Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-10-24
THE I.ErER ARg NIECE.
AEnt pisklehury was all old lllssie

Aunt pisslehury was ali oldlnaid.
Not that old maids reed, of neeessi
4 q q, to be ii any wise different from tht
rest of the world. Aunt. Pickleburs
was different. Size had, as II. were, /
vein Of originality running through
her. She liked to wear her brochs
shawl wrong side out, and to tie lel
j ribbons aslSew, and to put the fowel
! on the right hand side OF her bonnet.
when all the world was wearing theirs
i on the left hand side. And she could
afford to cultivate as large crop OF
pecnliarities as she pleased, for Aunt
Picklebury had money. It has been a
part Of her PECULIARLY to emigrate and
buy western lands, just when all her
relatives were located in a snug little
eastern town. II.
care you going crazy, Melissa ? her
married sister had plaintively demand
cd. 5
NO. Miss PiclSlebury answered,
ssbut | want breathing rooni.n 5.5.
The lands had risen in value with
almost fabulous rapidity, the western
settlement had grown into d Young
city, and Miss Melissa Picklebury was
rich.
She sat knitting, with magazine
open on her lap, one bright October
morning, when Harry Hayden came
in, the junior member of Hoyt & Hay
den, who transacted Miss Melissa's le
gal business.
sCrying, Miss Picklebury ~ he cried
cheeriiy. "Why, what on earth is the
matter ~ .sg5 .6.
"Was cryingp said Miss Pickle
bury, somewhat shamefacedly. .sWell,
you couldn't have helped it yourself,
Harry, if you had been reading this
story. 1t is my literary niece the
prettiest little thing you ever saw
1The story, or the niece ~
EsThe story, of course. I never saw
my literary niece, but | dare say she
is raw boned and sallow, with holes in
siyutsa TN Icr sfI55tur. but snc wrItes
well; there's no denying that I read
all her papers, and | always laugh or
cry over them. 1t is a great talent,
Harry"
$50 it is," assented the young man,
careless!y.
81 have written East for one of my
sisters girls to come out and stay with
me. I told them to forward her on by
express. She'll be here this afternoon.
| want you to go to the Office and meet.
herr
'sThe literary niece,7 said Hayden,
laughing.
"Goodness Forbid said Aunt Pickle
bury, with a grimace. sI want no ink
spots on my clintz bedroom furniture
and fine frenzies about sunset and au-
tumn leaves and such things. | wrote
to Polly to send me homespun, SEN
sible girl, that would be companion
to me; not full-fedged, fashionable
1adyn
'sAll right said Hayden.
Miss Pieklebury looked after the
young man as he strobe away over the
dead drift of yellow leaves that lay in
the road. lisa
"A nice young fellow, that,n said
she to herself, "With no airs and graces
about him. | like him. Perhaps
for Miss Picklebury was by no means
free from the feminine trait of castle
building-"he will fall in love with my
sensible niece. If he does, he shall
have my blessing
The niece by express arrived that
night, just as Miss Picklebury was sit
ting down to tea. She was slight and
graceful and dark-eyed, with Glove
pink complexion, and laughing, dim
pied mouth Aunt Picklebury liked the
looks of her.
ssWhat is your name, my DEAR she
said.
ssClara,n said the newcomer.
!" lou are very pretty" said Miss
Picklebury, 1and | think I shall like
you.'
s.And know I shall like you, Aunt
Nelly said Clara, with great hug
Of the good old lady's plump, cushiony
form.
1Let me see,n said Miss Picklebury,
there are three Of you-the literary
one, the school teaching one and the
sensible one"
Il hope we are all sensible, Aunt, =
said Clara, coloring.
81 hope so toe,n said the old lady,
"but have my doubts on the subject.
| am afraid Of these literary folks, and
| don't like shoolma'ams. Can you
sew ~
ssOh, yes, aunt, DEAR
Z And darn stockings puton patches
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