Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-06-05

Charles! Aunt Sarah's gonel' I was
much shocked, thinking she alluded TO :
fatal effect. "Ana you must go afte,
her directly"
This was even harder blow, for
fancled my spouse had been frightened
out of her wits. "Go after her!"
exclaimed.
eyes; tho hall door is open: she
must have run out into the road. Oh
do follow her at once!"
l obeyed without delay, though my
costume was grotesque and insufficient;
and taking, fortunately, the right turn.
ing, came presently upon the poor old
lady, who was standing bewildered at a
street corner, with a bed-candle in he1
hand. knew her by instinct, or Ishould
never have recognized her in her night.
attire, which consisted of variety OF
wraps and the most pretentious night
cap that imagination can conjure up. It
was some minutes before I could coax
her back: and when at length she took
my arm and allowed me to lead her
away, the spectacle we presented must
have been curious.
The effect of this event upon Aunt
Sarah's nerves was 60 serious that she
could not bear to remain in the same
neighborhood. 1t was in vain that re-
lated to her the precaution of that
legendary mathematician who, happen.
ing to be on board frigate during a naval
action, thrust his head into the first shot
hole, and remained in that position, like
nautical ostrich, till the firing was
over, having made rapid calculation of
the enormous odds against two balls
striking the hull in precisely the same
spot. She only replied that he was a
very wicked man to Providence, and for
her part she would stay with the Wea-
dies, at Tunbridge Wells, until we could
get settled IN less explosive neighLor-
hood.
Now Mrs. Weadle was another niece,
an innocent woman enough by nature,
but married to designing husband, who
nodded her plastic character as he willed.
They had often invited Aunt Sarah to
stay with them, and protested strong
attachment to her; but it is my sad sus-
picion that they were actuated by mer.
cenary motives alone. It was much to
be feared that they mi ght ingratiate
themselves unduly in the course of a
very long visit, and their son might be
foisted into that place held by our little
Sarah in the will and affections of her
elderly relative. It was true that Aunt
Sarah preferred girls to boys; that the
only child the Weadles had was mascu-
line, while both of ours were feminine;
and that she had taken a particular
fancy to the little girl who was named
after her. But history, biography and
experience combine to teach us that
ladies are occasionally tickle; Aunt
Sarah might be converted to boys in
general, and the Weadle youth in par
ticular.
cit will not do to leave dear aunty
long with the Weadles," said my wife.
~ fear that they will not make her
comfortable"
She would have expressed her mean
ing more clearly if she had left out the
not, but / understood her, and acqui-
esced. eve will look out for house in
a neighborhood she will like at once," I
replied.
&c Let it be on the banks Of the
Thames; she likes water, and there is
none at Tnnbridge Wells" continued
my better-half innocently. II will
write an account Of our prospects of
succeeding in finding p!sce to suit he +
every other day."
We had gone to Hastings directly
after the explosion, which took place
late in the autumn, and had spent the
winter there. 1t was in March that
Aunt Sarah went to stay with the
Weadles, and that the above converse.
tion was held. 1t is my firm opinion,
derived from experience in hcuse-hunt-
ing at that time, that if a gold medal
were offered for the most ingenious per-
version Of facts, a house agent would
win it. A desirable mansion or 3
picturesque villa described by one Of
these gentry, resembles the real article
about as much as theatrical castle seen
from the pit does the same erection
viewed from the wings. As for suppress.
sion of truth, that l suppose is to be ex-
pected, since the law which exoneratcs a
man fron, eliminating Ai,nself may be
inferred to extend to lis property, and
to the property Of other people Entrusted
to his disposal. But the general result
of this positive and negative deception
is to give the house-hunter AN immense
Of trouble and anxiety, and to
cure him of any blind confidence in his
fellow-men forever. For three consecu-
tive weeks my wife and | saw over
twenty houses per week, so we ought to
know. 1t is true that the great majority
Of these tenements, which promised well
on paper, were so obviously unsuited to
US that a glance suficed 70 show tina.
they would not do. When the spacious
apartments proved to be seven feet high,
Or the eight good bed rooms resolved
themselves into FIVE, with three cup
boards, We did not waste much time,
beyond that taken up by the journey to