The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-02-12

| lore IL.
"Aunty Lees husbands shop i:
gone.n shouted my hostess, Mrs. Ev
ans. as she Knocked as my door in the
early morning after the storm; .'anc
thst't not the worst ont, for her gar.
den is all washed ont aod undermine
ed, 80 that it'll take o purity pile o
money to fix it up again, if ever 'ti'
| fiyed.
| / wonder now ef Mis- Lee don'i
wish she hadn't been 80 neighborly,
and so had little somethin' out a,
Interest" and it really seemed to me
as if the little womsn was chucaling
TO herself as she patted down the
stairs.
In less tsan half an hour she came
back to my room with as dolefuI q
looking visage as lever saw. "W hat
ever is agoin' to become o. me and
my man z" she cried land we a
gettin' to be old folks, tew. Our
savein's were all in the stock comp
ny up to MinotsyilIe. 10 there because
they paid more interest than the
bank we ouly tux It out o. the bank
a little while ago, au' now their old
mill has gone clean oG, an they'll all
go to gineral smash and we along
with 'em ~ and this lime she went
slowly groaning down the stairs.
could hardly help plying the poor
woman from the bottom Of my heart.
There was great excitement in the
little village, as matter of course,
bat Aunty Lee was reported to be as
'ehipper" as ever. The nosegays
came to me every day as usual, not
quite so many nor 80 great variety
as formerly, for part of the garden
had been washed away. but enough
to give me an increased admiration
for the sweet old lady who was so
persistent and unwearying in her
neighborly acts of kindness.
The next Mondays local newspa
per had this unique notice at the
head of the village items:
All who have ever been the recip-
tents Of kindly deeds from 'Aunty
Lee,' aud who would ike to recip-
rocate now in her day CT misfortune,
are invited to bring their supper to
Oak Grove on Thursday afternoon at
ive O'Clock, and talk the matter up
over 'neighborly' cup of tea
At the time appointed had ear
riage come to take my hostess and me,
and my basket Of cakes and buns
fresh from the bakery, 10 the beautiful
grove. As we were driven along |
was surprised to see so many people,
lunch baskst 10 hand. speeding 10 the
same direction.
Almost every body in town is 60
in'.n said Mrs Evans, high an low
rich an poor"
As was being assisted to seat,
the gentle, molherly little woman
spread . soiI shawl .yer the back of
tie chair intended for me and quick
ly folded another shawl for my lame
foot to rest upon.
This is Auniy Lee" said Mrs.
Evans. and the sweet faced little wo-
man and | looked into each others
faces with lit.le curiosity, perhaps,
as well as sympathy, and shook
hands cordially.
i don't know what all these good
people are 10 do with Elijah aud me,
she said, with smile that was as
genial as sunbeam, but The minis
ter would have US come, and be and
bis wife drove around for US.
The minister sscended the plat
form just then, and after tendefly
yet impressigely invoking the divine
blessing be looked down benignly
upon the faces upturned to his, and
with touching intonsison Of voice
asked. 'Who is my neighbor y He
then went on to tell how Aunty Lee
mad answered that question 10 regard
TO himself
w ben ] urst became atqua ntsd
with Mr.. and Mrs Elijah Lee he
said, 4 was finishing my theological
studies here in the village with DR..
Mills, apd they had just. married and
settled down in their little house
youder, which they bad Inherited
O1e day | was sent for to preach on
trial in the adjoining town of Lux
bUro.' Ny only coat was worn
ttreadbare, extensively patched. aud
| had no way of procuring another.
Feeling sorely grieVed and dispirited,
! started ou. for walk, and for the
SAKE Of telling my trouble to some
fellow creature, and with no thought
Cf receiving any aid in the premises,
| turned into Mrs. Lees house, and
read to her the Invitation had from
LuxbgFo. AID frankly told her why
could not go az present.
Leave it to the Lord said the
good woman, and forthwith she pro-
ceeded 70 take ny measure with G
piece OF tape: 90 bone, 'sbe contin-
ued write your sermon and come here
again on Saturday morning
/ obeysd / subsequently found
that ibe woman bad actually taken a
piece OF cloth that she bad laid by in
the house for cloak for herself, and.
tsiloress as she was by ire3e, ED cut
and made sae . coat tom 1t. n
preached my 1rst sermon in it, and
shortly received and sseeeeaP,ssl ny srst
call
oh. dear,' whispered Aanty Lee
from her sea, by my side, he's paid
me for that coat every New Years
day since, and it wasn't much for NE
:" 20 after all
Major Ssltosd. the richest man in
sowB, was the next TO take the stand
The old people smiled and nodded
their heads, but the young folks .oos-
ed at each other and wondered what
he could be Indebted to Annty Lee
for.
when | was boy the Ms;o,
began. 81 was bound olt in H-to
a very, very bad master. from whom
| determined to run away. / ava'led
myself of an opportunity TO escape
one Saturday afternoon. when was
sc u, to the pasture TO salt the cattle
! came straight over the mountain to
this place. ! wanted 10 get out OF the
State as soon as possible, 80 came d.
recily TO The bridge down there at the