The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-11-13

street in which we lived. Flora was
beauty. and one of the most fastldious
creatures in the world. Nothing was quite
good and elegant enough for her. She
would not have breathed the common air
if she could have conveniently dispensed
with it; and if the soles of her dainty boots
touched the soil of mother earth, it affected
Flora's nerves so badly, that she had a
headache for hours afterward.
Iwas raised to the seventh heaven and
lemon colored kids by her preference; and
every night l devoutly prayed that some
of my relatives might not appear and nip
the whole thing in the bud.
Five months rolled away, and | began
to feel at ease. None of them had troub-
led us, and we had MT heard from them
in any way. | INDUCED the hope that
they had forgotten u.s. So, think, did
my mother, who had become quite gen
teel, and had formed some very genteel
acquaintances.
One morningwhen Mrs. St. Michael and
Mrs. Loery, two of our most distinguished
acquaintances, were in the parlor with my
mother one of the railway hacks stopped
OF our front door. An indefnable dread
seized me. felt myself growing cold as a
peeled frog From the hack there issued
three bandboxes, two trunks, butter box,
a handled basket, bundle In brown paper,
an umbrella, and lastly green poke bon
net, beneath which [ distinguished the
little wizened face of my fathers oldest
sister-Aunt Sally Nutter. The very
blackeSt sheep of the whole flock of rel
atives
Bring 'em all right into the entry" she
called in a stehtorian voice, I'm tn hum
here. This is brother Jason's house. La
Jason's got up in the world sense be used
to peddIe Holsters! 1t was lucky thing
for him that he went to making pills, and
got Doctor hitched on before his name
l ixpict Marthas got SO big you can't tech
her with ten foot pole. But law! she
needn't try to put on any extras with me!
| know 'em all. root and branch egg and
bird y and she burst into the room, carry
ing her basket and bandboxeo.
The blinds were drawn, and Aunt Sally's
foot struck against an ottoman, which
brought her down, basket, bundles and all
to the floor. The cover of the basket flew
open and out rolled seven dozen of eggs
most of whicn were smashed by the fall,
but some were in a good state Of pre-
servation.
"Consarn it" cried aunt Sally, strug-
Cling from the ruins, "there goes seven
dozen of eggs! And bruDg 'em here to
git thirty cents a dozen; they hain't been
but fifteen at Brownsville! What on airth
do you have your house so dark for p
Anybody sick, or dead, or gwine to be ?
1t smells mouIuy here! Do open a win
der, so l can see an inch before my nose"
l My mother, red and discomposed, threw
open blind. Aunt Sally rushed up to
her.
"Why, Martha, how tickled [ am to see
you! You look as material as life, only it
seems to me, you begin to show your age F.!
Wall 'taint to be wondered at! A woman
that's brung up so many children as YOU
have, when she gifts to be fifty year old,
will naturally begin to look old! And
here's Jim, | declare! why how you've
crowd! But must say you hain't crowd
handsome! The Brown family haint apt
to. He's going to be che express image
of his granther-hain't he Martha? Jest
the same drop to his under jaw! But
who's these ere people here? Some of
your city friends, recon-"
Mrs. Leory lifted her eye glass, and
surveyed aunt Sally with an i'll concealed
contempt.
'Ho! no! recon you're nigh sighted,
marm; thought SO the mint | seed your
eyes. Eyes that is kinder faded out, and |
reddish like yourn, is apt to be weak. Ever
tried rose leaves stepped in milk"
Mrs. Leory arose, and drew her skirt
around her. Her face was as red as her
eyes. She spoke very pointedIy.
81 think l will be going, Ms Brown
you have other company vastly more
amusing"
My poor mother stammered out some-
thing, and followed the ladies into the hall.
Aunt Sally brought up the rear, ciying
out:
you'd better do something for your
eyes rite off, They look dreadfulIy! l
can see it clean here!"
Ny mother drew my aunt back.
81 will show you up stairs now, if You
please" said she.
"Oh, mol 1 don't keer about seeing
your house just yet There'll be time
enuf for that; for if like Boston, kali
kerlate to stay four or five weeks I'm
tired now; them pesky keers has eanamost
shook me all to pieces. And then your
roads here is so rocky, got all jounced
up! If lived here, I'd have all the rocks
picked out of the roads if | had to do it
myself"
| seized my hat and left the house. l