Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-02-20
THE STORY OF TWO SHOES.


"Aunt 'Manda wants you, Stella"
[ jumped and ran up stairs, for we
were always glad to do anything for
Aunt Amanda.
She sat in her great old-fashioned arm
chair by the window, sewing; and
more perfect scene of calm repose never
was than that of her room, with herself
as the prominent figure.
The room was queer one; of all
shapes, and with innumerable corner
cupboards and strange hiding places, and
doors as if it opened in all directions.
Inside the room all was comfort
confusion; that is, it seemed confusion
for Aunt Amanda detested all the strict
conformity to rule and fashion so COM
mon to New England housekeeping.
So, in place of the stiff-backed chairs
all i'll row, the cane-seat rocker, and
the mahogany card-table-which, with
bedstead, bureau and washstand, formed
the complement of furniture in nine
country bedrooms out of ten-there were
delicious lounges, and tete-0-teteS, and
ottomans, and great roomy armchairs;
and the bedstead was huge four-poster
with q canopy, and the bureau was a
monster sideboard, with inconceivable
drawers and cupbeards and pigeon
holes, where it was the delight of us
youngsters to "sloop," when auntie
would sometimes give us permission to
"clean up"
Her first words We're: "Come, Stella,
I know you are dying for permission, SO
let me see how nicely you can clean up
my sideboard for me-"
"Oh, thank you, auntie !" said I,
catching her pleasant glance over her
spectacles; 81 will do it ever so nice. J"
And very soon L had forgotten everything
else in delight at my employment.
What museum it was Such quaint
old jewelry in antique settings; such
great heavy seals, and odd-looking
watch keys; necklaces of amber and jet
and carnelian; pins with tombstones and
clasped hands painted on them; other
pins with hair, black, gray, and golden
yellow, banded and twisted together;
faded old miniatures of ladies with their
hair put up on mOnstrous combs, and
gentlemen with their coat collars Just
under their ears; then there was an old
battered bull's-eye watch, looking puffed
up as if it would burst, and pair of
silver snuffers; and was quite sure that
every article had it's history, which to my
eager curiosity would be more exciting
than a fairy tale.
I determined to pick out something
and get auntie to tell me its story, and
was only debating in my mind which
article looked the most promising as
basis for a real thrilling narrative, with
lots of love, and perhaps horrible acci-
dent, or mysterious disappearance in it,
when, pol1ing in the back part of one OF
the deep pigeon holes, 1 came across a
small bundle rolled up in blue tissue
paper.
I dragged it forth, and turning my
inside [ found q pair of old, yellow,
though once white, time-stained satin
shoes.
Here was discovery; as many times
as had overhauled the sideboard, those
shoes had hitherto escaped me, and
glanced at Aunt Amanda suspiciously
inclined to wonder if she had not pur
posely concealed them; anyhow, there
they were, and I was sure, with fine
story about them somewhere in the brair
of dear old auntie, who sat calmly ant
unconsciously hemming away, withou
the slightest idea of what was in store
for her. l shook my head at her, as
put the shoes carefully under my dress
and thought to myself, with considerable
glee-" Now I've caught you, and wha
nice story I'll have after I ge
through"
So to work I went with my nimble
busy fingers, and in very little time tn,
drawers and the pigeon-holes were nicel,
cleaned out, every little article CAREFUL,
arranged in its place, and my labor o
love was done; then rising, and holding
the satin shoes behind me, I called t.
auntie to come and look at my work.
She came and examined all carefully
praised everything, and was just abol
to sit down again to her hemming, when
suddenly drawing the shoes from benin,
me, popped them before her eyes, AM
laughingly cried out: "Now, auntie
I've found your secret, and you mus
tell me all about it."
Dear dear How 1 remember tn
scene, as catching sight of them, sh
turned ashy pale, and dropped heavil
into the chair, with her hand presse
closely to her side. [ was terribl
frightened, and so astonished had nc
power even to scream, but stood wit
my mouth open, and the big tears rur
ming down my face, till she took me b
the arm, and whispering, "It is notE
ing; L will be better in o moment,
pressed me down on a stool at her feet
hid my face in her lap and cried bi
terly; but in moment she calmed he