The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-03-19
AUNT SARAH'S GHOST.
BY CHARLES ii. GRUNDY.

SnObtS anu spiTlts, sdlu Auut ga
rah, looking solemnly at US, "but
my dears, there are more things in
this world than you know Of"
"That is from SHAKESPEARE, Aunt
Sarah"
"Suppose it is ?" replied the old
lady, adjusting her cap E.; "it's true,
nevertheless"
"Oh, it is quite true, but did you
ever really see ghost ?" we asked,
all anxious to hear her strange ex-
perience.
eyes, I've seen ghost" answer
Aunt Sarah, slowly, ':just as plainly
as 1 see you now."
"Oh, how dreadful !" we all ex.
claimed. "Tell US about it, Aunt
Sarah," and we drew our chairs
closer around the table, and wonder
ed if Thomas was not coming soon
to light the gas.
Aunt Sarah smiled upon us with
the conscious superiority OF wisdom,
but we'll pleased to be the center OF
so attractive circle, put aside her
knitting and commenced as follows !:
GA great many years ago | was
staying with a number of other
guests, at a friends house in the
country. Among a various people,
old and young, who were gathered
there, was maiden lady of rather
mature age {; in fact she ought long
ago to have taken her degree as a
confirmed old maid. Some people
so dread the spproach of age, that
they cling to the semblance of youth
almost with tenacity of despair.
Miss Biglow-that was her name
was one of that kird ; and SO, by the
aid of paint, powder and false hair,
she really made herself look twenty
years younger than what we knew
to be her actual age. 1t was even
whispered that her cheeks owned
their seeming !plumpness to some
cause not attributable to
nature. Now, girls" said Aunt Sa.
rah, pausing a moment and looking
sternly upon us. 81 hate all this de-
ception, and hope none of you paint,
or powder, or wear false hair"
"Goodness, Aunt Sarah ! you don't
think we wear false hair, do you p
cried Bessie Grey, putting up her
hand to ascertain if her chignon was
in its right place.
81 am sure 1 don't know, my dear,
but hope not. Well, one day an
elderly gentleman arrived at the
house, intending to spend week in
fishing, hunting, or idling about as
most of US were doing. This gentle
man was very rich, and avowedly
looking for wife. Under these Cir.
it is not surprising that
he at once became the lion of the
day.
"The evening on which he arrived
saw Miss Biglow painted and pow.
dered to the verge of distraction
wherever that may be-and looking
to an unpracticed eye, almost girlish.
SIT was really wonderful, my
dears, to see how the eligible bach,
elor-Mr. Goodman--took to her
from the very first. We really be,
came afraid that she would carry off
the prize for which so many blush
ing young ladies had angled in vain.
"Miss Biglow seldom came down
stairs in the morning, and when she
ventured out, always wore a thick
veil to protect her skin which she said
was very tender indeed. Of course
we knew the reason, but Mr.. Good
man, like all other men, was as blind
as a bat, and as easily taken in by a
woman as any child would be. 1t
would not have been fair for US to un-
deceive him, you know, for think
woman ought to respect each others
little secrets"
"Honor among thieves" murmur
ed Bessie.
"My dear, that is not pretty
simile," said Aunt Sarah, gravely.
But let me 60 on with my story,
One evening we were all sitting at
the open window, in the moonlight,
and, by some means or other, the
conversation turned upon the habit
of wearing false hair and other de-
ceptions of like nature.
81 never want to marry woman
who would wash out like a cotton
umbrella in the first shower" said
Mr.. Goodman.
81 quite agree with you," answer.
ed Miss Biglow. "It must be dread
full to wear all these things you were
talking about"
"Mr. Goodman glanced approving
Iy toward her, but Gertie Edmo nds
pinched my arm and whispered:
"I'll bet pair of gloves that she
won't stand washing"
81 would like to try it" answer,
ed.
"Girls are always thoughtless and
foolish" said Aunt Sarah, sagely
sand l was no exception to the rule
That speech of Mr.. Goodman's sug
gested wicked thought to Gertit
Edmonds; it was that we should al
90 out in the boat the next day, ia
king, if possible, Miss Biglow witt
US and when in quite shallow wa
ter, manage to upset the boat.
"And then," said Gertie, sit would
be such fun to see the paint come of
her face"
81 regret to say, my dears, that
entered into this wicked joke with 6
hearty good will, but was fully re
paid for my share in it by what hap
pened afterwards, as you will see
by-and-by.
"At first, Miss Biglow absolutely
refused to go on the water at all
b 1T at Mr.. Goodman's earnest solici
tation, she at last consented to make
one of the party. Besides Mr.. Good
MI an there were two other gentle.
men, young cousins of Gertie's, and
l need scarcely tell you that they en-
tered with delight into our plol
against the unfortunate Miss Biglow.
"Next day we dressed ourselves
as plainly as possible, not caring tc
ruin our best things by our contem
plated ducking in the lake. Every
thing went on as well as could bs
wished and we pushed out gently