Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-12-25

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distressed me-
She was not only an old woman. but as
have said, had been family servant, AND
had made me biscut-pigs and dough-ducks
when | was no higher than her knee: and
regularly in The oven had she placed a little
figure with yerv long legs and splay feet,
which she wonld lay on top OF the plate of
biscuit with the remark, "Now. honey. &C
orn into supper. OATS your little husman
what you's gWine to marry some desc
days, less You eats him up fus.'' To my
everlasting disgrace. be it record I'd, that
owing to the iliosyncrasies of a childish
appetite, all NY little ''husmans'' came to
grief: but that was not Aunt Cynthy'
fault. and / held in such grateful remem-
ba3nca her efforts for my matrimonial adj
Vancen4ant, that | would have wounded
any fine lady [ knew sooner than the
BLACK friend Of my childhood, around whom
clustered So many pleasant and affectionate
memories; 50. throwing down my work, |
went up to her, exclaiming hastily:
'Oh, Aunt Cynthy please don't cry. [
would not hurt your feelings for anything
in the world You may have this apron
that you like so much" taking it off and
pressing it on her lap. Il wasn't making
fun of you I think it is splendid not to
be afraid to die. It shows anybody is a
real Christian. am afraid us can be. |
would give anything if Ibid not have to.
! Please stop crying it makes me feel SO
| badly"
Go long, chile You amt got nothin' to
do wild it, said she.
''Did not my laughing make you cry 20 I
asked.
do pray bishe, Miss Rose What I
keer 'oout you latin p" asked Aunt Cyn-
thy, wiping her eyes on her blue cotton
apron
"Well, take some whisl1ey and you mov
| feel better Here is some that must be
| very fine; Mr.. Smith SAYS there is Il sled ge
| hammer in every tea spoonful
| 1t is yet to be verified, the instance
wherein negro refuses Whiskey: so Aunt
/ Cynthia accepted my proposal, and soon
becoming more demonstrative, rolled blc k
her sleeve and stretched forth her arm
Look at dis ere arm. Don't you know
how fat [ were?' she asked.
Yes, see you have grown thin, Amt
{ Cvnthy. What is the matter?'
'Witched. honey, witched. Kunjud!'
Then she rocked her body to and fro and
shook her turbaned head from side to side,
and again lifted up her voice in q wall so
/ ~, # nd
Mr.. Smith when he came in, though his
step is not that Of a fairy.
| ''Charlas, - said |, after she had left,
''perhaps we had batter not employ
+ Aunt Cynthia again. She seems to have
snre nervous fancy about being bewtch-
| ed and may give us some some trouble"
MY DEAR said he, with an amused
smile, cit seems to be q matter of difficult
=ty to get Il good servant owing no doubt
to the disadvantages Of our present loca-
ton, and in part perhaps to tho a--the
emotional nature of 4 prominent member
of the domestic circle''
.Y0u 4eean yourself and your own hor-
rid temper, Of course," l interrupted; but
we wont mind about that now"
mo, We won't mind about that ow,'
sud H. iauyhingIy; "only / was about to
remark that while I seriou sly dou bt the
fact Of Aunt Cynthia being conjured, l am
certain she is drunk; and unless you in
tend giving Aer mean W lisSey. see no OBJ
lection to employing her"
Then he put a cigar in his mouth and
his head in the air, and walked out under
| the oaks, like-well, like any other man.
Say it with a vicious vim, and us if it was
the worst | could say-like any other man
| who thinks he has settled a point by laugh
| ing at anybody, and goes off to enjoy his
/ filthy tobacco that the woman he has
laughed at would not condescend TOTO
look at. A man with a good cigar is pro-
voking and self-satisfied enough to drive
anybody into q lunatc asylum.
So Mr.. Charles being satisfied that Aunt
| Cynthia was only intoxicated by the Wills
| KEY had given her the engagement Was
ratified, and she came again and went to
work, but SO unpleasantly that at the end
| of ten days my patience was exhausted
and went into the kitchen. There she
sat with her elbow on her knee, her cheek
! on her hand, her eyes on the floor, and
near 10y sat two sable sisters gazing at her
in solemn silence. They arose and made
me two solemn bows, then as i'll curious
ly fixed their eyes Oh Aunt Cynthia.
'"Aunt CYNTHIA said l, why did we
have soda biscuit t lis m >fning?"
Zoos warn able to make beat biscuit, y"
without raising her eyes.
Are you Sick?" | asked.
Nome"
''If you are, | will end for the doctor =,
and for ie sake of old times, pay your
! bill whatever it may be: but If you are
dissatisfied, say so, and let me get another
cs,ok | can stand u fit of passion, but L
will not submit to the snlks. [ had as
lief any member of my family had the
small poX.
II amt got the smallpox, nor the sulks
nother," she said slowly, almost indtfer-
emily.
why do You look SO cross then?
hate to see people look csoss."
II aint noWays cross, Miss Rose.'
''What is the matter. then, Aunt Gym
thia?'' asked impttiently. ''Do pray say
at once and have done with it,
faint no use sayia.' [ done sont for
the DOCTOR"
/ 'sDr. Clayton?"
| "Uncle Jube.'
''Oa!" 1 exclaimed, with disappoint
ment.