Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-08-24

either grave or serious looking. l shall
not feel that have offended either good
sense or propriety by wearing flower in
my hair, so long as my husband does not
object"
The Rubicon was passed and bridgcd
forever by such a speech as that. Mrs.
Bittershr,b had established herself as an
obedient wife and woman without fear !;
but the unfortunate "J. b." whom fate
was tirclcss in butteting, led the way back
to the sitting room with very rueful
visagc, predicting to himself THAT all
things were at an end" though the exact
meaning attached to such an erroneous
and serious assertion might have puzzled
him to determine.
lie was, however, kind and solicitous,
and did not mean to keep up the Misses
Bittcrshrub beyond their orthodox hour
Of retiring.
Matters went on pretty much the same
as they had commenced for whole fort
night, and the practical Mrs Tilly had be-
gun to know the peculiaritics Of the old
ladies, and taught herself to smother some
OF her girlish impulses in their presence,
and mad even neglected to follow j. B. to-
the front door on several occasions as he
K ft for his mornings work in the odious
factory. Miss Elmira was not fond OF
such connubial demo ustr.tions Cher dis
gust Was probably induced by an utter ig-
norance Of such codes and practices)
Day by day Miss Clarissa sat knitting
gray and sombre woolens by the window,
which disclosed, when the weather was
favorable, view of one tall chimney, with
its titful wreaths Of dun .colored smoke,
where the perplexed nephew worried over
his books, and fought hard to keep the
three women comfortable.
Day by day Miss Elmira followed her
niece into forbidden reccsscs, pouring out
gratuitously the experience Of a great
many years in tn, compounding of edibles
and household recipes, and insisting that
Matilda would never become an economi
Cal housekeeper. On several occasions
both the aunts had questioned the nephew
about eligible locations and sites for
building in the village or suburbs, declar
ing that they believed they had just as
W. II spend what little money they pos
scssed by rearing comfortable hom',
and that then they might endure the rest
OF their days in teaching select young
ladies' school-the very way, in fact that
their modest fortune had been accumulat-
ed. They were to be fixture, then-for-
ever.
Then the books and letters we're allowed
to get as much involved as they liked for
two whole days, and Jchial had shown
his relatives the beautiful Elm hill, which
slopcd down miniature river and bridge
and the most thriving thoroughfare of
Hopeville. The very spot that he had
shown Tilly one year before, when first
married, and which had enraptured them
both on account of the tall, green grass
and beautiful trees which made the hill
such lovely site. 'rilly had matters at
home pretty much her own old way for
the next six weeks, as the two old ladies
invariably spent the day at the new and
grand house they were having erected,
and came home too tatigued to find com.
plaint with anything. In an incredibly
short time, through their own energy and
perseverance, the fine red brick house with
it's encircling piazzas and pretty gables,
was done to the last nail, and the inlay
ing Of the New England kitchen floor and
pantry.
Then Mrs. Bittershrub was invited to
cccding of the whole-her taste was re-
quired about everything.
swell, but dear aunty, you know love
bright curtains and pictures and images,
and rich carpets and gilt paper, and these
Clarissa"
"Never mind, child, they will do very
we'll )" and the old ladies exchanged mean.
ing glances.
And all the bright and rich things were
put into the new house, until Tilly de-
clared in an ectasy that it was like a
palace. Then the gardener and trellis.
worker had finished their part of the
work, and all Hopcville with open eyes Of
admiration gazed on Elm Hill. And
Jehial, from his dusty counting room win
dow, could look on this marvel and sigh
deeply and hopelessly.
Then the day came that the two queer
old people were to journey back to Boston
and make their preparation for a future
living.
Tilly had begun to like them dearly, as
querulous ard hard to please as they ever
could be, and begged that they would not
delay thcir return.
Jehial aud Matilda accompanied them
to the stage coach, and were puzzled to
know why they carried away all their lug
gage when they mcantAo return so soon.
With two downright loving embraces
and kiss on Tilly's fair cheek, Miss FL
mira and her sister were gone.
The unprctending little hours seemed
actually lonely without their simple pres
wild exclamation and scream for Jehial
when she visited their empty room, the
evening Of their departure.
He sprang up the stairs two at bound,
and there stood the excit4ble Tilly, crying
and laughing all in breath and dropping
BIZ, tears all over blue sheet Of paper,
written in the crampcd, Grabbed char
ac!er of Misses Elmira and Clarissa Bitter
shrub:
OUR DEAR NEPHEW AND NIECE: You will
doubtless be surprised ut some intelligence you
may meet with in this letter, but we are con.
vinced that all will be learned and appreciated in
relatives than yourselves-and having earned in
our younger days and put ont ut interest gOOdiSl
lot of money. which we will not likely in our re.
cludcd alter long visit in which we pnr, osclv
tried the patience and affection of you both, and
found % them not wanting, that the house on Elm
tershrub their n"turAl lives token and remen,-
bruncc of their fidelity and patience, and the love
OF their atIectionate kinswonen, Elmlra and
Clarissa Rittcrshrub
Beside the letter on the table lay large
legal document, leaving all things as de-
scribe d, aud making two young people in
the world too happy for speech.
They wrote Immediately that they would
never christeu Elm Hill with,.ut the good
souls who had made it such al Eden, ard
sue rnn,gh when all the c]ms and oaks
wcr. crimson and gold with October, the &C.
four were assembled in the lovely rooms
and looked on all the world with unjcalous
oJcS.
The two generous old ladies never
started the young ladies' school. They
had no time. They could not be spared
by the young people.
And the now lucky J. B. was no longer
ashamed of the time honored name borne
by these dear aunts, and immediately after
his accession to this fortune wrote a
strai ghtforward letter to the aristocratic
Fortcscuc, the tailor, and subscribed him
self, without a trcmor, Jehal Bitter
shrub.
An AnccdOte Of the Rev. MIR. Nay.
In early life he was settled over small
parish in Brooklyn, Ct, and rode in one