The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-07-29
THE PIANO-TUNER'S STORY.

''1ou are pair of precious young fools,
and that's the best I can find to say
about you !" said Aunt George.
Her name was Miss Georgiana Ander-
son; but the sweet abbreviation
"Georgie" was never used to her; as
soon might one think of venturing on
familiarities with a bishop! EVERYBODY
called her "Aunt George" and as she
walked with a measured, heavy tread,
like grenadier, the name didn't seem
at all inappropriate.
She was Lizzie's Aunt George-not
mine. And she had brought Lizzie up
in her queer, downright fashion, never
giving her a caress or an endearing word,
yet withal being kind to her after her
own way.
wish I could describe Lizzie Ander-
son to you as she really was. A little,
dimple blue-eyed creature, with long
shady lashes, and shy way of looking
at you, like child; girl whose voice
was low and fiute-sweet, and who moved
about quietly and noislessly, like
sweet spring wind rustling the flowers.
And only eighteen, too that was what
aggravated Aunt George the most of all.
81 wasn't married until I was 35!"
said Aunt George; ''but you young peo-
pie can't be contented without rushing
headlong into the vortex. It would be
different if you were rich; but, dear
me!' and she rubbed her nose perplex-
idly, ''Joe Is nothing on earth but
poor piano-forte tuner, and you havn't
one solitary penny of your own, Lizzie. %
''We shall be very economical, Aunt
George, Lizzie answered, cheerfully.
"And you'll have to be, ;" answered the
lady grimly.
1t is my intention to be very frank
with the reader. 1 shall not disguise
from him the fact that L had, in our con-
fidential talks, asked Lizzie if she
thought Aunt George would do anything
for us in pecuniary way.
ooh, dear, noi'' Lizzie had answered,
shaking her brown curls in a most decid
ed fashion. "She always told me never
to expect anything from her ;and besides
Joe she has really nothing to give!'
There was no getting over these two
facts, taken either together OF seperately.
''There's one comfort, Lizzie, said I
stoutly; ''we are young and strong and
brave hearted, and Wen not ask aid of
anybody"
"Of course we won't, Joe," said Liz
zie, her blue eyes sparkling like dew
wet violets at sunrise.
L did wish, once or twice, that my
business had been something more luc-
rative than piano-tuning but it was
what I had been brought up to, and I
had pretty good run of custom on the
whole; and, as Lizzie said, GA little
will go a great way when you are care
full of it.
you'll see Joe, she added blithely,
I haD Eo Srllnp6l1
keeper"
We had just seventy-five dollars to
furnish our little second floor with but
can assure you our two rooms looked
delightfully."- cozy, with the red and green
carpet and neat stained furniture. Liz
zie said it looked exactly like q dolls
house, and perhaps she wasn't very far
wrong.
''Such pair of fools!" reiterated
Aunt George, in a prophetic mood "but
there's one comfort-it won't last long"
why shouldn't it. Aunt George?"
asked Lizzie, coloring and smiling in
that pretty, hower-lke way of hers.
"Humphl' said Aunt George, ':f
you come to that, why don't the sun
shine last forever?"
$50 it might if there were no clouds, :"
Lizzie answered softly.
.Ah, e1ildI" sighed Aunt George,
you're young now, so enjoy it as much
as you can. We can't be young twice
over, more's the pity!"
So we were married quietly, as be-
came our humble estate and moderate
expectations, and went to spend a few
days in the country, where 1 had sis
ter living on a breezy old-fashioned
farm. Do you think Lizzie and / will
ever forget those days, even if We live to
be as old as Methuselah?
1t was O November evening when we
came to the .'dolls house," where the
red merino draperies glowed warmly in
the ruddy shine of the fire and the tin
kettle was singing out its homely lay of
welcome.
''Lizle," said I softly, 'sare you glad
to come home?"
And she answered, more with her
eyes than her lips, 'fOh, SO very, very