Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-05-03
AUNT HEPSY'S HAIR TRUNK.

>SAAN
it's former owner inscribed on the lid in
brass nails. Much longer than it was
broad or high, it bore funereal spgges-
tiYeness, and bespoke nothing of the ward
robe it might contain. Aunt Hepsy called
it hair trunk, why we don't know, for
there was very little of the capillary sub
stance visible on any part of it. It was a
historic trunk; she said it descended to
her from the revolution-and it certainly
looked as though it had.
Aunt Hepsy had never been much of a
traveller, and her experience, even after
fifty years, in that particular direction was
limited; however, on the day of which we
speak, she started on a tourney" she and
the hair trunk, and 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 pack
ing, and saw her safely seated in the ante
diluvian vehicle which was to convey her
to the railway, and it rolled away with the
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's the matter, marm?" asked JOAN.
II 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 keepn'-room
pantry. Tell her to be keerful and not
| knock down the pennyroyal." ''Blame
the umberelar!'' quoth the knight Of the
whip, as he dismounted, and hurried to-
ward the house. Hardly had he proceed
ed dozen steps when the horses started;
moved by some unprecedented impulse
they broke into a run, and shouts of
'Whoa! whoa! driver! driver!" issued
from behind the Tapping curtains of the
| coach. Suddenly there was 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 handbook.
As she opened her eyes and looked half
consciously into the drivers face. her first
words were, Ills the trunk safe?" not for
moment realizing the romance of her
position. Il guess so, marm," replied the
protector, "but if we keep on this way, I
can't ketch that there train no how.'
Everything being restored to order again,
the driver mounted his seat and they rolled
away once more. Everything went smooth
ly except 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 rush
ing hither and thither. Aunt Hepsy be-
came mixed up in the multitude, was
whirled and jostled along, all the time
calling at the top of her voice, s'where's
my trunk, where's my trunk?" Have you
seen anything of my trunk?" she asked OF
the engineer as she fetched up against the
side Of the cab; terrible shrek of the
whistle, and the hiss Of demons startled
the old lady off her feet, and the next mo.
ment, jostled along, she tumbled in at the
baggage car door much disconnected. 20,
my trunk she murmured. H'
"What's the matter with yer trunk?'
inquired an able-bodied baggage smasher.
docs this part go to Newark" she in
quired; then with satisfaction beaming in
her eyes and smile gradually spreading
itself over her 3ewildered features, she ex.
claimed: Claws there's my trunk now,'
and quietly seated herself on her precious
old revolutionary friend. Be it said to the
Everlasting credit of that baggage-smasher
he escorted her to comfortable seat in
another car, and the train started. ''Eliza.
BETH" shouted a man at the door
as the train soon halted before
another station, 'Elizabeth" shouted
another one at another door. Aunt Hepsy
looked inquiringly round for moment OF
so, no one got up; then she remarked to q
gentleman in the next seat, II guess Eliza
beth amt here.''
'Fare, madam, fare," asked very
spruce looking young man of Aunt Hepsy
as the train once more moved along.
"Well, I am very sorry,' said the old lady
"but didn't bring any ticket with me; il
/ had thought there was change to sell
any would have, certain" s1Fafe, mad
am" repeated the conductor. 81 was Jus,
sayin'," continued Aunt Hepsy, ''thaJ
hadn't none with me, would like to com
MEDIATE yon but perhaps if you're anxieu