The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-01-28
Tho good old country woman had

| hCNCl iluu buC lCuou VOuDV VI WuTL
welcome at her brothers house, an,
Fred certainly confirmed her expecta
tions. He found the old black leathe
trunk, the bag, the band.box, and tn
great bulging cotton umbrella, and pn
them all in the carriage without ON
smile OF ridiculc. He made his aunt g,
to restaurant and refresh herself befr,
starting on the long drive homo. II,
listened with respectful interest to al
the mishaps of the long journey, ans
spmpathized with the" RuinAtion O
every mortal stitch I've got on, dear
in the dust and smoke"
And he chatted pleasantly OF hi
childish recollections of the tiny house
and wide farm where aunt Sabine
lived.
" You see," she told him, 81 made
upmy mind this year, / would como tc
London once before died. / have
tried to before now, but something ol
other has always hindered. Dear, dear
You're all grown up, ] suppose, and
you was but lot Of babies the last
time John brought you to see me-"
"Corinne is the youngest, and she
is eighteen. WILDER is the only one
older than / am"
eyes, l remember. Well dear, Tn
glad Johns wife brought up such fine
family. I'm only an old maid, but
do love children and young folks"
But chill foil on the kindly old
heart when home was reached at last,
and four fashionably dressed ladies
gave her strictly courteous greeting.
But for the warm clasp of Fred's hand
think she would have returned to the
station by the same carriage she came
in, SO wounded and sore she felt.
"Not one kiss" she thought, "and
Fred kissed me at the train, right be-
fore all the people"
Fred slipped silver coin into the
hands of the servant girl who wss to
wait upon his aunt, promising another
if she was very attentive, and himself
escorted the old lady to her room. 1t
was not often the young mans indigna.
tion found voice, though it grew hot
over the many shams and acts OF hard
selfshpess in the house of his mother,
but he said some words that called q
blush to the cheeks of the worldly
woman.
1t was not very busy season, and
finding that Sabina WAS likely to have
a sorry time il left to the other mem.
bers of the family, Fred asked for
holiday and appointed himself the old
lady's escort. He was too proud to care
for the fact that the quaint little
figure on his arm attracted many an
amused glance, but gravely stood by
while new dress for Dolly, the dairy
maid, and "city necktie" for Bob,
the ploughman, was purchased.
He gave undivided attention to the
more important selection of new black
silk for auntie, herself; and pleasantly
accepted blue silk scarf, with large
red spots, that was presented to him,
approaching the love that prompted
the gift and mentally resolving to wear
it when he paid promised visit to the
farm. He drove Aunt Sabina to the
rark. He took her to see all the sights.
Once or twice, meeting some of his
gentlemen friends, they had thought
"the queer old party is some rich rela.
tion, Gorham is SO very attentive, and
had delighted Sabina by their deferen-
tial attentions.
Once-Fred had not counted on that
in n picture gallery, Cordelia Cald-
we'll sapntered in alone. She had heard
OF Sabina through the disgusted COM
ments of Lucilla, end she had no prop.
erty but miserable farm" but she
greeted Fred with a smile far more cor
dial than she usually gave her admirers.
A little lump came into Fred's throat.
Then he gravely introduced the stately
beauty, in her rustling silk, to the old
fashioned figure on his arm.
"My aunt, Miss Gorham, Miss Cald-
WE'LL"
They admired the pictures together,
and the young lady was cordial and
chatty.
After they came down the steps, Miss
Caldwell said
"You must let your aunt drive an
hour or two with me, Mr.. Gorham. |
am going to do some shopping, SO l
shall not tax your patience by asking
you to join us, but | shall be pleased if
Miss Gorham will dine with me, and
Won will call for her this evening""
Then she smiled again, made Sabina
comfortable in the carriage and drove
of, leaving Fred orty times deeper in
love than ever, as she intended no should
DO.
"He is very prince Of man" she
thought, "and I'll give him one days
rest. Bless the dear old soul, she has
just such blue eyes as my dear grand
mother"
Then she won Sabina's confidence,
and found she was Worrying about the