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

lilC 1 ioiiO O1lOL , Jul y
et.You are a pair of precious young
fools, and that's the best can find to
say about you"' said Aunt George.
Her name was Miss Georgianna An
derson; but the sweet abbreyiation
"Georgie'' was never used to her; As
soon might one think of yenturing OH
familiarities with a bishop! Everybody
called her "Aunt George" and, as she
walked with measured, heavy tread,
like a grenadier, the name didn't seem
at all inappropriate. a. nsI
She was LizZie's Aunt George-not
mine. And she had brought Lizzie up
in her queer, downright fashion, never
giving her kiss or a caress or an en-
dearing word, vet withal being Kind to
her after her own way.
wish could describe Lizzie Ander-
son to you as she really was. A little,
dimpled, blue-eyed creature, with long,
shady lashes, and shy way of looking
at you, like child; girl whose voice
was low and flute-sweet, and who
moved about quietly and nOiselessly,
like sweet spring wind rustling the
flowers. Aud only eighteen, too; that
was what aggravated Aunt George the
most of all.
81 wasn't married until | was five
and thirtyr, said Aunt George; "but
you young people can't be contented
without rushing headlOng into the vOr-
tex. Ii wonld be different if you We're
rich; but, dear me," and she rubbed
her nose perplexedly, ''Joe is nothing
on earth but poor pianoforte tuner,
and you haven'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 old lady, grimly.
1t is my intention to be perfectly frank
with the reader. l shall not disguise
from him the fact that 1 had, i'm our
confidential talks, asked Lizzie if she
thought Aunt George would do any
thing for us in pecuniary way.
sob. dear, nor' Lizzie had answered
shaking her brown curls in a most de-
cided fashion. 'sShe 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 or separ-
ately.
srThere's one comfort, Lizzie" said /
stoutly: s'we are young and strong and
braye-hearted. and we'll not ask aid of
anybody"
cot course we won't, Joe,'' said
Lizzie, her blue eyes sparkling like dew
wet violets at sunrise.
L did wish, once or twice, that my
business had been something more
Al. t,,r, hnt ~
what had been brought up to, and L
had pretty good run of custom on the
whole; and, as Lizzie said: "A little
will 90 a great way when you are care
full of it,
0You'Il see, Joe" she added, blithely,
'that / shall make splendid house
keeper"
We had just seventy-five dollars to
furnish our little second floor with; but
L can assure you our two rooms looked
delightfully."- coZy, with the red and
green carpet and neat stained furniture.
Lizzie said it looked exactly like dolls
house, and perhaps she wasn't very far
wrong.
"Such a pair of fools!" reiterated
Aunt George, i'm 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, flower-like way OF hers.
ssHumph,' said Aunt George. "lf
YOU come TO that, why don't the sun
shine las forever!'
$50 it might if there were no clouds, :,
Lizzie answered, softly.
"Ah, childr' sighed Amt George.
.'you're young now, so ENJOY II rs much
as you can. We can't he young twice
over, more's the pity"
So we were married quietly, rs became
our humble estate and moderate expec-
tations, and went to spend a few days in
the country, where / had sister living
on a breezy, old-fashioned farm. DO
Won think Lizzie and will ever forget
those days. even if we live TO be AS old
as Methuselah?"
Ii was a November evening when we
came to the ''dOll's house, where the
red merino draperies glowed warmly IN
the ruddy shine of the fire and the TN
kettle was singing out its homely lay oil
welcome.
.Iizzie," said 1, softly, "are You glad
to come homer"
And she answered, more with her
ewes than her lips, "Oh, so very, very
gladI for we are going to be happH
here. l know il az well as If l saw all
the wears stretched out before me on a
map"
Our first year was very blissiui, es-
pecially after the baby came TO MAKE
our lives musical, with his little coolns
voice: but after that the hard times
came. Not that We repined. Lizzie
and [ were brave to endure whatever
we could bear together, yet it went &c
nv heart to see her growing pale and
thin, through sitting up at night TO sew
and earn little extra money, because
NV business was dull. And, almost De-
fore we knew it, the bills began u
accumulate, and the rent got behind.
.'This won't do, Joe," said Lizzie,
grayely. 1--WE must do without meat. y
ssThat is nothing" said !, laughing
although 1 felt little enough inclined e
he mirthful; ''but we cannot very Wei
do without a roof over our heads.
'Don't fret, Joe," said my httle
heartsome wife. "We shall not want
Something will be sure to happen m
"But what can happen, LizzleF Inc
days of miracles are over. Tdere are
No El;;als apd rayene in these tines