The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-10-23
AUNT LYDIA.


old friend pushed her cup aside and lean
ed back in her chair with her usual ae- |
reno aud centeated mien. .....
arose. pulled the bell, and. as the scr.
want cleared the table, I, te0. MAIDS my
sclf comfortable in an armchair, ard for
the hundreth time, let my eyes wander
about the c"zy little room.
It was elegantly bat simply furnished,
without any effort Of display-like the
occupant with her wealth Of white hair,
her full sAd expressive eyes, and her we'll
preserved teeth, who sat opposite me and
watched me with . smile, as iancisd,
from the old family portraits on the walls
to the writing-desk with it's iRnumerable
pigeon. to the sewing table near the
window, then tO the larger table ia the
corner, laden with books and magazines,
and so on, from one object to another,
until finally my eyes rested on fancy in.
laid box that was near me.
"Whst is my little, restless inquisitor
looking for in this modest apartment"
asked the old lady> a. "a ra...
ut il 50 comfort&ble hcre, 40 different
from what it is in all other houses! There
is 40 place like so much as to be with
you, Aunt Lydis!" said I. giving her
title that love and not relationship justifi-
ed. "But," I added as my eyes, as if by
accident, fell on the inlsid bex, did ysu
not premise me that might look through
your little collection of souvenirs again
to-day"
My cid friend nodded an affirmative
aud 1prang up and placed the box or
tie table before me. For long time
rummaged in its contents, now finding o
rare stone with monogram cut on l.,
new miniature portrait in q costly frame
and each object recalled to Aunt Lydia
some "reminiscences Of the friend frsm
whom she had received tin most cases
in her youth. While was thus occupied;
suddenly discovered that there was a
compartment in the cover, which had pre-
viousIy escaped my notice. I soon found
the spring; it yielded toe gntle pressure,
the partition few open, and cut fell d.
minutive package wrapped carefully in
bit of faded silk. ..-...
l glanced triumphautly at Aunt Lydia
but as 1 looked up she leaned quickly
forward, making gesture az though she
would have me desist. There was some
thing IN the movement that startled rue
and fastened to replace the little pack
age and close the box. As did so, Aun!
Lydia drew it toward her, reopened 1t
took cut the package, i, with trcm
bling hand, undid its silken wrappings
It was bunch of dried violets, togeth
or with beautifully executed picture il
watcr-colors, representing them as th0J
had been when fresh.
"How beautiful" exclaimed. "Wh,
painted themS"
A sad smile came over the wrinkled
face of Aunt Lydia as she replied: 81
painted them,as happy child of eighteen
A scarcely audible sigh and slight
tremulousness of tone told me that they
recalled painful recolIections. 1.-THE sight
of them makes you sad," said I. We will
put shem back" H.
"Sadr said she; ''oh, no.not sad. These
objects recall to my recollection mDny a
happy hour; and, If time and grief have
rcnderc1 the bright hopes Of my youth
like these withertd fow ers, the remenA
brance Of those happy hours is still az
bright and fresh in my memory as are
the colors in this little picture"
did cot venture to ask, and yet how
wished to hear the history OF these re
mem brances! My old friend seemed to
read my thoughts "Well, Elsa" said she,
would you like nae to give you another
chapter to-day of the story of my life?
Shall tell you of the three days these
violets recall so wildly to my recolec-
ton"
eff you will, aunt" I replied, and as
sat down on the stool at her feet, she
leaned back in her chair, and, clasping
her hands IN her lap she began:
1t is just noon on bright spring day.