The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1872-06-22
AUNT CLARi's STORY.
Bf DEBORAH.

70 temperance lecture IRON YOU
just as Il oue could not take little
too much vine now and then wilh q
friend, or nj an oyster supper, with.
out dying q druakard."
Thus spoke Edward Hall. whose
flushed cheek aud bloodshot eye
were evidences that bis aunt had
some reason te fec! anxious. After
a few moments silence, he mur.
INJURED 10 himself
II wish Aunt Cara was here ;
she's not fussy old maid, who
fancies u boy on the highway to de.
struction If he has a little fun once
iu a while"
He had hardly ceased speaking,
when Miss Hall observed from her
seat beside the window:
Edward, your wish Is granted.
| see Clara coming up the walk. I
will meet her and send her here"
She quickly rose and left the
room, but as she passed the sofa on
which Edward was lying, he noticed
that, quietly MS she had spoken, her
whole face was quivering with emo
tion, which she was striving 10 sup
press. Angry and impatieut as be
was, the sight Of that sad face, trem
bling with grief at his unkind taunt,
touched his better nature, and he
earnestly wished he had been more
gentle IN his replies to her close
questionings Of his companions and
whereabouts on the previous even
ing.
His thoughts wandered over the
past, and memory pictured many a
scene in which his aunt's uutirine
devotion to his happiness seemed 10
be the aim of her life.
30 interested was he in his retro.
spect, that he forgot his Aunt Clara
and all things else, until he felt hcl
cool hand on his burning brow, and
heard her kindly say:
!" Does my boy head ache 50 bad
ly that he has no welcome for me
when | came through all this snow
to congratulate him on arriving a,
manhood's years, and wish hin
many happy returns n
+" Why Aunt Clara! So this il
my birth day. ! had forgotten It
do believe that was what Aun,
Emily was trying to make me un-
derstand, when | got angry and an
swered her like d heathen. It'll 20
this minute and ask her forgive
ness"
He sprang' from the sofa to seek
his aunt, but Mrs. Preston, gently
laying her hand on his arm, detained
him, while she said /:
Not quite 50 fast, my dear. Stay
with me. Emily has gone to lio
down. She needs rest after last
nights vigils. This ID q sad anni-
versary TO her"
"Vigils! Surely she was not UP
all night on my account Y hastily
said the the conscience-smittcn boy.
I" No, Edward not on your ac>
count does she keep this anniversary
with tears and prayers; though 1,
doubt not she has been praying for
you, too. Have you never heard
that this should have been the amir
yersary ofEmily's wedding
''" Aunt Emily's wedding! Why
was she not married? Did HIN def
/" Yes, my dear, be died By his own
hand. Poor Emily, her kind hexrt
has been sorely tried" MI,
"Tell me the story, please do. |
Poor Aunt Emily; sIie must think
me q brute. was tormenting her
on being an old maid just as you
came in.' a#s st
"Sit down agsin, and I will tell |
YOU said bis aunt, who had been
arranging bis pillows, and had drawn
an easy chair near the sofa.
~ hardly need to tell you that
Emily wss beautiful, our darling
and our pride, when tipt Harry
Bolton met her. lie was j class
mate of your father, and accom-
panied him home for The Summer "a
cation. Oh, how well I remember
the day! Edward was our only
brother and Emily idolized him.
His return, which was 4 great Joy 10
all, seemed to gil her cup Or happi~
ness to overfowing. An day sbe
wss busy filing vases, wrestling
garlands and testoons TO decorate
the house, hanming bis fayorite
tunes; now and then bursting into 4
full gusn Of melody, a. II her happy
heart could not keep silent. Ed
ward will soon be hsrel Edward
will soon be here!' she kept repeats
ing, until I replied, 30 viii Alfred
Preston and Cousln Tom. N.Y.
wreaths and flowers are for them,
Our mother had always made thel
return Of the absent uembers N the |
family an occasion n great tejoicing.
The whole house was decorated To-,
do them honor / want my chill
dren to teel that no orc, Or u no
place, are they 70 welcome ~ u
their motl cr's heart and hearth.
This was ever heY answer when
questioned. 10 she spared no pains
to make u the brightest, happiest
place On earth 10 each of NJ. No
tribe was too small, 20 trouble to
great that might "a y our pless
ure. .s!.s s7 n
/" owtbeausifuI oar Euily looked
n her simple white drssu, with :