The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-04-17
AUNT HEPSY'S HAIR TRUNK.

It was an old-fashioned. trunk, iron-
bound and antiquated, with the name CT
its former owner inscribed on the lid in
brass nails. Much longer than it was
broad or high, it bore a funereal sugz
gestiyeness, and bespoke nothing OF the
wardrobe it might contain. Aunt Hep
sy called it hair trunk, why we do not
know, for there was very little vestage
Of the capillary substance visible on any
part. of it. 1t was O historic trunk; she
,saidIt descendedto her from. the revo-
lution-and it certainly looked as
though it had.
Aunt Hepsy had never been much OF
q traveller, and her experience, even
after fifty years, in that particular dl-
rection was limited however, on the
day of which we speak, she started on q
Tourney" she and the hair trunk, amt
bandbox, and calico bag, and a rose
bush. A niece who lived with and bid
fair to follow the maidenly precepts OF
her aunt, assisted her in packing, and
saw her safely seated in the antidiluvian
vehicle which was to convey her to the
railway, and it rolled away with this
solitary passenger. The vehicle had
only proceeded few rods from the
house when "Driver, driver, hold on,
STOP" was heard from the inside OF the
coach "What' the matter marin ?" asked
John. "I forgot my umberel ; won't
you run back and tell Jane to give it to-
you? It's in the right hand corner OF
the keepin' room pantry. Tell her to
be kerful and not knock down the penny
royal" "Blame the umberelar," quoth
the knight O. the whip, as he dismount-
ed, and hurried toward the house.
Hardly had he proceeded a dozen steps
when the horses started moved Dy
some unprecedented impulse they broke
into run, and shouts of "whoa, whoa,
driver, driver" issued from behind the
Tapping curtains of the coach. Sudden
" there was q cessation and moment
later could you have looked into the
coach you would have seen the driver
tanning Aunt Hepsy with the lid Of that
favorite band-box.
As she opened her eyes and looked
half consciously into the drivers face,
her first words were is the trunk safe?"
not for q moment realizing the romance
Of her position. "I guess 50, marm,"
replied the protector, "but if We keep
on this way, can't ketch that there
train no how" Everything being re.
stored to order again, the driver mount
ed his seat and they rolled away once
more. Every thing went smoothly ex-
cept when the wheels struck an occa-
sional stone in the road, (which did not
improve Aunt Hepsy's opinion OF travel
ing. nor the condition Of the rose-bush.
They arrived at the station just in
time to join the confused crowd who
were rushing hither and thither. Aunt
Hepsy became mixed up in the multi
tude, was whirled and iostled along,
all the time calling at the top of her
voice "where's my trunk, where's my
trunk? Have you seen any thing OF
nv trunk ?" she asked of the engineer
as she fetched up against the side OF the
cab: a terrible shrek of the whistle,
and the hiss of demons startled the old
lady off of her feet, and the next mo-
ment, jostled along, she tumbled in at
the baggage car door much discon-
certed. 80 my trunk" she murmured.
"What's the matter with yer trunk r
snquired an able bodied baggage
imasher. "Does this part go to
Newark 2" she inquired then with
satisfaction beaming in her eyes and a
smile gradually spreading itself over
her bewildered features, she exclaim-
ed: claws there's my trunk now,
and quietly seated herself on her prec.
ious old revolutionary friend. Be it
said to the everlasting credit of that
baggage smasher, he escorted her to a
comfortable seat in another car, and the
train started. Elizabeth" shouted a
man at the door. as the train soon
halted before another station, 'Eliza.
: beth !" shouted another one at another
door. Aunt Hepsy looked inquiringly
round for moment or 80, no one got
up then she remarked to gentleman
in the next seat, 81 guess Elizabeth ain't
here"
"Fare, madam, fare," asked very
spruce looking young man OF Aunt
Hepsy, as the train once more movec
along. "Well, I am very sorry," sale
the old lady, "but I didn't bring any
ticket with me if I had thought there
was chance to sell any would have
certain" "Fare, madam" repeated
the conductor. 81 was just sayin',
continued Aunt Hepsy, that l hadn'
none with me, would like to 'commo
date you but perhaps if you're anxiou
you might drop line to Jane.-The fai
don't come off in three weeks yet.
"I don't care about the fair. what L
"Well then" interrupted Aunt Hepsy
"what did you speak about itfor then !?
"What want, continued the conduc