The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-24
AUNT POLLY'S STORY.

Mary Sanderson. city born and bred,
was on a visit to her mothers aunt,
Mrs. Polly Perkins.
One day she entered the house, her
checks all aglow.
Il met Mr.. Tracy and his mother out
riding, auntie. What 4 sweet face she
has, and how fond and proud her son is
Of her!"
Aunt Polly was making pies.
80 he orter. be-" she said, cutting
deity the superhuous crust from the
one she had just covered, the rings of
dough falling over the plump bare arm.
"There amt many sich mothers; what
. she underwent fur him can't he told in
words"
"She inquired after you, Aunt Polly.
She said you were once the best and
only friend she had"
Polly smiled, as she glanced up from
the apples she was slicing.
"It's true as Gospel, child, though
there wouldn't nobody think it to look
at her now. Conrted an sought arter
as she is now, the time was when every
heart and door in Barberry Green was
closed ag';n her but your Aunt Polly's.
An she amt forgot it, nuther. Grand
as she is, an high as she might carry
her head if she was mind tew,
she amt forgot how stood by
her through all her troubles. She
give me the black silk gown I wear
Sundays, an the lace cap an kerchief
you was admirin', an that easy-chair in
the square room, an the carpet an pic
turs. There's scarcely a week passes
but what she sends me suthin' or ruther,
if tain; more than some fruit Or
Tell me all about it, auntie," said
Mary, coaxinely; Il know it must be
interesting. Do, and III help you to
make the pies. can pare and slice
apples"
Polly looked rather obviously at
Mary's white dress.
"1f you are goin' tew dew that, dear,
you'd better put on one Of my aprons,
SO as not tew soil your gown"
Enveloped in one of Polly's gingham
aprons, which nearly hid her from view,
Mary took the pan of apples and low
seat by the tab, e at which the former
stood, rolling-pin in hand.
NOW begin, auntie," she said, at
s tho very beginning, mind, when you
first knew her"
"If dew that. I'll have tew go back
tew when we was girls, an used tew 60
tew the deestrict school together"
Jenny Locke was the darter of Tom
Locke, the blacksmith, big, brawny
feller, with voice like the growl of a
bear and an arm like sledge-hammer.
How he ever come few have sich asweet,
pretty girl as Jenny, passes me. She
didn't look mill like him, nor his wife,
nuther. Folks said that she looked like
Toms grandmother, who was an edi'
Gated lady, an who ran away to marry
his grand'tber But l never see her
, She lived at Barberry Centre, an died
when Jenny was baby.
tom had five other children, all girls
an6 Jenny was an odd sheep in the flock
looking like a moss-rosebud among
hollyhocks, or a violet underneath
hedge. -. ;,
"They are all nice girls, enough, full
of fun, an bound tew have good time
but Jenny was the flower of the family
There couldn't nobody help loving hel
that knowed her. 1t was rs nat'ral fol
her tew be gentle an sweet an ladyhkt
as tew breathe. r. u ~
2 "An'she:was just as pretty as pic
tur, with big black eyes, an hair jest
the same color, as soft an shiny az silk
l used tew like tew watch the color II
her cheeks a comm an goin'-now jes
delicate pink, an the next minute a!
red as the heart of June rose.
"An' there was more than me tina
,,noa to1y t1oyo forp 1uotcb tiie Rut
hain't come tew that yit.
ESQUIRE Tracy was the richest man il
Barberry Green, an lived in the bigges
an grandest house, an he felt his oats
you may depend. Not that he wa
above spcakin' tow common folks-h'
alters spoke tew the poorest on'em-bu
It was in q grand, paternizin' sorter wa,
that didn't exactly suit some people.
1.-The old squire want none tev
pleasant tew live with, nuther, not i