The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-12-25

When her niece retQfned to the house.
She was short, stout lady, periously
near to forty, with q row of curls like
miniature beer barrels, on both sides Of
her face, dubious nose-which, how
ever, sadly beiied the characteristics of
its owner, as Hannah was strictly tenn
perate in all things except scoldinG-
and small black eyes.
Certainly not beauty, and yet not
disagreeable to look upon.
But when Miss Bolton came in, Han
nah Bemis was Wrathful in the highest
degree.
'That's just like you, Net. Belton,"
cried she, in a voice shrilly raised.
"Gone half the morning, and nothing
done! And my two silver spoons gone,
that belonged to my mother before she
was maIried-spoons as wouldn't ha'
took pound apiece for 'em !"
"Why, aunt, I haven't taken your
silver spoons |"
81 never said you had" snarled the
maiden lady. cit is that plaguey organ
grinder as comes here, twisting out his
tunes afore the back door, and looking
for all the world as if butter wouldn't
melt in his mouth.
"And I just went TO get tnmbler of
milk for him, as he said he preferred it
to all the strong drink as ever was
brewed-and such an honest face as you
couldn't suspect, not If you tried-and
1 never to miss 'em till went to the
tray just now, and found only the
Britannia ones left
can, me! what world this is ?"
"But, aunt, I don't understand, in
terposed her bewildered niece. "Did
the organ grinder steal away your
mothers spoons?"
What else have been telling you
all this time ?" retorted Miss Bemis.
Really, one would think you wasn't
gifted with ordinary understanding.
Do start about Your ironing, and
get something done. And if you see
another organ grinder comm this way,
set the dog on him.
'But, aunt, all organ grinders are not
necessarily thieves"
Don't argue with me, MISS" sternly
commanded Hannah, "but do as you
are bid p
"Alas, that such an ennobling science
as music should have such unworthy
votaries I"
"She thinking of the Professor"
thought Janet, with mischievousIy
twinkling eyes, as she pressed the
wrinkles out of dimity apron with
ruffled border
Hannah dressed herself in her best
black silk that afternoon, with a laven-
der ribbon at her throat, and the curls
touched up with trife extra of poma-
tum to give them something of the gloss
of youth.
Cosmetics In their various shapes Miss
Bemis totally abjured; but there was
no harm, as she argued with herself, in
little starch sprinkled over the
wrinkles of her brow, and she viewed
herself, her toilet completed, with COM
mendable pride.
"Nobody would take me to be day
over eight and thirty" said Hannah to
herself.
Aud then she sat down to her knit
ting, just inside the front window, where
the honeysuckles grew.
Are you expecting any one in par
ticular, aunt?' asked Janet, with great
gravity.
"Dear me, no. Who would 1 ex-
pect?"
"Oh, I don't know. I thought it
likely that the professor
Hannah gigRled convulsively.
'As if Prof. Keith hadn't plenty of
important matters to occupy his time.
without running here every other day !"
But the long June evening ebbed
away and the laggard lover came not,
and at 10 o'clock Hannah retired to her
room in the lowest possible spirits.
Its lovely moonlight night" she
said to herself, as she stood behind the
window curtain, sentimentally viewing
the radiant landscape. just the very
night for a promenade by the church
elms, or q romantic interview in the
lane. All, me y
And Hannah went to bed more disap-
pointed than she would have been will
ling to confess to herself.
She was half way through the mazes
of her first delicious dream, when
sound, faint and unusual, interrupted
her-the sound of music.
Hannah Bemis scrambled to her |
feet, wide awake, in a second.
cts that mean, miserable, thieving |
organ grinder again, muttered she, be- |
tween her set teeth. "ThiDks I hadn't |
found him out about the spoons but |
he's missed his mark this time. I'll |
teach him.
And smash went a whole pitcher of
cold water down upon the musician,
under the lilac bushes, not incorrectly !
aimed, as was testified by the smothered /
exclamation below.
81 hit We, did I ?" cbuckled Hannah.
Sc I'm glad of it. Served ye right; clear
out of here, you miserable creetur.
Never let me see you again, or I'll loose
old GROWER and send for the constable.
eyes, that's right, show US q clean
pair of heels.
Don't leave your old music-box be-
hind.
"Ha ha! la |"
And with a chuckle, Hannah retreat
ID, closing the window with slam.
"Tve settled him, think" she said
20 herself.
Early the next morning Janet went
out into the garden to gather some fresh
ettuce for a breakfast salad, while
Hannah boiled coffee but presently she
breathless.
"Oh aunty, you never told me you
lad a serenade last night.
GA sere-which, child d? Idon't know
What you're talking about.
"Look p and Janet held up battered
nd broken guitar.
"It's Prof. Keith's; found it under
he liIacs."
"Prof Keith's u
Hannah's lower Jaw dropped-she sat
taring like one in dissgreeable dream. ,
''I am sorry I slept so soundly," said t
anet. "I should have enjoyed the
lusic."
Hannah sank into chair.
give done it now," she groaned hys- /
srically. !
Done what, aunty?"
/ threw pitcher of water on him, !
nd called him all the names you ever
card of. supposed, of course, it was F
10 man who stole my'silver spoons" :