Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-12-03

Aunt Betsy Green was an antique
maiden lady of thirty years, and had been
thirty years, ever since Frank Hudson,
her scampish nephew, could remember,
and he was tweuty-;hree, and, moreover,
she had been of that age long before Liz
zie May, her niece, came in from her play,
when a little girl, and caught her in the
act Of putting on false hair, and very in
uocently asked her if the Indians had
scalped her Lizzie May was now eight
cen, and prettier, more bewitching, and
more mischieyous witch could not be- found.
And, between Frank and Lizzie, Aunt
Betsy had hard time, Frank and Lizzie
had always lived with their maiden aunt,
rs they were both orphans, and she was
their only living relation.
Aunt Betsy was a firm believer in spir-
itualism, and was trying "a She had been
endeavoring for more than twenty years
to get husband, but had not succeeded
! as yet, though she play cd her artn ON every
man in town from the age Of eighteen I,
! sixty-four. The personal appearance o.
Aunt Betsy was-as near as can be told
AS follows: Rather large of stature, hony
very long nose, hooked chin, and small
gray ewes Her face was always painted
pink and she wore false hair, front curl,
and waterfall, false teeth and false bust
| Taking her altogether, she was an inter
esting specimen of how much art can
! do to overcome the shortcomings Of ma
| ture.
| Next to Aunt Betsy's cottage was. Il
| large commodious house, called bv the
villagers the Mansion This mansion
had been without an occupant for some
! time, as its owner, who was bachelor
had been absent on business; but now
| he was coming to live there, and Aunt
Betsy was all excitement aboutit, much
| to Frank and Lizzie's amusement.
lie came at last and took possession o.
the house. He was short Of stature, hu
very feshy, bald-headed, and about t,lly
five, and by name, Peleg Short.
/ Aunt Betsy marked h.ln lor hc' own,
scraped acquaintance with him rs soon a
possible, and in two or three days gave :
small tea-party for his especial benefit
and told him he must drop ia OCCASION
ally, for, as he was all alone, he must ,
lonesome, and they were such near nG-h
bors, etc. Mr. Short WAS hy 10 moan
10TH for he had seen Lizzie, and; though
old, was not wise he had fallen deeply ii
love with her But, as Glove is blind h
did not sec that she was laughing in he
sleeve in him, though more polite and def
erential to him she could nos have been
!, much to Franks uneasiness, until the,
held a secret counsel together, which sud
denly cleared his brow.
This went on for some time: Mr.. Shor
: continued to "drop in about every even
> ing, and Aunt Betsy painted, powdered
bewigged. and played the agreeable III
> best she know how.
We have mentioned that Aunt pets.
was firm believer in Spiritualsm. Abon
this time an astonishing thing happened
One day Lizzie was AT friends, anC
Frank lay asleep, to all appearances, or
the sofa, and Aunt Betsy was knitting a
fast as she could, and thinking: Nv ou,'
Mr.. Short ever propose :" when sudd"nl.
she heard some say:
"Aunt Betsy Aunt Eotsy Ereen J
Thinking it was Frank, sh" turned dToun'
and said
"Did you speak, Frank
Frank only snored.
, Dear me r thought Aunt Betsy, ''som
one certainly spoke Who could it hav
been Z"
Said the voice again y
: eAunt Betsy, am thy falnili'5 Sp, !
III have something to com''u'''''''- u
you y .u.n 4,
"Law sakes whas IS lido tell Aii'
Aunt Betsy, in %. awe-stricken voice.
"Some or Is going to propose -Auh
! Betsv o.se scream-"to you, continue,
tho ;oice. "But not yet he ia bashtul
. and you must encourage him when lh.
time comes,
"Well, what kind OF a looking man
) he 2" asked Aunt Betsy, eagerly. =.
5 "He is short of stature, and ooingS y
see YOU often. Remember what nav
told you,n said the voice, solemnly:
e "Mr. Short, as live y said the deiish'
cd spinster. -,
!, AT this interesting juncture, franI
! yawned, stretched himself and opene'
hi, ewes. We will add here, for the bene
At of our readers, that Frank was an e1
, cellent ventriloquist, and that Aunt Bets
, did not know it, and he probably woui
not have walked SO soon, but he ielt u
, could not keep from laughing any los
After this all went on as usns' &c,
few days. Mr.. Short kept coming. anu =
/, course Aunt Betsy considered that ?
xisit. we're for her, and her only; but on
|, aav he o.,ne over when Aunt Betsy Wa
sss nSsASsIs sad Haas was IN u