Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-24
NO. 252.
Aunt Ann.

toSCs POtCu, MISS Anu WAS SQcilllX
peas. Her greeting was, la, Ann, you
don't say that's you! but then might a
knowed As ! was tellin' Hester yister-
day. If Ann is visitin'. she'll smell meas.
les to hum, and come tearin' back. Ann
allus was regular little angel of charity,
bus'lin' round"
To relish compliments is human; prob
ably Miss Antiss appreciated hers, but
her manner OF receiving it was character
istic. She said, "Well, had to come hum
another. Hannah needed some one 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 we'll 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 Jest set and
sewed. and hardly said word. Lizzy's
CROWN dreadful fast she's a regular TOM
boy. Ruth allus was slack with her chill.
dren. We, Hester and me, had q 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 Of
ten but you needn't tell me Harry Jack
son don't want Lie an her giggles an
eye rollins. But. la, me, how l be rum
min on | suppose you couldn' let me hav
just tiny cup of yeast? ours worked,
and Hester's dreadful partic'lar about
yeast
"SOmethin's to pay Miss Antiss said
to the peas as she resumed work after
watching Miss Greene's yellow sunbonnet
bob through the hole in the fence. "An-
ME amt CROWN thin and quiet and Harry
jackson amt sparkin' Lie Hadden, for
Ruth she'd never see nOthin' was the mat
ter till Annie had fretted herself to death,
and then she'd call it orderin' Of Privi-
dence. Jacobs too busy, and Annie Is
Aniiss clean through. She'd never say
nothin' to nobody. But I'll find out When
the children gets 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 sue
ceeding at all in banishing her sad
thoughts, when Jabez clumped throug the
hall. and tiptoed carefully over the scraps
of carpet scattered on the freshly painted
floor.
"Be your mother to hum p,
"Yes; she is down in the garden. Does
any one want to see her?"
There's a woman a-sittin' in shay at
the gate. but she won't get out till she
knows if Miss Ford's to hum"
"Who is it, Jabez ?"
Il dunno. A little chitter-faced wo.
man, gittn' on in years. I'll step out and
call Miss Ford"-escaping through the
open door. for womankind of any age was
Jabez terror.
Annie found small figure surmounted
by green calash seated bolt-upright in an
old chaise drawn by sleepy looking
white horse, whose every tail whisk
seemed to disturb the driver, as she al
ways followed it with $50, Jennie !"
"Oh. Aunt Ann. is that You How glad
am to see you! Mothers at hom,; she
was down in the garden. Won't you get
out ?"
"Yes. if you'll hold the horses head. Be
keerful, chlld'-as Annie took hold of the
bridle-"she's drediul skittish. But who's
a-goin' to take my thingsP" beginning.
now that she was able to take her ewes
from the horse, to reach under the seat
and draw out various baskets and bundles.
''Jabez" called Annie; but Jabez was
safely on his way to the meadow lot with
his rake over his shoulder.
Lizzie where are you3"
Here. swinging"
Come down to the front gate. Aunt
Ann is here"
"Oh, what fun !" and merry-looking,
sun burned girl of fifteen jumped from,
the swing and ran around the house and
through the large, shady yard, to the gate.
''How do you do. Aunt Amp 1t Is so
long since you've been here that l have
almost forgotten how you look But WHY
don't you get out?"
Liz beth. your tongue runs EASTERN
ever. Take them things gs"-handing out a
bandbox, a work-bag. q basket. large cot
ton umbrella and camphor bottle. Then
the descent was accomplished. Crashing
firmly the side and dashboard, Miss An
tiss cautiously put one foot on the step,
drew it back to see if Annie was holding
the horses head firmly, tried the other
foot, and finally reached the horse block
in safety, displaying in the operation q
good deal of thin leg encased in a black
stocking footed with white. Safe on terra
firma, Miss Antiss breated sigh of relief.
greeted her great-nieces briefly and turned
TO the horse.
"Jennie must be put up. Where's that
slab-sided boy that was rakin' the yard ?"
"Oh. I'll put her in the barn, auntie.
Here, Annie, take these things" Tumb-
ling them unceremoniously into Annie's
arms, Lizzie sprang into the chaise, and
chirruping to the fat horse, touched her
smartly with the whip, astonishing the
animal into a gallop.
my patience abide me. 'Liz'beth will
be killed! 1t real riskin' OF Providence
to drive so fast" said Aunt Ann. But the
chaise rumbled and rolled into the lane in
safety. Notwithstanding her fears. and dis
appeared in the barn. Mrs. Ford was
hurrying to the gate as they turned-a
broad, motherly figure, whose sun-bonnet
strings futtered in the little breeze such
large body created in walking so fast.
..Why. Aunt Ann. I'm proper glad to
see you! Come right in. I was down In
the garden. and had to wash my hands.
How did you come to get away, and all
Hannah's five down with the measles p''
"Hannah's five amt mine, thank the
Lord, and I'm free to come and 90 as |
please. wanted to see Jacob and they
are all through the heft on 'em.n
"We're dreadful pleased to see you,
fr,ontlnuaA an fou,>A ~aual