The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-25
WHAT AUNT DORCAS DID.

with father, mother and a circle of broth
ers and sisters before u winter fire one
January day. .
Too prim and precise for my taste"
spoke up Joe, tho scapegrace Of the
family. Il never see them but what
fancy they were born in short aprons and
white caps. Dora, if you don't help me
nut with this calculation, I'm ruined en-
tircly.'
''Then you must be ruined young man, :"
said Mr.. Davis, turning toward him. 81
notice your sister helps you out too fire.
quently."
Joe made a comic gesture Of rcsigna-
ton, then lifting his right hand, he cx-
claimed:
Whom the vile blows and Bullets of the world
Have SO incensed that I am reckless what
do to spite the world!''
in so tragic a manner that the 4)otey-
fanilias turned away to hide Il smile,
while the rest of the little circle shouted
with laughter. Then Joe made pretense
20 dash away any quantity Of tears, and
resumed his task with a haggard, woe
BECOME look, that was not changed by the
nirth OF the others, though little Pete
declared that he must be laughing in
side.
"Eour aunts are very good women"
resumed Mr.. Davis, folding up his news
paper, but | can assure you they were
not always so sedate, and I can re-
member their merry laughter and pretty
faces long before time and grief had So
hcred them'
"You don't tell me they were ever
young" queried Joe, his mobile face full
Of establishment.
"Young and a good deal more full of
fun and mischief than ever you were,
you young mad-cap. Why when the
court used to sit in Lansing, father has
had as many as ten or fifteen lawyers in
the house, and those two girls entertained
them IN such manner that their fame
went through the country. They were
full Of pluck, too. Did I ever tell you
how they kept house at Fernfall?' he
asked, turning to his wife, who shook her
head.
Fernfall was the old family mansion,
the scenery about which was remarkable
for its great variety of ferns, and its pref
ty and numerous waterfalls. It had once
been a place of great repute, in old
Colonial times, sheltering Governors and
Generals and distinguished men and
women, and though partly falling to de-
cay, it still retained traces of its grandeur,
had its haunted room, and in fact was the
scene Of some remarkable incidents.
Tell US about it!' went chorusing
round the table. 'sIt'sjust the night for
story
$50 never told you how Dorcas cut
off mans leg, my dear?"
now.
Dorcas-cut-" and there she paused,
her sewing suspended, an expression of
incredulity crossing her countenance.
"Yes, my dear, Dorcas did perform
that remarkable feat-not to make pun
Of It: Fernfall' was deserted by the Sob
erer heads OF the house, who took advant-
age of the lull in business and company
one pleasant autumn to pay visit to one
OF their children in> the neighboring
town, a married son.
Another son was expected home on
the very day they left, but the girls de-
clared that I-nine years old then-was
plenty OF protection, and, even if Jack did
not come, they were not in the least
afraid.
II half believe they were delighted to
havc the house to themselves, for no
sooner had the elders gone than Dorcas
sent out invitations for two miles round
for an evening party, and carried them,
on the back of old Prescott, the family
horse. | remember it took me all day.
and at every farmhouse they were max
ing cider.
Il would not dare tell in these temper
ance times how many mugs of sweet
elder I was obliged to- drink. Certain it
was that I ate two dinners and an un-
limited amount of cake; so much that
when I returned and smelled the sweet
odors Of more cake just out of the oven,
which had been prepared for the party, I
ran away from the house in disgust as
soon as I had delivered my errand.
Well, the party came off, and hap
py, trolicsome party it was. Very differ
ent, Dora, from yours last winter, when
the girls were so loaded down with TRIM
mlngs: 11ounces, and bouquets that they
could do nothing but dawdle through
qradrilles, and fan, and do the polite.
The girls who came to my sisters party
wore neat and pretty dresses. I don't re-
member founce, and I'm sure such a
thing as train was unheard of. know
some Of them wore nice little aprons with
pockets in them, and others, little more
fashionable, perhaps, covered their hands
with sort of lace mits. There was no
dancing, but good, downright old
fashioned, honest plays, that set the room
in roar with forfeits.
''The patty, though got up on such
-short r,c+;co VOC e,,cco.. IT.,