Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-07-22
J" .Sucls. a pair of fools., reiterated Aunt

!" Sucls-a pair of fools!" reiterated Aunt
George, in a prophetic mood "but there's
one comfort-it won't last long,
| "Why shouldn't it, Aunt George?'
asked Lizzie, coloring and smiling in thai
pretty, flower-like way of hers.
Humph!" said Aunt George. eff YOU
come to that, why don't the sunshine las,
| forever"
So it might if there were no clouds, y
Lizzie answered softly.
"Ah, childr' sighed Aunt George.
you're young now, so enjoy it as much
as you can. We can't be young twice
| over, more's the PITY"
So we were married quietly, as became
| our humble estate and moderate expecta.
tions, and went to spend a few DAYS in the
country, where had a sister living on a
breezy, old-fashioned farm. Do YOU
think Lizzie and l will ever forget those
days, even if we live to be as old as Me
thuselah?
1t was November evening when we
red merino draperies glowed warmly in
the ruddy shine of the fire and the ten
kettle was singing out its homely lay of
welcome.
Lizzie" said softly, care you glad
to come homeg"
And she answered, more with her eyes
han her lips, "Oh, SO very, very glad for
we are going to be happy here know it
as well as if saw all the years stretched
out before me on a map"
My little prophet of good
Our first year was very blissful, especial
ly after the baby came to make our lives
musical, with his little cooling 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 to my heart to see her growing
pale and thin, through sitting up at night
to sew and earn little extra money, be-
cause my business was dull. And, almost
before we knew it, the bills began to accu-
mulate, and the rent got behind.
"This won't do, joe" said Lizzie,
gravely. 1--WE must 10 without meat"
THAT is nothing" said |, laughing, al
though felt little enough inclined to be
mirthful but we cannot very well do
without a roof over our heads"
Don't fret joe" said my little heart
some wife. 1--WE shall not want Some
thing will be sure to happen
But what can happen, Lizzie? The
days of miracles are over. There are no
Elijahs and ravens in these tines
Eyes, there are joe" said Lizzie cheer
fully, although we don't always know it
at the time. There is an order for you to
tune piano up in South street. isn't that
a ravenE''
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 a troubled face.
"What is the matter?' l cried out anx-
iously. Lizzie-not the baby? Nothing
has happened to him."
NO" Lizzie answered; che is quite
well, and fast asleep, like little white
lamb. But-Aunt George is dead"
Aunt Georger' | repeated, vacantly.
eyes; she died this morning, and |
could not be sent for in time to receive her
last breath. Oh, Joe, she was very, oery
kind to me-"
Are we men naturally so selfish, or was
|, hunted and driven by want, an excep-
ton to the ordinary ruler For | confess
that as Lizzie stood there looking earthly
up into my face the first thought that fol-
news into my brain was Would Aunt
George leave us anything? / supposed
Lizzie was her sole living relation, and
surely, in all these years, though her in
come was small, she must have saved
something. But am thankful TO remem-
Der that | never told Lizzie what was in
my mind.
"She was very old, dear" said, striv-
i'm To tnr f Wifi
threescore and ten 1t is the allotted age
of humanity, and you know she had
grown to be very feeble"
And / know she is better off," said
Lizzie; "but, Joe, she is all the mother |
ever had
We went to Aunt Georges funeral, and
her will was read-a very brief document
in which she bcqueathed her simple
household furniture and belongings to
nephew in Wisconsin, and ito Elizabeth,
wife of Joseph Allen, as a token of the at
fectionate remembrance of the deceased,
her piano.
A tuneless, jangling instrument, half
century old, with carved spindle legs, or
naments of inlaid brass and keys as yellow
as Aunt Georges own complexion. |
laughed contemptuously when | heard the
words. But Lizzie laid her hand gently
on my arm.
ct was Aunt Georges, dear" she said
softly, land 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 expecta-
tons of an inheritance from Lizzie's Aunt
George.
The old piano was duly carted home the
next day. Fit had been a fashionable in
strument, of modern make, they could
never have gotten it up the narrow stair
case; but it looked quite friendly and