Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-11-06
StItfteD SStorp.
From Applcton's journal J
Aunt lydia.

Having finished our simple meal, my
old friend pushed her cup aside and
leaned back in her chair with her usual
serene and contcnted mien.
arose, pulled the bell, and, as the
servant cleared the table, |, too, made
myself comfortable in an armchair.
and for the hundredth time let my eyes
wander about the coy little room.
1t was elegantly but simply furnish
ed, without any effort at display-like
the occupant. with her wealth Of white
hair, her full and expressive eyes, and
her well-preserved teeth, who sat OPP
posite me and watched me with a
smile, as fancied from the old family
portraits on the walls to the writing
desk with its inuumerable pigeon holes,
to the sewing-table near the window,
then TO the larger table in the corner.
laden with books and magazines, and
90 on, from one object TO another, un-
til finally my eyes rested on a fancy
inlaid box that was near me.
What is my little. restless inquisi-
tor looking for in this modest apart.
ment5 asked the Old lady.
at is so comfortable here. so differ
ent from what it is in all other houses
There is no place like SO much to be
As with YOU, Aunt Lydia - said |, q,
giving her a title that love and not
relationship justified. But" | added,
as my eyes, as if by accident, fell on
the inlaid box, "did you not promise
me that might look through your lit
tie collection Of soucenis again to-
dav!"
NV old friend nodded an affirmative.
and sprang up and placed the box on
the table before me. For long time
/ rummaged in its contents, now find
ing rare stone with monogram cut
on it, now miniature portrait in a
costly frame and each object recalled
TO Aunt Lydia some reminiscence of
the friend from whom she had received
it-in most cases in her youth. While
l was thus occupied suddenly dis
covered that there was a compartment
in the cover, which had previously
escaped my notice. | soon found the
spring; it yielded to gentle pressure.
the partition flew open, and out fell a
diminutive package wrapped carefully
in q bit of faded silk.
l glanced triumphantly at Aunt
Lydia but as looked up she leaned
quickly forward, making a gesture as
though she would have me desist.
There was something in the movement
that startled me. and hastened TO re-
place the little package and close the
box. AS l did so, Aunt Lydia drew
it toward her, re-opened it,took out the
package, and, with trembling hand.
undid its silken wrappings.
1t was a bunch of dried violets, to-
gether with beautifully-executed
picture in water-colors, representing
them as they had been when fresh.
''How beautiful ~ exclaimed,
"Who painted them!"
A melancholy smile passed over the
wrinkled face of Aunt Lydia as she
replied: Il painted them as happy
child of eighteen p
A scarcely audible sigh and slight
tremulousness of tone told me that
they recalled painful recollections.
"Tne sight Of them makes you sad"
said l. 1--WE will pat them back"
Sad T. said she; ''oh, no, not sad.
These objects recall to my recollection
many happy hour and, if time and
grief have rendered the bright hopes
of nv youth like these withered flowers,
the remembrance of those hours is still
as bright and fresh as The colors in
this picture"
l did not venture to ask, and yet
how l wished to hear the history Of
these remembrances My old friend
seemed to read my thoughts. ''Well,
Elsa," said she. 'would you like me to
give you another chapter to-day of the
story of my life? Shall tell you of
the three days which these violets re.
call SO vividly to my recollection
IF you will, aunt" l replied, and as
l sat down on the stool at her feet,
she leaned back in her chair, and,
clasping her hands in her lap, she be-
gan:
1T is just noon on bright spring
day. The birds chirp and twitter
gaily among the towering branches,
and the butterflies futter lazily two
and fro in the warm midday sun !;
there is light and life everywhere. At
an open window on the garden side of
a stately mansion there sits young
girl. She may be eighteen or nine
teen; a cheerful expression, a pure
heart, and the freshness of youth are
all the personal charms Of which she
can boast. But the little figure at the
, wind0w whO fnr the time has for