The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-06-12
AUNT JERUSHA ABROAD.
BY CONSTANCE CARLETON

L went to an opery once in New ork
and it was nothin utyelpin and screech
in, but thinks me, can at least look at the
people; it will be better than mopin
here by myself. So I told Dick I'd go.
Pixies opery-house is a mighty nice
buildin', and 1 was nearly brealzin' my
neck tryin' to see the picters on the
ceilin' when the band give crash that
most sent me out of my cheer, and the
curtain riz.
was kinder disappointed to see that
there was nobody on the platform Cor
stage they call it) but an old man with
white hair, and wearin' gray gown. He
seemed, mighty mad or sorry, 1 don t
know which, and had a goblet in his
hand, and Dick said he was goin' to pizen
hisself. 1 was kinder shocked at that,
but says:
"Let him, if he hain't got no more
sense; he cant live much longer any
how"
That's Faust, says Dick, laughin !;
they can't get along without him"
Well, purity soon another man come
onto the stage and he was the oldest
lookin critter 1 ever did see. He was
dressed in right fiery red, from head to
foot, and had red chicken feather stick
in straight up in his cap nigh about a
yard long.
"Who's that ?' 1 whispered to Dick
"That, my dear aunt" says he, sis a
gentleman who has hand in great many
of the affairs of this world He is called
Mephistopheles. "
Good gracious" exclaimed I, what a
master name. His ma must a had a
queer taste. She must broke her jaws
when she wanted to speak to him.
well, 1 aint much of judge of coun-
tenances, but there's somethin' about
his'n that I don't like. He may be very
good man, but he's got the sneal1inest
expression on his face l ever saw, and
when he smiles he makes my very blood
run cold"
"And we'll he may" says Dick. "Why,
aunt, that's only one of his many names
Some folks call him tSatan"
With that 1 give one long scream and
everybody looked at me.
Dick done all he could to quiet me, but
1 was bound to go. He begged me to
stay, and said he would take keer of me,
and 1 could see he was chol1in hisself
with laughter. That got my spunz up,
and didn't say another word.
l saw, too, that nobody else was skeer-
ed, and concluded that needn't be, as
knowed that a good many folks there
had more reason to be afeared Of Old
Nick than l had.
Now what do you s'pose he did ? Why
he turned that old Mr.. Faust into the
handsomest young man you ever did see
with black curls, black mustache, and
his clothes sparklin all over with Jet.
"Faust has sold his soul to Mephisto-
pheles in order to get back his lost youth" /"
says Dick, who understood the furrin
language they was talkin in.
Richard Wilson," says I, "if you want
to look at sich wicked COINS on, you may,
but won't" and 1 never looked at the
stage the rest of the evenin>
After we'd got back to the tavern, and
I'd gone up to my room, Dick knocked
at my door, and when l opened it he
says:
"Auntie, who do you think has Gomez
~ can't guess; p'r'aps its Satan follered
us to the hotel. If he has, it amt hard
to tell which one of us he's after"
"The oldest in wiclledness, of course" 4"
,o,,, D;oIy with n how
mo, aunt, you are wrong; it is your
daughter Marthy and her husband from
New York.
"Marthy and her husband" says l.
"Where are they?'
"In the parlor They came about an
hour ago, and seeing our names on the
register waited four us"
1t didn't take me long to go down to
the parlor, you may be sure
"Well now," says l, Il call this quite a
squincidence How did you happen to
| Gomez
John said he'd come on business and
Marthy not havin' much to do had made
| -. ,, a. ,oy,,o o1O With him