The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-10-02
MISS PEABoDY's DISAPPOINTMENT.
BY CAROLINE F. PRESTON.

| mlSS fEHbODI = DtoHffOtN MEN j ,
BY CAROLINE F. PRESTON.
One morning early in March, Miss
Araminta Peabody sat at the win
dow, with letter in her lap. Judg-
ing from the expression on her face,
the news which it impaired was not
of gratifying character. 1t inform
ed her of the approaching marriage
of her niece, Jane, who wrote as fol-
lows:
go, Aunt Araminta, I'm SO happy.
Of course you can't enter into my
feelings, as you never have been
married, andnot likely to be. But,
he's such dear fellow! | think it
will be some time next month, if |
can get ready, and shall certainly
try. Then we shall make short
journey, and 60 to house keeping on
our return. will let you know, in
time, of the day appointed, that you
may be present"
There was more, but this extract
is sufficient.
"The little chit - said Aunt Ara.
minta, Indignantly, 81 should like to
know what she means by saying that
| 'of course cannot enter into her
feelings because I am never likely to
be married. Why not, | should like
to know? I'm not silly sixteen, to
be sure, an age when a young girl
ought not to be thinking of marriage,
but if l am almost thirty, miss Ara
minta was nearer forty than thirty
l don't know as that destroys all
hopes Of getting married. Not that
| care particularly about marrying,
miss Araminta had been setting her
cap at different persons for fifteen
years. still, if l could meet with a
good, sensible man, whom l could
esteem and respect, l might be in
duced to give up my independence,
and sssume the cares Of welded
| state."
At this moment boy of twelve
Job Hawkins, the son of one of the
nearest nsighbors,) was seen ap-
preaching the front door with let
ter in his hand.
GA letter for me-" thought Aunt
Araminta, and she hastened to open
the door.
Job was already standing on the
door step, with something like grin
on his face.
"Here's love-letter for you, Miss
Araminta," he said.
"What do you mean? ?" said the
spinster.
"It looks like one, anyhow" said
the boy.
Araminta took it into her hand.
The fanciful envelope caused her t.
feel that it mi ght be love-letter-
the first one the spinster had ever re-
| ceived. 1t caused futter at her
virgin heart, but of course she did
not wish to betray her agitation to
the boy.
GA joke, 1 suppose" she said.
"However you're good boy for
bringing it. Wouldn't you like a
piece of mince pie9 Igot some just
| baked"
eyes, ma'am, would" said Job,
who was particularly fond of mince
| pie, and had never known the time
when he couldn't accommodate a
piece with house room.
"Come into the kitchen, then,"
said Araminta, who felt very kindly
towards the messenger who had
brought her such good fortune.
Job followed her with alacrity,
and was soon making sad havoc with
considerable segment of the invit-
ing article, for Araminta was a good
| cook.
Miss Araminta had given Job a
liberal slice, and waited with some
impatience for him to finish it, for
she wished to be alone when she
opened the precious missive. No
eyes profane must be allowed to
watch her when "she read the con-
tents of this" the first love missive
she had ever received. But she did
not allow for the appetite of a grow
ing boy.
sPlease, Miss Araminta, may l
have another slice ?" asked Job with
his mouth full.
Now the duty of hospitality was
plain, and although in her secret
heart, she apostrophized the urchin
as pig, she was, perforce, obliged
to answer as best as she could.
eyes, certainly"
Another segment was laid on Jobs
plate, and second attack was made
as vigorous as the first. AS a pru
dental measure, Miss Araminta con-
cluded it proper to remove the re.
naming half pie, the sight of which
might prove fresh stimulus to the
unsat'stied appetite OF the young ep-
icure. So Job having slowed away
the second piece under his jacket,
and seeing no prospect for any more,
reluctantly rose from the table with
a sigh, half of satisfaction at the en-
joyment he had already experienced,
half of unsatisfied longing, akin to
that which Phoebe Carey speaks of
in parody,.the original of which will
be readily recognized:
~ see the lights of the baker
| Clean through the rain and the mist,
And feeling of hunger comes DER me
That my soul cannot resist"
"Good-bye, Miss Araminta," said
Job, sI'll bring all your letters from
the post Office"
This offer was scarcely disinterest-
ed. 1t had an evident squirting "a
vulgar word, know, TO prospective
pieces of pie, as compensation for
future services rendered.
Goodbye, Job.' said Miss Ara
minta. 'How's your ma? p
! 'Purty smart replied Job.
And your sister, Elvira p
She's got the rheumatic in her
back said Job. 1T makes her all.
fired cross
%, well, rheumatism Is a cross
PAIN said Araminta, Cnsiderately.
'Give her my love, and your ma, too.
tYes, ma'am, said Job, who ought
to have gone, but still he fingered.
1 tWhy don't he 90 p thoupht Ara.