Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-05-08


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-:aiq 10 AUNT sALLY's MUFF. essn-
Aunt Sally, as the village, usually called
her, had received the bulk Of her. property
from q, deceased aunt, which her shrew bu-
.siness qualities had enabled her to invest so
that she increased in wealth
as she did in years, and like many other rich
people well advanced IN life, had scores Of
afectionate young relatives. Her cold gray
eyes were too shrewd not to see through their
eager attentions to the very selfishness Of
their, source. Y4sa -ss a ~sr.s .fs.r
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 would dispute with her lust for
the'fun Of having hot argument Yet, for
any real service, she would apply to him
oftener than any one else. She had even
lent him sum sufficient TO stock fine store.
but still this Frederick 30 often annoyed and
vexed her, that public opinion was pretty
equally divided as to whether he would be
the favorite 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 q joke upon
his aunt, the result Of which she never for
got. She, unlike many maiden ladies, con
sidered these gatherings sort of fashionable
nuisance. but usually was present for the
sake Of indulging in her sarcastic remarks.
Her nephew was there ostensibly to walt M.
on his aunt, but the fair Lucy, daughter of
the worthy practitioner, DR.. Blood, particu-
larly allured him with her charms.
The evening passed off pleasantly, and
when the party broke up, % Tredrick was
taking leave of his friends, with his aunt up
on one arm and Lucy upon tho other, the
old lady suddenly remembered that She had
left her muff. y ,.f .Ft."4.E EfET
40, never mind, aunt,n said the Young
the morning. .,
7" But l do mind, Fred Strong, for it is not
my way to leave things about in this man.
ner. But where can It be ? certainly left II
with my bonnet and cloak" DIT" ..f5
Search was Immediately made, and after n
while 1t was found stuffed into a deacons
hat. .s@'E 4iI i'Es2 @.76i
20, fie upon you aunt Such hint, and
the deacon only recent widower I" exclaim-
ed her laughing nephew 'aa ". s' .--
Aunt Sally seized her muff, but the hat
adhered most effcctually to it. By an angry
wrench it was liberated, and the unoffending
nat ficw across the entry, projected by the
incensed maiden. When It arrived at the
terminus of its short journey, it had assumed
a most questionable shape, and its condition
might certainly have been termed shocking.
ly bad" .f' a "a ctE -
50" will pay you for this young man."
Don't trouble yourself, dear aunt. So
far as am concerned, you are entirely wei
come" aH *'. Ia 'a1m 48'#,
. You will perhaps tell me that you have
had no hand in this matter9"
No, l will tell you no falsehood about il
but intended it as a joke upon our stiff dea.
con, as much or more than yourself"
i" AT best 1t is but an i'll trick you have
played upon me, and now mark my words
you shall have reason to remember this to
the latest days of your existence .r.l.
~ AS you please, aunt, since you take il SO
seriously; but I didn't think silly joke wo'd
have thus offended you" ii"' ~ Ena
Time passed on and young Strong pros
pered famously in his business. He had
anassed sufficient means to be enabled to paw
his aunt the sum she had lent him, but She
declined receiving it, alleging that she pre-.
ferred to have it remaining on interest. In
the meantime he had also persuaded the gen.
tie Lucy to share his fortunes. As for Aunt
Sally singular mania seemed to possess her.
In the matters of real estate, stocks, etc,
she had become perfect alchemist, turning
all into gold. ~ IL. 7a ...t-... .,r..',.- :
b The neighbors looked on and wondered.
but none velturcd to demonstrate with her.
She was often seen to visit the office of SQUIRE
A---and it was rumored she was making
her final arrangements for the bestowal OF
her property after her deccase. The affair
of the muff was not forgotten, and it was
current with the villagers that Fred would
have topay dearly for his joke. -g
One morning the village was all in action.
During the night the spirit Of the rcdoubta-
bic lady had taken its flight She was found
dead in her arm chair, and died as she had
liyed---alone. She had alarmed no one du.
ring the night, nor had she suffered previous
illness. Curiosity, of course, was intense
upon the subject Of her will, and il was pro.
.duccd as soon as decency would allow. All
her connections were present, and their ca
ger, hopeful, anxious countenances would
have furnished a rare subject for the pencil
of the artist The reading Of the will pro-
ceeded until 1t was finished, except a single
codicil. Each of her relatives, excepting her
nephew, had been remembered some to a
greater extent than others, but none consid-
erably. lLg 6ei
AT all events not onc-lhird Of her fortune
had been dispensed, and only the codicil re-
mained. All eyes were turned to Fredrick
Strong as the lucky one after all But what
was their surprise when they found it only
made hin, the recipient of her old sable muif
and contents. Tho word s contents y again
excited their curiosity, and to satisfy them
the article was produced and found only to
contain simple paper sewed npon the lining.
When detached and opened, in the bold
haadwriting Of Aunt Sallywere found these
words :---r a. ~ $
DEAR NEpnEw-You will doubtless ap-
preciate this, the last joke I shall ever be
guilty Of as l appreciate yours on certain
time yonrwill remember. Al God bless you and
yours. Farewell ror.t !, ..s,...t. !.
Fredrick declared he was satisfied. The
old lady had fairly retorted upon him, and he
certainly deserved nothing betterat her hands.
Z But what had become Of Aunt Sally s mon.
ey? That was the mystery and it became q
wonder to the worthy villagers, who discus
sed It on every occasion. She was known tc