The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-11-17
sflisrallaneOns Selertiors.
From Hearth and Home.
MY AUNT BETSY.

!
Prominent in my recollection, and
peerless in her class, stands the
"Aunt Betsy" of my boyhood. Win.
ming and attractive even to stranger
eyes, her gentle presence borrowed
yet no charm from outward grace,
but, sitting calmly under what some
one calls the "curse of plainness," "
she had so evidently risen above it,
triumphed over and turned it into a
blessing, that the visible fact was a
banner of hope to all other strug-
Cling souls. "a heart at leisure from
itself to soothe and sympathize,"
seemed the gracious declaration Of
her whole being.
Apropose of "plsinness,"" / Iremem-
Der a characteristic incident occur
ring when 1 was about nine years
old. Aunt Betsy, who was always
on the alert to help with "the chill
dren," had relieved our somewhat
crowded nursery by taking with her
to Newport, for the summer, my lit
tie sister Katie and myself. Rising
early one morning to enjoy the salt
breeze, and the noble bay whose
waves were tossing under her win
dow, she stood quietly before the
glass smoothing her soft gray hair,
and adjusting, as only a Quaker can,
the neat cap and handkerchief
Katie, always little spoiled mink,
was awake and lying on the pillow
directly behind her-a charming
study of flushed cheeks, golden curls
and wide-open blue eyes. How far
the child was conscious of a contrast
we cannot tell; but after contempla
ting for some time the kind face in
the glass before her, she said musing
ly, and yet with a certain accent of
pettishness, "Aunt Betsy, how home
Ey thee isr'
Ny aunt made no immediate re-
ply. What daughter of Eve could?
But few moments after, turning
round, she said pleasantly, "Come,
Katie, dear, it is time to get upp
"Now thee smiles, thee looks rath
er better" rcjoined Pertness, some
what Modified, and hunting for her
stockings.
This anecdote my aunt was wont
to relate with much merriment to
her friends. Ifshe had one PARTIAL
ty stronger than any other, it was
for children; not mere fOndness, but
love amounting to reverence.
Her eyes seemed specially anoint-
ed to behold their loveliness, and
no mother over the irst-born could
exceed her in joyful and almost &C.
static appreciation. "Of sneh,' she
would often say, "of fsuch is the king
dom of heaven-this the angelic vi
sion."
can never forget my mother
asking her on one occasion to sug-
gest an appropriate motto for the
nursery. Aunt Betsy said she would
send her one, and requested that it
might be hung on the wall "over
against" the crib where the little
one of the time was pillowed. 1t
came, beautifully illuminated-"Put
of thy shoes from off thy feet, for the
place whereon thou standest is holy
ground;" and there through long
years of loving vigil-the hour of
| Joy and the midnight watch-did
those words solemnize and comfort
that mothers heart. "Dear jane.
she said one sultry morning, "does
thee know were 1 found thy Katie
yesterday? 1 missed the child, and
fearing she might be in the sun, ran
to the garden; there she stood with
out her hat, The sun beating down
on her curls, tanning the flowers!
Can anything exceed that?"
One summer, in the country, my
father had consigned to him to keep
until his owner should come out
famous English pig. The arrival of
this transatlantic guest was great
event in the family. Young and old
visited, admired and carressed him.
Great solicitude was felt that moth
ing should happen to him while in
our hands, and "Be sure you don't
let him get away" we're my fathers
last words, as he left for the train
the day before Mr.. c. was to
arrive. The same morning, as Aunt
Betsey was quietly sitting in the
library, composing her mind with
mo Cross, no Crown" in burst Bob
by. cheeks afame and eyes bursting
out of his head with excitement.
I"O Auntv, Aunty! the pigs got
away! Quick, quick! There he
goes down the roadp Aghast at
the greatness of the danger-this
most unlooked-for and appalling
hegira-up jumped my aunt, and,
overtnruing her work basket and