New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-06

this Jacket. Have you any tA'hS 0A90 IL
me to repair n" and Aunt Bette CAREFUL
folded the garment alluded to, and place
1T in q LARGE basket filed with garment
that had also been carefully renovated b.
the same skilIful hands Aunt BETH
always called my mother "Mary," and
vas an understood fact in our family, il
the apportionment of the household duties
that "patching7 fell to Aunt Bette as he
share. She was my fathers sister, and :
great favorite with us younger members o
the family.
sWell, Bette, if you wish anything else
there is pair Of pants belonging to you
brother John, that need mending," my
mother replied, giving Aunt Bette the
garment at the same time.
Aunt Bette commenced the needful re
pairs. Suddenly dropping her work she
commenced laughing, and exclaimed
"Girls, never mend pants before you are
married. The reason / am an old maid and
a blue stocking is just because did not
practice the very advice l am giving YOU"
and again aunty's merry laugh rang out
through the room.
II believe | remember your love story,
Bette, and how your matrimonial prospects
were forever blasted by your performing a
similar task to the one you are now doing.
But, dear Bette, l am selfish enough to al
most be glad that you did not marry, for
how could have brought up all this family
of children without you," and my mother
kissed the smooth white brow of her dear
sister-in-law.
"Oh you dear, silly Mary, | have been
a great deal Of trouble to you and John,
especially about the time made the ter
Tible fur pas we were abiding to. But at
that time didn't you really wish had not
repaired poor George Smiths pants and
lost my only chance of marriage. Poor
General Edwards, l wounder if he can
Saugh over our gage glamour as l cam" re-
9llied our gay little aunt.
Just mention anything that savors of
Cove romance in the hearing Of girls and
INSTANTLY their curiosity lis on the q,cj riue
80 know all about it. Myself and sisters
swere not an exception to the rule; we,
therefore, commenced entreating aunty to
Cell us her story
But first, before we tell Aunt Bettie's
story, allow me to inform my readers that
aunty was a successful authoress, although
she did do such very practical work as the
etpatching" for "Brother Johns" family.
= We know the idea is prevalent ont in the
world that woman writer is entirely unfit
for anything real or practical, but Aunt
Bette was a living illustration of the fall
lacy of this doctrine.
"'Do you know / have always had
curiosity to know why you never married."
Gily eldest sister said as she smoothed Aunt
Settles glossy black hair "Why aunty
you are so handsome and accomplished, it |
seems SO absurd the idea Of your remain
ing single"
well, you silly girl, sit down on this foot
stool, and will tell you my story. But,
child take my advice, never perform task |
like this until you are married. Soon after
your fathers marriage, I, being an orphan,
came to live with him. | was at the time
scarcely seventeen, but, nevertheless, /
was betrothed to a gentleman who was at
that time Johns partner in business. Mr.
Edwards was many years my senior, and
had very little patience with my many
faults, for your father had been my only
guardian for many years. and l fear | was
a very self-willed girl, to say the least
Your father had in his employ young man
named George Smith, and as George
lived with us also, it is nothing very won
derful that he and 1 became very good
IL ~.
country to see her son, and when she was
leaving for home she asked me if at any
time Georges clothes neededrepairing that
or your mother would attend to it, as her
son could not as yet earn but small salary,
and she was q widow with a very limited
George would need be very eco
lonlical in his expenditures.
90 But / want him to Be comfortable and
.ook neat, and as l can not always be near
him, it will relieve me of so much anxiety
% feel that he has yours and your sister-in-
avs friendship
S'What could do, girls, but kiss the pale,
-aded check of the widow, and promise her
III she asked, and to assure her I would
over take the same interest in Georges
COMFORT and welfare as in that of my own
brother. The widow returned home happy !
Il this assurance. S
swell, time passed slowly on, and l faith
ully fulfilled my promise; but my be- '
hrothed, being of rather jealous DISPOSE
ion, never liked my friendship for George, E
nd you may be very sure he did not know L
lat | patched and darned poor Georges !
lothes One Saturday afternoon, boy !
rought in package for George from his
lother, which proved to be a suit of black
10th clothes. When George and your u
ather came to tea, George found there was
ONE tritiing change to be made in the
ants, but a few stitches from nv ever :
eady needle and they would be all riobt
tter tea, ! was alone in the parlor b1sv a. b
be task, when, thinking l heard a stem in fo
le hail. ! glanced toward The door where e.
TODD my betrothed, not looking at me. bur
the angriest, the most annib;Ia+- al
" looks upon the unfortunate garment 7 ty
as working upon.
THE scene that followed beggars descrin-
On. Suffice to say, our engagement was pi
oxen of and his partnership with my gi
other, General Edwards, asst is now al
T lie afterward went into the army ana won OF
] title Of Generals an old bachelor, and
because Aunt Bette mended George "
lith's pants. But kept my promise to ve
widow and received her thanks and vi