The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-03-25
AUNT.sALLYs MUFF.

& setA 2 2 i e +
Aunt Sally, as the village usually called
her, had received the bulk of her property
from deceased aunt, which her shrcwd
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 well advanced in life,
had scores of affectionate young relatives.
Her cold gray eyeswere too shrewd not to
see through their eager attentions to the
very selfshness of their source.
| One nephew, however, did not belongto
this class of schemers. On the contrary,
the old lady was very often the victim of
his jokes, and he would dispute with her
just for the fun ofhavinga hot argument
Yet, for any real service, she would apply
to him oftener than to any one else. She
had even lent sum sufficient to stock a
fine store, but still this Frederick so often
annoyed and vexed her. that public opin-
ion was pretty equally divided as to wheth-
er he would be the favorite heir, or be cut
off with a shilling.
One evening upon the meeting of the
parish sewing circle at the house of the
clergyman, this nephew perpetratsd ajoke
upon his aunt, the result of which she never
forgot. She, unlike many maiden ladies',
considered these gatherings sort u, fash
ionable nuisance, but usually was present
for the sake of indulging in her sarcastic
remarks, Her nephew 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. 6s
The evening passed off pleasantly. and
when the party broke up, as Frederick
was taking leave Of his friends, with his
aunt upon one arm, and Lucy upon the
other, the old lady suddenly remembered
that she had left her muff
ooh, never mind, aunt" said the young
man, II will get it and send it up to you
in the morning"
"But lido mind, Fred. Strong, for it is
not my way to leave things about in this
manner. But where can it be? Icertain-
I ly left it with my bonnet and cloak"
Search was Immediately made. and after
awhile it was found stuffed into the deacon's 3
hat. rze
so, fie upon you, aunt! Such hint,
and the deacon only recent widoworp'
exclaimed her laughing nephew
| =
Aunt Sally seized her muff, but the hat
adhered most affectionately to it. By an
| angry wrench it was liberated, and the un-
1 offending hat few across the entry, projec-
ted by the incensed maiden. When it ar
it had assumed most questionable shape,
and its condition might certainly have
been termed Shocking bad.
II will pay you for this, young man. y
! "Dont trouble yourself, dear aunt Sc
far as I am concerned, you are entirely
welcome" s
sYou will perhaps tell me that you have
had no hand in this matter?"
.No, Twill tell you no falsehood about
it; butt intended it as joke upon oar
stiff deacon, as mnch or more than your.
scif.'' ifs 81
CAT best it is but an i'll trick you have
/ played upon mo, and now mark my words
you shall have reason to remember thi.
muf to the latest days of your existence.
ssAs you please, aunt, since you take i
so seriously, but 1 didn't think silly
j joke would have thus offended you.'
Time passed on, and young Strong pros
pered famously in his business. He hat
amassed sufficient means to be enabled Il
. repay his aunt the sum she had lent him
: but she hsdeclined receiving it, alleging tina
she preferred to have it remaining on in
terest. In the mean time, he had ais
persuaded the gentla Lucy to share hi
fortunes. As for Aunt Sally, singula
mania seemed to possess her. In th
matters of real estate, stocks, &c., she ha
become perfect alchcmist, turning all t
Igold. 81 $50 :
The neighbors looked on and wondered
!. but none ventured to demonstrate with he
She was often seen to visit the Office {
/, Esquire A., and it was rumored that sh
was making her final arrangements for th
: bestowal of her property after her deceas'
Z The affair of the muff was not forgotten
and it was current with the good village1
: that Fred would have to pay dearly f
( < his joke,
of One morning the village was all in a
= tiou During the night the spirit Of Il
e : redoubtable lady had quietly taken j
!. fight, She was found dead in her ar
!, chair, and died as she had lived, alon
Il I. She had alarmed no one during the nigh
I nor had she suffered previous Hines
curiosity. OF course, was intense upon u
= subject OF her we'll, and it was produced
!, soon as decency would allow. All h
or connexions were present, and their cage
IN hopeful, anxious countenaHccs would ha
q. furnished rare subject for the pencil
a. the artist. The reading of the will pr
Is decided until it was finished, except sing
+ codicil. Each of her relatives, excepti
4 her nephew, had been remembered--sol
~ to a greater extent than others, but no
a- considerably. fsia9 te aestais' s
,ls At all events not one. third Of her f;
At time had been dispensed, and the codi
ur only remained. All eyes were turned
ad Frederick Strong as the lucky one, af
.f- all. But what was their surprise WI
ed tthey found it only made him the recipi'
he lof her old sable muff and contents
eat word '-contentsn again excited their GU
So osity, and, to satisfy them, the article '
is produced, aud found only to contai
t." simple paper sewed upon the fni
but When detached and opened, in the b
on, handwriting of-Aunt Sally, were 70,
the these words: s.s .so