The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-01-11

could go with me just as well as not
if not more so, she said very compla-
Gently.
dressed myself when the time
came, and hurried out OF side door,
determined to battle aunt Sally; but
the old woman was too sharp for me
There she sat composedly, on one of
the stone lions that hanked the gate
way, dressed in nounced pink calico,
and yellow bonnet, patiently waiting
for me-
I'm all ready" she remarked,
jumping up; and I've took my work
bag along, with some crackers in it. -
II it holds in till after nine o'clock, we
may want some luncheon"
We stepped into the street. The
people stared at us. | felt as red as
full blown poppy, My face streamcd
with preparation. | could not en-
dure it; it was no use. Politeness |
ignored in this case. / took advant-
age of the old lady's rapt gaze at the
window of print shop, to bolt down
by-street, and in few moments /
was in the presence of my divine Flo
ra. We walked leisurely to the thea
tire; at my ease--for knew that the
old lady never could find her way, un-
assisted, TO the theatre.
Judge my horror, when on reaching
the place of amusement, the first spec
tacle that greeted my eyes was aunt
Sally, standing in the door, her work
Lag on her arm, her voice raised to
its highest tension, and her right
hand gesticulating to the crowd she
had gathered around her.
"He went out of sight just like n
flash - she was saying; "and gave q
little boy a ten cent piece to show me
the way here--and Tn waiting for
him to come along. I'm kinder'afered
he's got lost, for he was allus rather
weak-headed; seems MS if he might
have asked somebody the way; he's
got tongue in his head--hallo there
he is now and the Queen of England
with him, by her gound Come along
jim; the meetin's just goin to begin.
They're a tootin on the bass-viol now
Where on earth did you go SO quick {!
Is that your gal?'
Indignation and dismay held me ST.
lent. Floras face was like a blush
rose. The crowd, by a great effort,
restrained themselves from cheering
the old lady; but it was very evident
to me that they would not long exer-
else such forbearance.
Jim" said my ancient relative in a
confidential whisper, loud enough to
be heard by the whole assembly; you
have got smut on your upper lip /
seed it before we started, but didn't
like to say nothing. You'd better
wipe it off; it looks dreadfully!"
The crowd fairly roared Smut, in
deed My cherished moustache, that
l had scented and oiled, and admired
for three long months. If the old la
dy had been man, / should have
challenged her on the spot. With a
desperate effort l addressed Flora:
Flora, my dear, we will go in, and
not pay attention to that insane old
woman"
Frank" she said she always
called me Frank me who that
horrid old creature is before / go an
other step?'
"Horrid critter l hain't horri1
critter !" cried aunt Sally waving her
work bag. I'm decent woman, and
hain't got no paint onto my face, as
some folks that | know of has. And
I'm Jim Browns own aunt-his faith
er's sister Sally, that married Nut
ter; and I've mended his pinnyfores
and trousers many Il time
Flora listened, and when aunt Sal
ly finished she east upon me such a
look.
"A[r. Brown" she said quietly, 81
have the honor to wish you very
good evening, with your estimable
relative" and then took the arm of
Fritz Ludlow, and sailed away.
thought / should have tainted on
the spot; and, perhaps / should, if !
had not felt my sleeve vehemently
pulled. / turned and saw lean
faced man.
Jim" said he; ''lend your uncle
five dollars, do. I've left my pocket
book to hum p
Good gracious it was my uncle
Solomon French, and Lohjnd him
was my uncle Bill, aud behind him
my aunt Mary and cousin Susan. l
did not stop to see how many more
there was. | took it for granted that
the whole audience was to be com
posed of my relatives / jumped
down the steps and fled at the top OF
my speed. Aunt Sally cried at the
extent of her voice:
"Stop him stop him' And grasp
ing stranger by the coat sleeve, she
impatently demanded of him where
the nearest policeman could be found
This excited action of aunt Sally was
afterward told me by cousin Tom.
| ran down the street with only one
thought in my mind, and that was the
sincere hope of reaching my residence
before was oyertakcn; but rs many
were following close to my heels in my |
hasty flight, they supposing me to be I
a thief, / could not succeed in reach
ing home unmolested.
l was 500 , stopped and surrounded
by noisy rahb,e, who held me by the
sleeves and collar until policeman
arrived Tho officer som came up,