Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-10-17
AUNT PRUE'e KINDNESS,

AUNT PRURs KINDNESS,
Somehow things began to grow wrong
In the MerIydew household from the
day whe'n Aunt Prudence came to stay
there on short visit, which lasted two
years.
You see she was such an observant
person, was Aunt Prue, and she took
such kind interest in her neice, Helen,
and the latter's husband, Jack, that it
was more than she could do to sit silent
when she saw things going on round
her with which she disapproved.. And
she disapproved of most things. Her
sense of right and wrong was very
straight, and she scorned the conven-
tional cowardioe of tolerating those
social lashes which she believed to be
deadly sins. This does not mean that
she made frequent reference to Holy
Writ in her homilies, for in truth the
canon law which she laid down for the
guidance of her young relatives seemed
to be altogether of her own making.
She would say: 81 have found by eX-
perience that this or that course is
foolish, and leads to mischief" and
sometimes she would add this clincher:
Z" wish to act kindly, and l feel it
would be mistaken kindness to beuueath
my fortune to persons who do not un-
derstand the science of life," meaning
by these persons Jack, and her niece,
Nell.
Here is the cat out of the bag; Aunt
Prue had money, and it was the hope
ofbeing made her heirs which exercised,
1t must be feared, an ascendancy over
the two mercenary souls of the Merry
dews, husband and wife.
If it weren't for her money I'd kick
the old canting trump out of the
house." bawled Jack, losing all pa
tience one day, about six weeks after
Aunt Prue's arrival.
Hush, dearl' exclaimed Helen,
Mortified. elf auntie left us she wonld
go back to the Moliers, who would in
trigue to get us disinherited; and how
silly we should look thenrh
Allusions to his cousins, the Moliers,
always had the effect of quieting Jack,
who would have put up with a great
deal from Aunt Prue merely to spite
her other nephew and niece, whom he
hated. These relatives were undoubt-
edly angling for Aunt Prue's fortune.
After harboring the old lady in their
house for three years they had, at last,
offended her, and she had stamped off
in dudgeon; but since that day they
had been fawning in many sycofantic
ways to get her back; and it was the in
variable threat of auntie, when thwart-
ed in any of her whims, that she would
return to the hospitality of these Mo-
hers, who, Judging by her description
OF them on these occasions, seemed to
be paragons of all the virtues and
graces. There came day when even
the gentle soul of Helen rebelled against
the oft-repeated eulogy of the Moliers,
and she said to her husband:
"Jack, can't stand this any longer:
let her cut us off with shilling if she
pleases, but l mast turn her out of the
house. l have had enough of being
this old woman's slave"
Hush, my DEAR" said Jack, taking
1t in his turn to play the peacemaker.
Just read this; be quick" and he pro-
uuced folded paper of legal aspect.
80, Jack, it's antics will! Where
did you get itP" exclaimed Helen,
whose breath was cut short as she read
the first line.
found it on the table of her sitting
room; make haste and read it while the
old girl is in the garden" answered
Jack, who was himself much excited.
Poor Helen turned quite scarlet, and
her hands trembled from nervousness
as she read aloud the following words:
constitute my beloved niece, Helen
Merrydew, sole heiress of all my prop
erty, personal and real-to wit: certain
lands in the county of s., Welding
$4,000 a year, and sum of Gao, 900
invested in three per cent. consols,
along with all my plate, jewelry, pic
lures and furniture"
80, Jack, how very kindr' eiacula-
ted Helen, as she dropped her hands
into her lap and looked at her husband
with brimming eyes.
Eyes, l think the old lady is worth
petting," answered Jack Merrydew,
refolding the will.
How cruelty we have misiudged
herV said Helen. 81 feel as if the de-
votion of lifetime would not be
enough to pay for all this kindness"
"Well, well, she is seventy now, SO |
hope our patience will not be put to
the test too long," muttered Jack, can
didly.
"Oh, Jack how can you talk sol"
replied Helen, in a scandalfzed tone;
and from that time forth she would
never hear word uttered against Aunt
Prudence. She endured all the latter S
groans, lectures and menaces with the
equanimity of an angel; and Jack found
all occasional tendencies on his own
part toward mutiny repressed with the
coldest severity.
He had, indeed, done very bad davis
work in showing his wife Aunt Prue' !
will. At first he was rather pleased
with the consequences of his proceed
ing, because Helen vastly improved the
domestic commissariat with view Ia
pleasing her generous relatives palate.
She began to give excellent dinners.
and allowed her husband carte bIanch,
in laying in stock of highly priced
wines. But in proportion as Helen be,
came more subservient, so did Aunt
Prue grow more exacting-not willing.
ly, poor old lady, for, TO use her own
term, she was person "of a lowIy
taste, thankful for triaes," but then 4
was her maxim that people should dc