indulge in
her sarcastic remarks. Her nephew was there,
ostensiblv to wait upon his aunt, but the fair
Lucy daughter of the worthy practitioner, DR..
Blood particularly allured him with her charms.
''Dlu ltcNcE OCCuE " you, RHiSs hudl yOu
are here for 20
s.To be sure, aunt" answered one of the
neices, sssimply to make clothing for the poor
hcathen."
ssFor what heathen?''
go, for those in Siam, Burmah, and other
like places.''
ssIndced! Well, heavy wooden shirts are
very serviceabe garments, upon my word, for
the people living under tropical sun. They
will doubtless be very grateful for clothing SO
suited to their climate.''
"Well done, aunt exclaimed Frederick,
ga good shot and no mistake. But these cir
ccs are grand affairs, after all.''
sGrand affairs indeed for young men to say
soft things, and silly girls to listen to them
Grand affairs to dispense the accumulated gos
sip of a month Grand affairs for scandal mo-
wing and for everything but the purpose they
profess
And aunt Sally looked about her with
triumphant glance, as though her charges were
unanswerablc.
In fact, too many felt the justice of her re-
buke to measure words with her. Even Fred
crick agreed so much with her in the abstract
that he was content to remain silent. Hav-
ing achieved such moral victory, the lady
continued in unwonted good humor during the
rest of the evening.
When the party broke up, as Frederick was
taking leave of his young friends, with his aunt
upon one arm and the fair Lucy upon the 9TH
er, the old lady suddenly remembered that
she had left her muff.
ssOh, never mind aunt" said the young
man, 81 will get it and send it up to you in
the morning.
ssBut do mind, Fred Strong, for it is not
my way to leave things about in this manner.
But where can it be 1 certainly left it with
my bonnet and cloak
ssSomebody must have taken it, cried one.
s.That is IMPOSSIBLE" answered another,
ssfor aunt's muff is unlike all others"
s'That is true,' said Fred laughing, ssas a
barrel is unlike a two gallon keg." And he
gave Lucy q miscbievous glance which she in
terpreted to mean that he knew the wherea-
bouts of the missing article better that any
one else.
ssIt certainly is not with any of the ladies'
things" said one of the young relatives.
ssOh, plague upon you all ?'' was the kind re-
ply 81 must hunt it up myself, l suppose"
"Deacon Gray, you have not taken aunt's
muff by mistake, have you a'' asked Fred
maliciously.
That functionary drew himself up stiffly, as
though the imputation was unworthy of an an
| swer, and stepped aside.
swell, I never" exclaimed one of the
young ladies.
"Who could have done it ?'' added another.
ssBe silent-will you2' cried the irritable
| maiden ssor tell me where / can find it ?''
sWhy it is in Deacon Gray's hat, pressed In
| so tightly that we cannot remove it."
go, fie upon you aunti Such hint and the
deacon only a recent widower," /" exclaimed the
laughing nephew.
Aunt Sally seized her muff but the hat ad-
! hered most affectionately to it. by an angry
wrench it was liberated and the nnonending
hat flew across the entry, projected by the VII
/ orous foot of the incensed maiden. When it
| arrived at the terminus of its short journey,
| il had assumed most questionable shape, and