Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-03-22
AUNT ANN,

nun hAiNh
Sibyl Greene came across lots from
the red house on the hill to where, in
the Antisses' back porch, Miss Ann was
shelling peas. Her greeting was: "La,
Ann, you don't say that's you! but then
l might "a knowed. AS l was tellin'
Hester Yesterday, If Ann is visitin'
she'll smell measles to hum and come
tearin' back. Ann allus was a reg'lar
little angel of charity, bus lin round. -
To relish compliments is human;
probably Miss Antiss appreciated hers,
but her manner of receiving it was
characteristic. She said: "Well, | had
to come hum some time, so it was as
well one time as another. Hannah
needed somebody bad enough. How S
the folks?"
"Our folks is all smart; and was up
TO Ruth's day afore yesterday. Ruth's $
layin' down lots of butter, and the farm
looks beautiful They're all well too,
only it seems to me Annie looks ruther
peakid. She allus had so much color,
and used to be so full of her talk, but
she Jest set and sewed, and hardly said
word. Lizzy's CROWN dreadful fast;
she's a reg lar tomboy. Ruth allus was
slack with her children. We, Hester
and me, had real good time; and when
we come along down we stopped at
Miss Hadden's, and there was her Lie
and Harry Jackson a-settin' on the
stoOp. Miss Hadden she limited round
about his comm there so often; but you
needn't tell me, Harry Jackson don't
want Lie an her giggles an eye-roll-
in's. But, Ia me, how be runnin' on
/ suppose you couldn't let me have just
Il tiny cup of yeast? ourn's worked, and
Hester's dreadful particular about
yeast"
Somethin's to pay" Miss Antiss
said to the peas, as she resumed work
after watching Miss Greene yellow sun.
bonnet bob through the hole in the
fence. "Annie amt CROWN thin and
quiet, and Harry Jackson ain sparkin'
Lie Hadden, for nothin'. Ruth, she't d
never see nothin' was the matter til
Annie had fretted herself to death, and
then she'd call it orderin' of Provi
dence. Jacobs too busy, and Annie is
Antiss clean through. She'd never say
nothin' to nobody. But I'll find out
When the children gifts over the heft OF
the measles, I'll go over
A week later and Annie was seated
in the east door, trying to read, and
not succeeding ut all in banishing hel
sad thoughts, when Jabez clumpeC
through the hall, and tiptoed carefully
over the scraps of carpet scattered OF
the freshly-painted floor,
There woman a-settin' in shay
at the gate, but she won't git out til
she knows if Miss Fords to hum.n
"Who is it, Jabez?"
81 dunno. A little chitter-faceC
woman, gittin' on in years. I'll steI
out an call Miss Ford''-escaping
out through the open door, for woman
kind of any age was Jabez' terror.
Annie found Il small figure surmount
ed by green calash seated bolt up
right in an old chaise drawn by sleepy
looking white horse, whose every tai
whisk seemed to disturb the driver, a.
she always followed it with a " So, Jen
nier'
80 Aunt Ann, is that you? How
glad | am to see you! Mothers at home
she was down in the garden. Won
you get outP'
"Yes, if you'll 90 to the horses head
Be keerful, child'-as Annie took hold
of the bridle-" she's dreadful skittish
But who's a-goin' to take my things?
"Lizzie! Lizzie! where are you?'
"Here-swinging."
Come down to the front gate. Aun
Ann is here
"Oh, what funr' and a merry-lOok
ing, sunburned girl of fifteen jumped
from the swing and ran around til,
house, through the large shady yard
to the gate.
"How do you do, Aunt Ann? It's S,
long since you've been here | have al
most forgotten how you look. But VIII,
don't you get out?'
"'Liz' beth, your tongue runs faster
ever. Take them hingsn-handin!
out a bandbox, work-bag, basket
large cotton umbrella and campho
bottle. Then the descent was accom-
plished. Safe on terra frma, Miss An
tiss breathed a sigh of relief, greete,
her great-nieces briefly, and turned t,
the horse. "Jennie must be put up
Where's that slab-sided boy that wa
rakin' the door-yard?"
"Oh, I'll put her in the barn, auntie
Here, Annie, take these things Tum
bling them unceremoniously into An
ME arms, Lizzie sprang into the chaise
and, chirruping to the fat horse, tOuche
her smartly with the whip, astonishing
the animal into cow-like gallop.
My patience abide me! Liz bet
will be Killed! It's real riskin' G
Providence to drive so fast" said Auu
Ann. But the chaise rumbled an
rolled into the lane in safety, notwitt
standing her fears, and disappeared i
the barn. Mrs. Ford was hurrying t
the gate as they turned-a broad, mott
erly figure, whose sun-bOnnet string
fluttered in the little breeze such a larg
body created in walking so fast.
"Why, Aunt Ann, I'm proper gla
TO see you! Come right in. | wa
down in the garden and had to was
my hands. How did you come to q,
away, and all Hannah five down wit
the measlesP"
Hannah's five amt mine, thank til
Lord, and I'm free TO come and go as
please. / wanted to see Jacob; an
they're all through the heft on 'em."
"We're dreadful pleased TO see yol
anyway. Walk right in TO the keepin
room. Annie, take your aunt's bon
net" said Mrs. Ford. who was mo-
hOspitable woman, bustling into III
house before them TO open the door {
apleasant room. A bright carpet wa
ON the floor; the rocking-chairs an