The Republican journal., 1877-12-06
From Harper's Bazaar.
A " eWspaper File.


A Newspaper File.
II Was two days after Aunt Priscilla :
funeral, and Sue and | were sitting to-
gether by the kitchen fire, with that husl
over our spirits still which follows a death
and a burial All the afternoon we had
been busy in getting the house to rights
not neddlng Vet with the things which
had been hers, and We're now ours, but
by dint Of open windows, sunshine, and
furniture busted and re arranged, trying
to restore to the rooms that familiar look
which they had lost during those weeks
Of anxiety and trouble \ few DAYS more.
and we must face q future which was full
Of telrors. Meanwhile custom as well as
inclination accorded Il brief respite in
which to think Of her who was gone, and
Of each other, with the clinging tondness
OF those whose lives never before parted,
We're about to separate
She sat on 4 low stool, her head against
the chimney lamb. 1t was the chimney
of Aunt Prisclla's youth: she never would
alter it-one of the wide oll-tashioncd
kind, with pot-hooks, and blazing logs,
and Il bale-oVen at one side. The SCOT
blackened bricks and faint red glow made
a background for my sisters head with
its great twist of fair hair, and lily like
slender throat. Sue is very pretty, pret-
tier than anybody | ever saw. recol-
lectcd picture of Cinderella sitting in
such an attitude 10y the chimney side
She was equally picturesque at that mo-
ment; 50 far as looks go, equally worthy
Of prince; but alas no fairy godmotler
was likely to emerge from the applerOom
for her benefit. Aunt pris, who in a small
way had enacted that part toward us,
was gone, and her big rocking chair,
which we had no heart to sit in, swung
empty in its accustomed place, type Of a
like emptiness which We were conscious
Of in other things. and would feel for a
long time to come.
Neither OF us spoke for a while. We
We're tired and sprtless, and John Slade
was coming presently to talk over things,
SO we saved our words.
DR.. Slade ~. John was Sues lover
Their poor little engagement had been
formed two Years ago. How many years
it was likely to last, nobody could guess ;
but they held on to it bravely and We're
tbIlUCllu W Ntit ltttN Nctll as VIZ Stti
waiting, his step sounded without on the
gravel, and with a little tap courteous
but unnecessary for the door was never
locked he entered, gave Sue a gentle
kiss, me another, and sat down between
us in aunty's rocking chair 1t was a
comfort to have him do that The house
seemed less forlorn at once.
"Well, children, how has the day gone n
he asked.
''Pretty well, replied Sue. 1--WE have
been busy, and are tired to night, think
I'm glad You are come, John dear. We
We're getting lonesome and dismal Cree
and In
Iucretia my name; but Sue and Aunt
Priscilla always called me ''Cree
John adjusted q stick on the embcrs,
and with one daring poke sent the sparks
upward before he answered. Then he
took Sues hand in his broad palm and
patting it gently said:
q Now lets talk over matters We
ought to decide what we are to do, Wc
three"
That "thrce" was very comforting to
ne, but John always is a comfort. He
was ''made 50" Aunt Pris said And he
certainly carries out the purpose of his
creation.
"Dd your aunt leave any will 2 he
went ON.
"Only this" and | brought from be
tween the leaves of the big Bible, where
we had found it, a half sheet Of note pa
per- on which dear aunty had stated i'll
her own simple form, that she left all She
had to be equally divided between her
neiccS, Susan and Lucrctia PendeXter.
Squire Packard'S name and Sarah Brtcll-
etts, our old washer woman's were Writ
ten below as witnesses
every Wcll,' said John. ''1'hat's good
in law, fancy or if not, YOU are the
nearest relations and it's yours anyway.
What property did your aunt own besides
this house ~
''She had ln annuity 0 two hundred q
year, and fifty dollars more from some
turnpike stock That's all, except the
house and furniture, buT there's a mort
gage of three hundred dollars on that.
Squire Packard holds it. The annuity
stops now, doesn't it ;"
John looked as though he wanted tu
whistle, but refrained
- our aunt was a clever manager he
said Ia capital manager. She made !;
very little 90 a great way, didn't She /
don't know any one else who could live
so nicely on three hundred a year, with
mortgage interest taken out. You have
always seemed coy and comfortable"
Eve always have been. But we had
the garden, you know, and the COW that
gave us two-thirds of our living. Annty
was a wonderful housekeeper. though.
Isn't it a great deal cheaper to feed women
than men? She always said so"
Il suppose it is. Men are carnivorous
a diet of tea and vegetables doesn't suit
them very we'll; they are apt to grumble
for something more solid Well, my deal
girls, our summing up isn't very satsfac-
tory. Even without the mortgage You
couldn't live on fifty dollars year
"No. And I've been thinking what we
could do. SO has Cree, though we haven't
spoken to each other about it. might
teach a district school perhaps. And
Cree"
II could take Il place as plain cook.
There isn't anything else can do Sc
well. Plain cooking with dripping and
soap fat by way of perquisites;" and |
gave a little laugh meant to be merry"
at is hard" said John, with moody
look on his face which was foreign to its
usual bright trankness. GLOW much a
little money would sometimes do for pco-
pie who can't get it, and how little it is
worth to other people who fling it away
without thought of its value. A thous-
and dollars, now. Any rich man would
consider it a mere bagatelle in his eX-
penses but if could command the sum,
it would make us three comfortable for
life"
elbow do you mean! What would you
do with thousand dollars if you had it,
John 2"
'I'll tell you. Langworthy is going to
sell his practice
Gnl, ~