Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-05-24
AUNT CALISTA'S HAIR.

Cplcuulu!
Magnificent
$50 long"
$50 Thick
''And soft!'
"And glossy!
''The loveliest brown"
With just tinge of goldr'
And it waves so sweetlyT
1t was Edna and Alice Bristol who
were praising their Aunt Calista's hair
Aunt Calista 'pished!" and "pshawedr'
and begged them to hush; but it was ev-
ident, after all, that she was pleased at
their enthusiastic praise of what was
her only positive attraction. An attrac-
tion of which she, poor soul, had been
heretofore but dimly conscious, for all
her life, thus far, had been so occupied
in caring for others that she had no
time to think of herself whether she
were a fright or otherwise; though a
fright she certainly was not, for her
complexion was fair and clear, and her
expression was one of great sweetness
and intelligence, too, so what matter if
her features were not all cast in beau
tvs perfect mold.
A quiet, sober, and, at times, a sor-
rowful existence had been hers since
her earliest girl-hood- was now bor-
dering upon old maidenhood- when, for
several years, she was almost the sole
nurse and companion of an invalid moth
er; and then, later, when death had re-
moved from her clinging arms this low
ed charge, her father was stricken down
with an incurable and lingering disease
and she was kept close but not un-
willing prisoner by his side for many
more long, weary years, until now he
too, was mercifully taken to rest, and
she had come to make her home for a
while with an only sister, who had mar
ried and removed from her native place
many years before.
This sister and her two young daugh-
ters were gay and fashionable, and it
seemed like being in new world to her
quiet old maid as she was, and she kept
within the seclusion of her own room as
much as her lively nieces would allow
her.
Do not imagine, though, that she was
either awkward or vulgar, for she was
nothing of the kind. Her father had
been man of high mental culture and
refinement, and the few friends who
visited him occasionally during his long
illness were gentlemen of like tastes
and advantages; besides, too, she, with
him, had been constant reader of all
the standard literature, as fast as it
came before the public; so that, although
dreading society, and shrinking and cas-
lily embarrassed when compelled to min
gle in it, she was far from being a per-
son of whom her friends need be asham-
ed, had they been much more sensitive
than they we're.
ooh, Aunt Cally," pleaded Edna, "do
let us dress your hair, just this once.
You've no idea what difference it will
make in your appearance to have it
done fashionably. You might be styl-
ish if you only would. Why, your hair
alone is enough to make your fortune!''
Make my fortune?' said Aunt Cally
l don't understand. Sell it, you mean?''
Catch husband with it, l mean, %
laughed Edna. Now, don't look so
Mortified, Aunty! You must know that
every girl and woman wants to do that
catch husband whether they will
own it or not"
Aunt Calista ,oas Mortified quite as
much as her looks expressed.
Catch a husband!'' she gasped.
Girls of your age talking like that!
Why, | thought it was the women who
were caught if there was any catching
in the case. | didn't know that they
hunted or fshed for husbands!"
"Well, they do, Aunt Cally," asserted
Alice, she, as we'll as Edna, intensely
amused at their aunt's country sim
plicity," as they called it. why, half
the women here are doing their very
best to catch Lawyer Chester now"
THE bold, forward things!" exclaimed
Aunt Calista, in great disgust. IF he
has any sense, he won't. have any of
them. / hope neither of you are in
cluded in their number
Alice tossed her head, with a little
sniff, saying:
81 don't care for husband old enough
to be my father. if he is rich and popu-
lar; and as for Edna with an arch look
toward her sister,, she has her fish al
ready caught so don't worry about us
but just be nice, and let us braid these
beautiful long tresses and put them up
high upon your head, in lovely coil
and then you'll look young and pretty
and you shall catch Lawyer Chester
yourself, so you shall, without trying
one bit"
'You make me ashamed, though !
know you are only teasing. If | thought
you were in earnest / should be angry
with you" replied Aunt Cally.
But the girls had their way with her
hair, though they nearly had their labor
for their pains; for when she escaped
from them at last, and took look at
herself in the glass, she gave half
frightened exclamation of, "Oh, my pa
tience!" and unconsciously put up hel
hands to destroy the wonderful struc.
ture they had built of it. They both
flew to the rescue, laughing, and seizing
her hands.
Don't, don't, aunty!' they both en-