Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-11-14
NO. 274.
Gales ano skettbes.
AUNT ROxY'S WILL.
Continued from Yesterday

CONTINUED from yesterday.)
The richest woman in Eastmont was
Miss Roxanna Pillsbury. The last of her
family, with no kin nearer than second
cousins, of course the disposition of her
property became matter of general inter-
est. There was no end TO speculations
which were INDUCED in behind her back,
and there was no lack of covert hint and
open counsel offered to her face on the
subject. Esquire Gibson hoped Miss Pills
bury would remember the eddicational
need of Eastmont, and establish perma-
nent fund for the academy. Deacon Hale
was fond of reminding her of the dilapida-
ted condition of the meeting house. What
could be more conscience soothing, end
eternally remunerative investment, { aan
the building of new church edifice.
wherein the next generation of Eastmont
people should worship God, and bless Miss
Pillsbury? An orphan asylum, dowry
fund for manageable women, the embar-
easements of the A. b. c. F. NJ, a monu-
ment for soldiers of the revolution-all
these, and fifty more objects of charity.
were presented to Aunt Roxy every year;
until she was in danger of becoming a
Rothschld, or Peabody in small way,
at least as far as the features of the position
went 1t was quite in vain that she pro-
tested that she had made her will. What
if she had? She could alter it, could she
not Or, at all events, she could add .
codicil. She would think of it. would she
not? And so the importunate agent of the
''clergyman's grandmother fund" would
60 away, chuckling, and fancying he had
made great impression on this rich single
woman.
As for the Widow Champion, she was
quite free from any annoyances which at
tached themselves to wealth. She owned
her little homestead. She had never had
| fifty dollars in her life, at one time, and
yet she was not considered poor.
Remember, my son." said the widow
to her stalwait boy. Remember the
prayer Ager: Give me neither poverty
nor riches
Very well, mother" answered Tom,
laughing. "But if a man must have one OF
the two give me riches"
''Poverty's no disgrace?'
''Of course not, but it's mighty incon-
venient!" and Tom went of whistling.
And, in mentioning this same Thomas. l
have introduced the chief pride of the ex-
cellent Mrs. Champion. Very vain
glorious indeed the widow was. and with
some show of reason too, of her broad
shouldered boy, with the merry brown
eyes. Boy, his mother would have called
him still, though he was twenty-one last
birthday, and quite man in his own
estmation-quite able to take care of him.
self. and of some other people also, IS we
shall presently see.
Tom had left his mother at Aunt Roxy's
this afternoon, and, while she and her
| friend were in the full career of church ar
gument. Toms gray pony was paving
the snow in front of Squire Gibson's door.
| The horse shook his double row of bells
impatiently, and merry laugh rang out,
as a chubby little figure. well obscured in
furs and wraps, was tucked into the sleigh.
Very carefully the big hands folded the
robes about her shoulders and feet, you
may be sure of that.
''Oh, you always tuck me up so nicelyr'
chirped Kitty, for her cherry voice always
reminded you of a bird.
'.DO II" answered Tom, for the life of
him not finding anything else to say,
though he thought, 'If might only do
it always?" But the opportunity was
lost, and so great was the lovers cOnfu-
sion, that am sorry to say that he tucked
himself in by the side of Kitty, and gave
NAL only shook his bells. and paved more
impatiently than ever. The horse was not
uniastened! Oh how Kitty laughed then
Tom laughed too. What else could he
do? Twas your fault ~ he said to Kitty,
and really think it was. What business
had she to look so confusingly and con-
foundedy pretty, with her blue hood, and
the swans down. and the great loose gold
en- curls?
| However, two minutes later, they were
gliding along to the tune of the bells,
Kiity's blue ribbons, and yellow curls
blowing off on the wind. and her laugh
ringing out over the fields of snow, while
Tom Champion. sitting beside her, decid-
ed that this world was very jolly place
indeed. particularly the part of it called
Eastmont. Pretty? Perhaps she wasn't.
Aunt Roxy thought her nose too sharp.
So did Melissa Jane Hale and am COM
PEELED, by candor, to state, that the spun
| gold which answered Kitty Gibson in place
of hair, was ANONYMOUSLY mentioned
among the young lady's female friends as
tow" Tow and flax believe are much
alike, but there is all the difference in life
between ''haxen-haired" and "tow-head-
edr'
"Well, Tom! so you're going to ordain
the new minister, l hear"
"Yes, suppose so. hate him!' and
Tom sat fiercely striking the roadside
snow with his whip.
You what?"
"IIate him!n More fiercely than ever
lashing the unoffending snow.
"Oh, you benighted paganr' she ex-
claimed. ''What can you meanp Why do
you hate good Mr.. Fisher''
"Because-you-don't responded Tom
looking up at Kitty, who. for her part was
looking straight at the gray tips of Pom
pey's ears.
''Of course don't! Haven't been too
well born and bred. too Thoroughly chas-
tised and catechised to hate anybody, last
of all my minister?"
And Kitty chatted gaily on, until the
pony slackened his pace, and. with out
stretched neck, and loosened rein, dragged
slowly up Long hill. How quiet it was.
Kitty was silent. The sun had gone down,
1t Il nj 4 - l.