Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-09-29

cheerfully, "although we don't always
know 1t at the time. There is an order
for you to tune piano up in South
street; isn't that a raven 20
And she held the little strip of paper
triumphantly up before me.
When / came back from South street
Lizzie met me at the door with humid
eyes and troubled face.
''What is the matter 20 cried out.
anxiously. ''Lizzie NOT the baby
Nothing has happened to him 2"
''No," Lizzie answered.; she is quite
well, and fast asleep, like little white
lamb. But-Aunt George is dead.''
'Aunt George repeated, vacantly
Yes; she died this morning, and l
could not be sent for in time to receive
her last breath. Oh, Joe, she was very
very kind to me-"
Are we men naturally so selfish, or
was L, hunted and driven by want, an
exception TO the ordinary rule? For |
confess that as Lizzie stood there looking
tearfully up into myface the first thought
that followed the entrance of this unex-
pected news into nv brain was: Would
Aunt George leave us anything? l sup
posed Lizzie was her sole living relation,
and surely, i'm all these years, though
her income was small, she must have
saved something. But am thankful to
remember that never told Lizzie what
was in my mind.
''She was very old, DEAR" 1 said.
striving to comfort my grieved wife
'.over threescore and ten. It is the
allotted age of humanity, and yon know
she had grown to be very feeble"
"And l know she is better off, said
Lizzie; ''but, Joe, she is all the mother
l ever had" ..,n-,fs1r ..t........
We went to Aunt Georges funeral,
and her will was read-a very. brief
document-in which she bequeathed her
simple household furniture and be-
longings to a nephew i'm Wisconsin, and
ITO Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Allen, as
a token of the affectionate remembrance
of the deceased, her piano"
A tuneless, jangling instrument, half
a century old, with carved spindle legs,
ornaments of inlaid brass and keys As
yellow as Aunt Georges own COM
plexion. | laughed contemptuously
when | heard the words. But Lizzie
laid her hand gently on my arm.
at was Aunt Georges, dear" she
said, softly, ''and we must cherish it for
her sake. Besides,' in a whisper, think
how it will amuse the baby"
And that was the end of all my expec-
tations of an inheritance from Lizzie 5
untGeorge.
The old piano was duly carted home
the next day. If it had been fashion
able instrument, of modern make, they
could never have gotten il up the narrow
staircase: but it looked quite friendly
and home-like opposite the fireplace, its
lank proportions coverei by a faded
green cloth.
shrank back with little grimaee as
Lizzie touched the Keys to make the
baby laugh.
'.Of course it is out of tune, Joe, /" she
said, merrily; ''but you'll soon set thai
right. And shall rub up my practice
again in no time"
1t happened to be a very dull time
just then: so | had nothing else to do
but to take LizZie's advice; and in just
half an hour had the old instrument
nearly dissected, much to Mr.. Baby's
edification, as he sat gravely on the floor
i'm the midst of the interior developments
of the ancient piano.
And now comes the most marvellous
part of my story.
All piano tuners know that when you
/ take away the front piece above the key
board there is hollow place of con-
siderable extent, in any instrument OF
ordinary size. And as stopped to blow
the dust away from this place 1 saw a
bundle or roll of bank notes fastened
round with a yellow slip of paper, on
which was written: t'For my niece
Lizzie" .4..r4rrf
Lizzie" / cried, breathlessly,
''Lizzie," and she was at my side in an
| instant.
And, if you will believe me, there
were 5000, the accumulated savings OF
Aunt Georges frugal life; and this was
what she had meant by giving her piano
| to us.
That 5000 was the starting point OF
the snug little fortune we have since
scraped together; and if Aunt George
could know how much her bequest has
done for us, l think it would do hel
kindly heart good.