The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-11-08
Asrwsr.rrn rits.

dealh and burial. All The afternoon We
bad been busy 10 getting The house 10
rights, not meddiing yet With The ihings
which bsd been hers, and we're now ours
bal by dint of open windows, sunshine,
and furniture busted and rc-arranged,
I trying 10 restore 10 the rooms that iamil-
lar look which they bad lost during these
weeks OF anxiely and trouble, A few
days more and we must face future
Which was full of terrors Meanwhile
custom as well as inclination accorded a
brief respite IA which 10 think Of her who
had gone, and Of each other, with The
elpging fondness Of those whose liyes'
never before parted, were shout to sepa
rate.
Sue sat ON low stool, her bead gsinst
The chimney jsmb. Il was the chimney
Of Aunt PriseillAs youth; she never
would alter it--one Of the vide, old.fash-
ioned kind, with pot-hooks, and blazing
! logs, and bake-oven at one side. The
.blackened bricks and faiut red glow
made background for my sisters head,
with the great twist of tair hair, and lily
like slender throat. Sue is very pretty,
prettier than anybody | ever saw. |
recolected picture as looked at her
picture of Cinderella sitting in jnst such
an attitude by the chimney side. She
was equally picturesque at that moments
SO far as looks go, equally worthy OF
prince; but, alas no fairy godmotber
was likely to emerge from the apple room
for her benefit. Aunt Pie, who In
small way had enacted that part toward
us, was gone, and her big rocking chair,
whch we had no heart to sit in, SWING
empty in its accustomed place, type of
like emptiness which we were conscious
of In other things, aud would feel for
long time TO come.
Neither OF us spoke for while. We
were tired and spiritless, and John Slade
was coming presently to talk over things,
so we saved our words
/
Their poor little engagement bad been
formed two years ago. How many years
II was likely TO last, nobody could guess;
| but they held on TO II bravely, and were
content to wait Pretty soon, as we
sat waiting, his step'sounded without on
the gravel, and with little tap-eourteous
but unnecessary, for the door was never
locked--he entered, gave Sue 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 gomez
be asked.
Pretty well, replied Sue. We have
been busy, and are tired to-uight, ! think,
I'm glad you are come, John dear. We
were getting lonesome and dismal, Cree
and l.
Lucretia is my name; but Sue and
Aunt Priscilla always called me Cree.
John adjusted stick on the cmbers,
and with one daring poke sent a tongue
Of bright flame upward before heanswer-
ed. Then he took Sues hand in his broad
palm, and patting it gently, said, Now
let's talk over matters. We ought to de-
eide what we are to do, we three.
That three was very comforting TO me,
but John always is comfort. He was
made so, Aunt Pris said. And he GER
tainly carries out the purpose of bis crea-
tion.
Did your aunt leave any will? he went
on.
Only this and brought from between
the leaves Of the big Bible, where we had
found it, half sheet Of note paper, on
which dear aunty had stated In her owl
simple form, that she left all she had 10
be equally divided between her neces,
Susan aud Lucretia PJndexter. Squire
Packard's name and Sarah Brackets,
our old washef-woman, were written
below rs witnesses.
Very well, said john. That's good in
law, fALel F; or ii not, on are the near
est relations. aud its Yours anyway.
What properly did your aunt own beside
this house2
She had an annniIy of two hundred and
fifty year, and fifty dollars more from
some turnpike stock. That's alt, except
the house aud furniture, aud there is =
mortgage Of three hundred dollars ON
that. Squire Packard holds il. The an.
nuiiy stops now, doesn't it2
John looked as though be wsnled TO
whistle, but refrs!ned.
Your aunt was a clever manager, he
ssid--A capital manager She made 4
very little 90 great way, didn't she
don't know any one else who could live
so nicely on three hundred year, with
mortgage interest taken out. You have
always seemed coy aud comfortable.
We always have been. But we had
the garden, you know, aud the COW; thai
gave Us two-lhirds Of our living. Auniy
tras wonderful bousekeeper, though
lsn't il great deal cheaper TO feed wo'
men than menS She always said -.
/ suppose il is. Men are carniverons,
A diet Of tea aud vegetables don't suit
item vefy well; they arc spt 20 grumble
for something more solid Well, my dear
giris, our summing 0p Isn't very satisiac'
tory. Even without The mortgage. you
couldn't live on iiity dollars year
No. And I've been thinking what ",
could do. 20 has Cree, though we haven
spoken 10 each other sboat It. ] might
teseh A district school, perhaps. ADD
Cree