Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-11-23
OUR PECULIAR AUNT.

aunt Rachel should have taken it into her
crotchety head to pay us visit just at
that time that is, just as Harry and
were engaged, and finding life SO full Of
enjoyment.
She had not visited Us in eighteen years
mot, in fact, since the day when, coming
to my christening, she had learned that
papa preferred to have me called Kate,
after his mother, to Rachel Ann Scroop,
after herself.
She had then departed in dudgaon, and
had never taken further notice Of us until
now, when she wrote that her hoal,h was
net good, that the doctor advised change
Of air, and that, being on her way to the
Springs, she would stop with us for three
days-and for three days only,
She added, in postscript, that we need
no; put ourselves to the least trouble on
her account, for that she had already
made her viii and left all her property to
go to the founding Of Home for Home
less Single Ladies'" E."
Bessie and | laughed when we read
this but Bob, who was two years young
or than |, grew indignant.
"As if we wanted her money !" he
said, with a grand air of superiority. "I'd
rather be beggar than have twice her
property and oe always suspeeting chat
people were having nm eye to it in every
thing that they do or say -
"Aunt Rnchel has her poculiMiues, ="
mamma said, in her gentle way, "She
has received much attention from merce-
nary relatives, on account OF her money,
and has learned to be disrusi.ul and sus-
picious Iou chiIdIen must bear with
her, and be respectful while She is here -
Then mumma followed me into my own
room, and, shutting the door, said, So
riouslv.
"kate want to speak to you in regard
70 one OF aunt Rachcrs pocuiaIities-"
"IIow many has she, mamma Are
we to study them all, and make ourselves
slaves to-"
IIush - interrupted mamma, in her
turn, lifting her finger. lyon have
heard that Aun. Bscho has a special
contempt ana dislike for all sorts of sent
imoum'iy particularly what people call
love making. She cannot endure any
thing .f the kind, or even The presence
OF engaged o. newly married couples
! tell you This in ogdor that You and Har-
ry may be on your guard in her pros
eucc, indeed, am not sure bat TINT he
had better stay away altogether while she
is here"
"Mumma, are we to make ourselves
miserable oa account OF aunt Rachel s
pecuiatitca -
MY dear, she is TO be with us very
short tima-ouly three Days. Why
should we not do MI in our power to
make her visit agreeable to her? You
knoa how anxious am that She should
find it pleasant while under my roof"
So, Tor dear mamma's sake, / resolved
to make the great -ac,lco OF renouncing
Harry's society for three days.
lie grambled at first, and sail some
thing not exacGy aulatory Of Aunt
Rachel but promised to write every
morning, and to signsl him at distance
every evening" and so somewhat recon-
cilcd him to the cruel separation.
Wa exchanged rosebuds and vows Of
cousHucy, and took Il solemn and affect
iug leave OF each other for three days,
which we folt would be to us three ages.
This was not the first trouble that had
opposed the course OF our true love-
That great enemy Of young lovers hap
piness-poeut ty-h0d already frowucd
upon us, o'arshadow both the present
and the future.
Harry was a young physician, MS yet
without practice, and papa, though he
could adord to support his rather large
family in comfort, had yet nothing to
be-tow on as whom we should marry
and he declared tW, until Harry should
have made enough for us to live upon, be
would never consent to our marriage.
aunt Rachel arrived as She had
promised, puuctually by the four o'clock
train. Mamma, and /, and Bob went to
The station in the pony carriage to meet
her.
The moment She alighted-a tall, stifi
figure, in an old fashioned leghorn bon
net-she began to make great fuss in
collecting her luggage, and threatened to
sue the company for the loss Of bundle
containing n pair Of rubbers and n water
proof cape, which She had carried on the
seat beside her.
When the rest Of her numerous parcels
and bundles we're collected, she found
time to notice US. She formerly kissed
mamma, extended stiG.hand to Bob,
and, pushing me baek with her huge um-
bre!a, surveyed me cIilicsingly over
her pectacles.
$50 ibis is your eldest girl ? What's
horuame ?"
"hatei' mamma answered, rather
neryously.
"llump Called after her fathers
mother. Chi.tenod Cathafine. Why
can't you call her SO, instead Of giving
her a nickname, which is no name at
all ?"
Arrived at home, the children, nicely
dressed, and warned to be on their best
behavior, were solemny introduced TO
aunt Rachel.
"Bloss me ! How many children have
you, Caroline ?"
"Sven."
"Homp! are they good children ?"
"Why, ye., aunt Rachel, as children
60, very good
That Is well Tor, il they woren Z do