The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1861-04-11

/ consented after this, of course But
when alone in my room, I puzzled myself
to; discover what my father meant.
The. day of my departure came, and my
s father and 1 set forth on our journey
The abode of my aunt Pattie was in q
beautiful, but rather lonely country place
(. with but little society, and few poor
4 families scattered here and there; with
/ their dwellings now alslost buried in
4 snow.banlzs, which looked as though they
/ would never melt away i loved my
aunt Pattie very much, butI sighed as I
thought of spending this usually gay sea-
son in such a dreary looking region.
just then, however, we came in sight
of my aunts house, and there stood the
dear old lady at her gate, watching for
J: u.s.. Her smile was SO bright and her look
was SO happy as she welcomed us, that
my gloomy feelings were instantly dis
PEELED, and by the time that my father,
after having chatted a little while, took
/ his leave, i began to feel quite lively,
Before he went, however, he drew me to
him. and as he kissed me, whispered, with
I a miischicvous smile, sNow, Rosie, don't
lose your heart out here" and he was
gone.
AS 1 looked around I thought there
was out little need of such a caution-my
heart certainly safe unless | buried
lit in one of the snow-banlSs.
aoh, my dear childw exclaimed Aunt
'Pattic, drawing me closer to her, / am
SO glad you made up your mind to spend
the holidays with your poor old aunt, for
always feel more lonely at such times
than at any other"
Twas glad too, and 4 felt that I was
more than repaid for the sacrifice I had
made.
There are others who will.be delight
ed to see you, too, my child" she contin-
.ued, s.there are the Lanetons, who are
continually llysinquiring for g Miss Rose"
The Laneton's were a poor. family resi-
ding near my aunt, who werc striving to
earn an honest living. During the year
I had spent with my aunt, previous to
my fathers second marriage, l had fire.
quently visited them, and had never
been at my aunt's since without calling.
care they all-well?" 2" inquired.
aYes,v replied my aunt, all but the
youngest child, who is confined to her bed
by tue spine complaint. and the old
grandmother, who is blind"
.Wel, Rose, we shall not be quite alone
on New Years day. said my aunt, in
the evening, for L have invited whole
family to dine with u.s.
Whoarc they ?" I inquired.
Oh, shall not tell you,' she replied,
al am going TO surprise you; one is an
old friend of yours"
sThe Willis family, 1 suppose, and Sa-
rah, the old friend,' said 1.
Aunt Pat6e laughed, but said nothing.
Sarah Willis and Ihad always played
together when I lived with my amt; and
from this fact she imagined that we were
very dear friends. Yet why we had
sought each others society I cannot tell.
Certain it is we never met without quar-
rcling. This childish antipathy / had
always maintained towards her since, and
I therefore received this intelligence with
no great degree of pleasure.
The next day my aunt was too busy in
the kitchen, making pies and preparing
for the morrow, which was New Years ;
and helped her, feeling that I was much
happier there than 1 would have been at
home. But there was one figure that,
Notwithstanding my heroic resolves, still
fitted through my mind. Inimagination
I saw Fred and Mary together and it
gave me secret pang. But I knew that
this was foolish. Why should I care for
one from whom l had been parted four
years? lie might be changed. Proba-
bly, he was conceitcd and egotistical of
course he had forgotten all about me, and
very likely he might be engaged to some
one else Endeavoring to Danish his i'm
age from my mind, set out about dark,
with a basket well filled with good things
or my arm, to visit the Lanctons.
"oh, mother, here comes Miss Rose, }"
Exclaimed Maggie Lancton, little curly
head pet of my own
aoh, Miss Rose! Miss Rosc!Y was ech-
ood; +; and 1 was Immediately surrounded
nv y bevv of children