The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-07-11

duu HODOuy thought DuJ WLaL tnoy WAS
good enough, but times is changed now
-askin' if Miss Aylmer was to hum g.
sent him about his business, though
guess he wont come back in a hurry. Git
out seq |, you goodfor.nothiu', miser
able"
At this stage of Aunt Bethuah's dis
course, old Hannah, the sole domestic aux
liary, put her grizzled head in at the door.
and propoundel some query relative to the
dinner arrangements.
"DinLer3" said Aunt Bethual, scratch
ing her ear with the knitting needle, "why,
you may brle two slices of ham-don':
cut 'em too thick, Hanuah-and four po
latoes,"
"Ihe potatoes is all gone, rnemr'
''lheu run round to the grocery and buy
half q peck And Hannah, take that bad
penny back to 'em, and ask 'em what they
meant by givin' it to you in change yester
! day! Two lone women always get put
upon. Well, as l was sayin' when Han
nah interrupted me-why, what's the mat
ter, childg Cryin', hey! ., you're low
spirited all that ails you--you want
something to do. Now I've got whole
rcI Of patches up stairs ready to piece a
bed-quiIt-the very work You want. Iii
go and get 'em
And away trudged Aunt Bethuah, twi tch
ing off her spectacles, and tLrusting the ball
of mixed yarn into Yer capacious pocket a.
she went. She had hardly reached the
head of the stairs. however, before loud
knocking at the basement door arrested hei
attention.
"There-Hannah's got shut out-she
always forgets to take the key along" !" was
her vexed ejaculation. "kun down and
open the door, Milhcent-your houes amt
AS old as mine he"
Mlilicent rose with very di>contented
air, anu Went slowly down stairs liz obeIieuce
to her aunts mi luction.
\ :ttie stiAed scream, and then hur-
ried whisper The next moment, Aunt
Bethuah's shrii treble MAS heard over tbs,
bannistess above.
"W hats the matter, Milllcent-wh IS
there's"
Its man, aunt, with sone china vases
and things to sell"
"What were you hollern' SO for?"
1t was fortunate that Aunt Betuah's eyes
were dim, and her basement hail dark, 50
that she could not see the rosy scarlet glow
my and deepening on her nleces check, rs
she stood below, holding the door handls.
why, aunty, who wouldn't scream to
- nan all of a sudden, wien expect
ed H. but old Hannah 2"
"Weh, GOODNESS gracious sake, dont't
let him in! ~ MT have no man noIsiu'
round my hous>, With their grea, muddy
boots Tell h,m to clear out!'
Don't you want some elegant vases and
cheeny images this morning, naans in
terposed a grutf bass voice; YOU shall have
'em dirt cheap"
don't waAt none! ~ was Aunt Bethuah's
acid response.
s"Haveu't you any old clothes or rags to
change for 'ems | don't ask for mouey,
only old things you'll never want to use
again. Only think of it-spIenild mantle
ornaments for almost nothing" persisted
the hawker, with real Yankee per;lnaclty,
Aunt BethuaIl hestated, and came down
stairs step or two-then she thought how
battered aud crunhllng the plaster Of Paris
cats that constituted her sole mantle orua
meats We're becoming, and she Game down
(hree steps more, and looked retlectiveiE
over the bauisters. There the man stood,
bowing aud scraping, with hat in hand, and
his basket of gIie,i toys oti the floor. hr
geam OF the gay little knicknacks completen
the business. Aunt Bethuah cane the
rest of the way down, and began to fng,r r
over the ornaments.
"Lelnme haye'ern cheap2' said she ca
gerly.
''Sertain, n.a'am!'
"Nell. tLen. I'll have this ere little San
ovel kneelln,' and this match box with the
American eagle ON top on't!'
Nv hat you please, rna'An-i'll take an,
old things IN exchange" said the accon-
snodat ug dealer.
Aunt Betlluah had no bargain with an
itnerant peidler for years-lt was by n
means practice with her-but the glitter
ing gilt GIN cracks had fairly conquered the
rocky citadel of her heart, anil she hustled
upst;tirs with little Samovei" in one hani
and the American eagle in the other, eau
tioning Mllicent in loud whisper to "sta\
by, and keep an eye 10 thlff.sI, for the
Sti III iuh oil WIN tiC wv
silver sp ,ons aud the sugar -tongs if the,
didn't look ou.
upstairs went Aunt Betluah to the
musty Old chest Of drawers in the third <to
ry, ~here IN. kept all The non le cript trash
that your old maid delights III cunbering
her house with, aud commencei a vigorous
investigation
"This 'ere f1anaing double gown is
great deal too g-,o,f," said she 70 herself,
pecring through her spectacles; the moth
haint eaten moren half of it yet, and thi~
caliker dress nrght be mended up. and worn
good lille, tor all its 50 ia.!cl auA 'ag
g"d. Can't spare none o these things -
Here's this uiI bonnet, thops h--'taint Fl
for puppy's nest, but it'll do for him, |
guess. Now where dill l put that old
quilt that Hannah spilled the lamp oil
everw
Thus rummaged the old dame, meditat
ing how best to victiinlze the peddIer. and
little dreaming OF the scene that was being
enacted down stairs.
She had hardly turned her back before
the hero Of the china basket was giving
Nlilicens most lover like hug. ami she
blushing and smiling. Isokei like June