Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-09
The Devils MOther-in-Law.

PROM THE SPANISH OF FERNAS CABEL-
LERo.
In certain town there once lived an
old woman called Aunt HUlofernes.
She possessed q crooked form, Il hide
Gus face, and a temper so accursed that
Job himself would have been unable
to endure her. Her neighoors were so
afraid of her that whenever she APP
pearel in the door Of her house they
all took to their heels. She was as busy
as bee, and consequently had no little
trouble with her daughter PaDii!a, who
was so lazy and SO great IA friend of
Father Quiet, that nothing short Of an
earthquake would move her.
"You are as weak as the tobacco Of
Holland" cried Aunt Holofernes to
her daughter, one morning. "a yoke
of oxen are needed to draw you from
your bed. You fly from labor as from
pestilence. All you want to do is to
stand at the window and watch the boys
in the street. But I've made up my
mind to turn over a new leaf with you.
Get up directly, you shameless thing,
or I'll make yoa move more swiftly than
the windl"
Panfla yawned, stretched herself,
arose, and when her mothers back was
turned slipped out of the door.
Aunt HOlofernes, without perceiving
the absence of her daughter, began
sweeping the floor, muttering as she
did so:
"When 1 was young, girls worked
like mules"
Whish, whish, whish, went the broom.
"And they lived as secluded as
nuns"
Whish, whish, whish, went the broom.
snow, not one Of them can be made
to work."
Whish, whish.
"All they ever think about is getting
married."
Whish, whish.
"They are all"
At this instant Aunt Holofernes
reached the porch, and beheld her
daughter standing upon the steps, max.
ing signals to youth across the street.
The dance of the broom instantly
terminated in vigorous blow across
the back of the amorous girl, which
worked the miracle of making her
run.
The old woman hobbled in pursuit,
but no sooner did she make her APP.
pearance in the door than the youth fed
as swiftly as his legs would carry him.
You accursed love-sick fool! will
break every bone in your body!"
screeched the Infatuated mother.
"Why?" asked Pantila. because
I am trying to get marriod?"
"You shall never get married, no.
never! will not allow it'll" cried the
bag, fourishing her broom.
Why will you not allow it? asked
Panfila. did you not get married,
madam, and did not my grandmother
get married, and also my great. grand
mother?"
"There is not day of my life that
I do not lament my marriage, for if
had remained single you would never
have seen the light, you impudent girl, :"
retorted Aunt Holofernes; and I wish
you to understand that although got
married, and my mother and my grand
mother, 1 am firmly resolved you shall
not get married, nor my granddaugh-
ter, nor my great granddaughter"
In these delightful colloquies the
mother and daughter passed their lives,
without any result than that the moth.
er became each day more ill-tempered,
and the daughter more enamored.
On ole occasion, when Aunt Holo-
fernes Was engaged in cleansing linen,
she called to Panfla to help her lift
from the fire kettle of boiling I've.
Panhla, instead of obeying, ran to
the door to listen to a song which at
that instant a well-known voice began
singing in the street.
Aunt Holofernes, seeing that her
daughter did not come to assist her.
grasped the kettle and tried to pour its
contents upon the cloth; but she was
very old and weak, and the fiery LIQUID,
instead Of entering the straining basket,
fell upon her feet and burned them Sc
verely. She dropped the kettle and
gave vent to shrek of agony, which
speedily brought Panfila to the spot.
Accused one! twice accursed one
thrice accursed one!" screamed the old
woman, transformed into basilisk.
"You can't think of anything except
getting married. May God permit that
You may Marry the devil!"
A few days later, young man, com
ing from no one knew where, made his
appearance in the town. He paid ar
dent court to Pantila, and soon pro-
posed to her. Panfla, wild with Joy,
accepted him. He entreated Aunt Hol-
ofernes to give her consent to the match,
but the old woman Sayayely refused
Then he gave her several valuable
presents the was reputed to be i'm,
mensely rich), and she reconsidere,l
her refusal, and reluctantly gave him
permission to marry her daughter.
Preparations for the wedding were
at once commenced. While they were
in progress the voice of the people be-
gan to rise in denunciation of the
stranger. 1t is true that he was hand
some, and generous and affable, and
was not above clasping in his white,
ieweled fingers the black, horny palms