Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-07-09


her hair-sho would have smoothed a
tigers skin with much The same feeling
and said al wish you had been with us
tonight, auntie, II would have rested you
everything is resting now, you know, ex-
cept the crickets and the frogs. The birds
and tho tOads have gone To- bed"
SensibleW muttered Aunt Priscilla.
"Do YOU know, auntie,n she went on A.,
tone of those great beetle bugs got ali
tangled up in my hair tonight, and John
had the greatest time getting 1t loose"
Ali that unfortunate mention of John.
"Iye no time to waste talking about
moonshinc, child. You might better have
been in bed two hours ago, getting ready
for that ironing tomorrow" and Aunt
Priscilla rose from her chair, letting Elsie
slide out of her lap much as If she had
been pair of scissors.
1t was n little discouraging "But no
one knows" said Elsie, as she crept into
bed, "what may have been in her heart" 4"
SO as the days went by she grew more
and more loving in her thoughts of Aunt
Priscilla, and whenever she dared mani
tested it in u touch or carcss, but oftcncr
in n sweet, patient thoughtlulness fo. her
comfort. Many times she knclt in the aft
ernoon shadow of the apple tree and
prayed that she might find the way to
Aunt PrisCilla's heart, and each time the
answer that came back to her was:
CHARITY never failcth"
Butitwas weary work. "Shc always put
the table-Cloth ON crooked" "She never
secured the knives clCan.h "The kitchen
always had TO be swept over after her, p"
and she believed she never would learn
how to peel potatoes" If she made bread
it was either heavy or sour. Her cake was
always burned and a pic would disgrace
her for week.
John, >" said Elsie, after one very try
ing day, "I believe Solomon must have
had an Aunt Priscilla, or he never would
have said An is vexation Of spiritn"
And now it had come to be the very
night before the wedding. John had gone
to the city and wouldn't be back till late,
so Elsie sat out on the doorstep alone.
Some one stole out in the darkness and
sat down by her. 1t was Aunt PrsCillal
go Elsie" she sobbcd That was all, -,
but the long closed door of her heart
swung open at last and Elsie crossed over
its threshold. She knew all about it then
the gricvous disappointment years ago
that had embittcred that proud heart.
And then, Elsie" she said, 81 was
envious of your happiness. 1t seemed 10
mock my own desoatc life, and so made
you feel that hated John, and my heart
grew so hard and ugly that wonder you
didn't hate me.
But, child, what a revelation you have
been to me! Over and over again Eve
said TO myself: 1t can't possible she has
any love for me; no, it's her love for John
that has given her this gcntleness; and
then | would say ugliCr things than ever
to you, Just to try you.
But, Elsie''-and her voice soltened
with tenderness" you couldn't have left
that kiss on my lips to-day, these lips,
that had said nothing bat hard, bitter
things to you all day-you couldn't
have left that kiss on them if you hadn't
loved me, and my hungry heart has
brought me out here, in spite of my pride,
just to hear you say so before you go away
from me. If you do love me, child, tell
me SOP
" Aunt Priscilla, 1 do love you with all
my heart" said Elsie, taking both hands
in hers without fear.
They were silent then for little All
around them the crickets were holding
neighborly converse, and just beyond the
| frogs were telling conundrums, one here
and one there, and then chorus of an
swers. But on these two hearts fell such a
sweet benediction of peace that all else
was forgotten.
Elsie" said Aunt Priscilla at last,
isn't there verse somewhere in the
Bible that says love covereth null
titudc of sinsY' Does your love cover
my -"
Elsie stopped the question with kiss
just as the gate opened, and Aunt Prs.
ella slipped into the house to light the
| lamps.
" Is this you, little woman, out here in
the dark" said John. "I've brought my
Uncle Gilbert with me- Elsie, the one I've
told you so much about. Found him reg
| istered at the hotel, not knowing we lived
/ so near, and so insisted that he should
come out to our wedding. Uncle Gilbert
this will be my wife tomorrow, but you
can't see her out here in the dark
Elsie laughed as she led the way into
the sittingrOom.
81 don't know your other name," she
said, looking up into the strangers face
" so I'll call you Uncle Gilbert. This is
my aunt, Miss Bryant, Uncle Gilbert"
The light shone full in Aunt Priscilla's
face as the stranger looked into it.
g Priscilla Bryant, is this yOu?' he said
grasping her hand.
John" said Elsie, little while after
g didn't suppose Aunt Priscilla cOut0
faint away, did you?"
They were not married the next day, as
they had planned, but two weeks later
there was a double wedding at the little
farmhouse, and Aunt Priscilla was one
of the brides.
Love has made you beautiful, auntic,'
said Elsie, as she fastened the bridal flow
ers in her hair.
Doesn't the Lord promise to give His
children beauty for ashes Elsie?
wish it might be reflection of HIS love
linessw said the changed woman.
They were all to go for wedding-tril
to Farmer Bryant's old home, where he anC
Priscilla had been children together, "anC
where first saw yOu," whispered Uncle
Gilbert to his bride.
"Itwas the happiest funeral / ever wen
to, John" said Elsie, when they were al
atlast seated in the cars. John smiled. HI
knew there was wisdom somewhere in til,
remark, but he said Are you crazy
little woman ~
"Why, no, John, / really mean it
didn't bury the skeleton to-day that ha
haunted me for years? And, John, it
epitaph is all written; do you want Il
know what it is?
"'Charity sufercth long and IS kind
Charity never failethr "-Interi0r.