Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-08-04

Y'ME PaANep-TUNEYe'S STORY.

to say about you!" said Aunt George
Her name was Miss Georgiana An
derson but the sweet abbreviation
''Georgie" wa, never used to her; as
soon might one think of venturing on
ttmiliarilies with a bishop Everybody
called her "Aunt George :" and, as
she walked with 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 kiss or Il caress or
an endearing word, yet wlhal being
kind to her after her own way.
| wish | could describe Lizzie An
derson to you as she really was. A
little, dimpled, hue eyed creature,
with long, shaly lashes, and shy way
Of looking at you, like 4 child ; a girl
whose voice was low and flute sweet,
and who moved about quietly and
noiselessly, like sweet spring wind
rustling the flowers. And only eigh
teen, too that was what aggravated
Aunt George the most of ALL
4 wasn't married until / was five
and thirty ! said Aunt George 'but
you young people can't he coOtented
without rushing headlong into the
vortex 1t would be different ii you
were rich but, dear me !! and she
rubbed her nose perplexed!y, Joe is
nothing on earth but a pool plano-forte
tuner, and YOU haven't one solitary
penny Of your own, Lizzie.
'We shall be very economical,
Aunt George" Lizzie answered, cheer.
fully.
'And you'll have to be- answered
the old lady grim1y.
1t is my intention to be perfectly
frank with the reader. | shall not dis
guise from him the fact .fat | had, in
our confidential talks, asked Lizzie it
she ,hought Aunt George would do
anything for us in Il pecuniary way.
'Oh, dear. NJ !! Lizzie had answer
ed, shaking her brown curls in a most
decided 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 or
separately.
There's one comfort, Lizzie, said l
stoutly; we are young and strong
and brave hearted. and well not ask
aid Of anybody
OF course we won't Joe, said Liz
zie, her tlue eyes sparkling like dew
wet violets at sunrise.
did wish, once or twice, that my
business had been something more
lucrative than piano-tuning but it
was what had been brought up to,
and had pretty good run Of Gus
tom on the whole and, as Lizzie said
"A little will go great way when you
are careful of it.
you'll 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 can assure you our two rooms
looked delightfully."- cozy, with the red
and green carpet and neatly stained
furniture Lizzie said it looked ex
acty like dolls house, and pcrhap,
she wasn't very far wrong.
such pair OF fools ! reiterated
Aunt George, in prophetic mood ;
but there's one comfolt--it wont last
long
why shouldn't it, Aunt George 2
asked Lizzie, coloring and smiling
in that pretty, flower like way others.
'IIumph ! said Aunt George. If
you come to that, why don't the sun.
shine last forever 2
so it might if there were no
clouds, Lizzie answered softly.
'Ah, child !! sighed Aunt George,
you're young now, SO enjoy it as
much as you can. We eau be young
twice over, more's the pity
SO we we're married quietly, as be,
came our humble estate and moderate
expectations, and went to spend few
days IN the co lntry, where had a SIS
ter living on a breezy, old-fashioued
farm. Do you think Lizzie and |
will ever forget those days, even if
we live to be as old as Methuaelah ?
1t vas November evening when
we clme to the dolls house" where
the red merino draperies glowed warm
ly in the ruddy shine Of tne fire and
the tin kettle was singing out its
homely lay Of welcome,
Il izzie, said softly, ARE you glad
to come home 2
And she answered, more with her
eyes than her lips, 'Oh, so very, very
glad! for we are going to be happy
here. | know it as we'll as it saw Ill
the years stretched out before me on a
map.
My little prophet of good
Our first year was very blissful es
pecially after the baby came to make
our lives musical, with his little coo
ING voice but alter that the hard
times came. Not that we repined.
Lizzie and | were to brave TO endure
whatever we could bear together. yet
it went to my heart to see her grow
ing pale and thin, through sitting up
at night to sew and earn a little extra
money, because my business was dull.