American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-03-07
VOL. XXIV.

Augusta and settle down." said he t.
himself. But he didn't say it to anybody
else 1t never occurred to him that wa
necessary.
Meantime my Aunt Augusta had no
stood like rose in pot, waiting for thu
gardener to come and pick ii. She cas-
out her roots and threw up her branche
and bloomed as though it was enough t.
fulfill the laws of being and beauty TO
their own sakes.
In that simple neighborhood work wa
supposed to be the chief end of every
body SO Aunt Augusta learned vest
making, and then she went to Coos
where her brother Nathan lived, and sc
up for herself.
Coos was little crumb of a town il
those days; but il held up its head ant
had its stores, and its mills, and its shops
and its great white meeting house on the
HILL with galleries on three sides an6
square pews and high box pulpit.
The first Sunday after Aunt Augusts
went there she climbed the hill, o
course, and went in the front pew will
Uncle Nathan and his wife. She was
tashionably dressed in black crap,
gown, a scarlet shawl and a white silk
bonnet with pink roses inside. Hel
cheeks were as pink as her roses and hel
eyes were as black as her gown.
There was no need that Mr.. Keelel
should point her out to the young men
but he took the pains to do it. Mr.. Keller
the minister, was little, lank man, as
plain and gray as dor-bug, and SO afraid
of the pomps and vanities that he
wouldn't wear buttons on his coat. Nc
sooner had his eyes fallen on Aunt
Augusta, settling herself in the front pew
like variegated tulip, than he dropped
the subject he had started upon for his
sermon, and began to preach against con-
formity to the world. He was sincere,
earnest man, and he preached with all his
might, emphasizing and illustrating his
words by pointing with his blunt finger
at the scarlet shawl and pink roses. SO II
anybody had neglected to look at them
before they looked then.
Among those who were obedient to the
ministerial forefnger was Abner Stanton,
the village blacksmith.
Abner Stanton's heart was good
deal like his irOn-not easily melted
but when it once had been hammered into
a shape there it was, fixed and steadfast
And today Aunt Augustus eyes went
through it like red-hot arrows as he
peered around at her from behind one of
the pillars in the gallery.
The next day he came to get a vest made
The day after he came to bring the but
tons for it, and the day after that he
thought, as he was going by, he would
call and see if she had everything she
needed and how soon the vest would be
done. 1t was not two days more before
he was there again to bring a letter.
a happened to see it at the Posto flee
when went after my paper. and so l
brought it along. l could as well as not, "
said he
The letter was from Sam Averill, telling
about the luck he had in mining, the
weather, and the fact that he was well.
Nothing more; nothing about the home
he was building in his fancy, and the
figure that was always central in his
thoughts.
81 hope" said my Uncle Nathan, "you
are not foolish enough to set your mind
on such rolling stone as Sam Averill.
He has no continuity to him."
eff we are going to hunt for a man
that has no faults in this world we'll
have long road of it," returned Aunt
Augusta, bearing down the heavy press.
ing iron upon her seam as though she
were trying to crush the life out of some
thing.
In less than week Abner Stanton
called again. He thought perhaps Miss
AuguStd AuoW Tic
were out, and so he brought her handful
that he had got on the way over from
COwesett.
Aunt Augusta had a weakness for flow
ers-she and my mother are alike about
that-and she put cluster of the bios
SONS in her hair at once, and another at
her throat, while Abner Stanton looked
at her with admiration in every hair of
his head.
eff you were a sister of mine you
should always sit in a rocking-cha and
wear swamp pinks!" said he.
"Abner Stanton is a most excellent
man." quoth Uncle Nathan, when he had
gone his way, ian Esquire and head
chat. He'll make first-rate husband,
and the girl who gets him VIII get a
prize"
Aunt Augusta made some fierce Clip
pings with her great tailor's shears, but
she said nothing, and presently went up
stairs to answer Sam Averill's letter.
The next day Abner Stanton called to
see Uncle Nathan on business, and she
sent her letter to the Office by him. So
the months drifted along one after another,
like pictures in a magic lantern. Abner
came often on one excuse or an
other or on none. He brought flowers
root and birds eggs He was never i3.
trusive with his love, but he made Aunt
Augusta conscious of it every step she
walked and with every breath she breathed
1t was below her, above her and all
around her. He often brought her letters
from Sam, and carried hers for him to
The Office
"All things are fair in love-" said he to
himself. So now and then he forgot to
mail or to deliver one, dropping it into
The fire instead At last, as his love grew
hotter and more imnatiept he kent Them