Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-12-19
VOL. XVIII.

of the year, an 'twasn't likely young
thing like you would want 20 rnn oil
from the fun and frolic, just to see us
two. OLD folks. But Pm powerful glad
you've come; and you won't be SO lone
some, neither, for my nephew's comm
either tonight or tomorrow morning, an
he'll be company for you: Hes IS likely
a young man as you'd wish to see."
Maud began to wish she had staid at
honei Farmer Seymour and his wife
Nancy she really liked; but their likely
young" relative she had no desire to cul-
tivate. But her dissatisfaction eeQa van
ished under the influence CT the pleasant
December sunshine, and the strange quiet
and peacefulhess, which was part and par
Gel of this New England homestead.
The likely young man was not forth
coming that evening, and Maud notsd his
non appearance with sign of relief.
cone evening without strangers, y
she murmured, in satisfaction. And
that is considerably better than
none at ALL" and SO, at "tncle
Hiram's" (as she had been desired
to cali him} request, she seated herself at
the old piano, and sang for hours the
simple airs which the old gentleman Sc
lected. "Bonnie Doom" and "Old Hun
dred," ssPop goes the weasel" and 'Len-
nox,n followed each other in quick sue
cession, and she was just in the midst of
"Hail Columbian" when in burst Aunt
Nancy, all of aglow with excitement and
exercise.
"What's the matter, wife?" asked the
old farmer, breaking off from '' Heaven
born Band" with suddenress that caus-
ed Maud instinctively to follow his ex-
annie uArVthipp wrOnp9"
"Oh, dear! yes," said the old woman,
energetically removing her woolen hood.
"Sallie Browns sick, and can't come to-
morrow to help me In my baking, and
there's nobody else in the neighborhood
l can get, and what on earth I shall do,
it's beyond me to imagine. | can get
along well enough in the regular Christ
mas dinner; but one pair of hands amt
nowhere in the baking that's got to be
done beforehand" and the poor weman
very disconsolately gathered up herwrap-
pings and rose from her chair.
"Mercy, Aunt Nancy! said Maud,
cheerily, "don't worry about that! ]
don't believe but I'm just as good cook
as Sallie Brown; and I was going to ask
you, anyway, to let me help you toner
row. Mother laughs at me. because
like the kitchen, and bribe our cook to let
me make a cake or pie once in while,
but tell her I was born with a knack
for it, and ought to put it to some ac-
count; but I don't get much chance home,
and I'll be perfectly delighted if you'll
play I am Sallie tomorrow.
To this arrangement the old lady made
few objections, and the next morning
found Maud duly installed assistant cook
in the house of Seymour. Mrs. Avery
would have wrung her hands in holy hor-
ror at the picture presented by her lovely
daughter on that eventful day. Her soft
quilted merino wrapper Aunt Nancy
Immediately vetoed as too nice for the
"mussy" work on hand, and, for lack of
anything else, brought forth one of her
own dark calicoes. Three of tiny Maud
Avery could have occupied it comforta-
bly,, but, by dint of a pin here, loop
there, and general taking-in all over,
she at last declared it able to 'stay on. p"
This was then enveloped and covered by
a voluminous white bib apron, which,
serving to hide sundry plaits,
ETC., did not take from the general dump
mess; her abundant wavy brown hair,
concerning whose reality there had been
standing disputes ever since her debut,
was tightly coiled round about her dainty
little head, and, altogether, Uncle Hiram's
criticism was just.
"You don't look so citifed; but, ac-
cording to my way O. thinkin', you are a
good sight prettier."
Aunt Nancy was busy in an animated
lecture on pumpkin pies, box of ginger
in one hand and box of cinnamon in an
other, when her liege lord hurried in
with the information that Hugh was com
ing up the road. Both boxes were drop.
ped in jiffy, and, with hurried "Now,
child, don't forget! only half of the
pumpkin is to be seasoned with ginger,
cause some folks don't like it and some
folks dO," she rushed to the front door.
Maud was vexed with herself, for at
the mere name of Hugh, the hot blood
rushed to her face in torrents.
"What goose you are, Maud Averyr
she murmured, scornfully, closing the
door between the kitchen and the sitting
room the while. "What's Hugh Wethe.
rill to you, any more than any other man,
that chance name should set you to
thinking of him, and make you blush
like school girl? Bah! I'm ashamed Of
your" and very deliberately she pro-
ceeded to the measuring of her different
spices; but the sound of deep voice in
the sitting room upset all her composure
The box of ginger dropped into the pan
of undivided pumpkin; the cinnamon
followed suit, and, all in tremor of EN-
barrassment, the self.constituted kitchen
maid sought in desperation for some way
OF escape. At that moment she would
have gone straight back to New York
city without changing her dress; but il
could not be done. She could not gel
out to the highway without being seer
from the adjoining apartment; nor could
she get upstairs without passing through
it. She was literally cornered.
eyes," came from the next room il
that familiar voice; ''I'm here, Aunt
Nancy, and you ought, to feel considerably
flattered, for, tell you, I was sorely
tempted to remain in the city,"
Hump said Uncle Hiram, refectively
II hope you amt got no sweetheart?"
The other laughed hearty, magnetic
laugh it was.
"Why, Uncle Hiram, when I was her,
before, you wouldn't be satisfied becaus'
hadn't such a possession. You talked
matrimony from morning till night
What has changed your"
"Ohr' said the old man. lowering hi
voice to an appalling whisper, plainly per
ceptible to the blushing listener, "I'm o
the same mind now; but 1 don't wan
you to take up with anybody, and we'v,
got the incest little woman here visit
ing"
''Oh!" interrupted the other. $50 yo,
propose turning match maker; but it's n
use, Uncle Hiram. l haven't exactly
sweetheart; but I know young lad
whom I should very much like to see i
that trole, and if I can't get her, l won
have anybody"
"Who can she be ?'' wondered poo
halfconscious Maud, while the old farm
er sighed his disappointment, and the
asked with some interest: is she cit
girl ?'' e.
"Oh, yes!' returned the other. "Bu
don't let that prejudice you against hel
Uncle Hiram. She's not bit vain O
affected, and Iwant you to be real goo
friends if-pshawl 1 am talking at rar
dom. My partner, John Marvin-you'v
seen him, uncle-is following her up at
great rate, and if he don't marry her,
will be the first time he ever tried fe
anything and didn't succeed; so, you SCI
there's no great cause for worry" an
with half smile, half sigh, the hant
some fellow walked to the window an