, 1880-05-24
Aunt Barbara S Will.

Aunt Barbara Lsffingwell had de-
parted from this earthly ball to all in
tents and purposes. Her body reposed
in the quiet churchyard, and her spirit
might yet hover around her former
home a; but she was dead, and some one
was heir to her property. That was q
fact that none could gainsay, if any de-
sired to do so, which was. to say the
least, doubtful. Poor Aunt Barbara
Not one of the twelve heirs law shed
a tear for her loss except plain little
Lizzie Grant.
Lizzie was the poorest of them all !;
poor and proud, her aunt called her,
but honest, brave and true. The
daughter of Miss Leffingwcll's young
est sister. who had married poor art
ist much against the wishes of her pa
rents, and starved in An attic over her
husbands studio till death ended his
career. Lizzie supported her mother
comfortably until she also died, and
was laid beside her husband. The poor
child often wondered how it could be
that "poor papa's bills were SO large,
and his means so utterly inadequate to
provide for his family, when she, only
an assistant in grammar school, got
along so very easily"
Mrs. Grant had refused the help from
Miss LefEngwell, which was freely
proffered after she became widow.
"I would ratker die," she said, =,
ethan take that as a charity which
rightfully belongs to me, Barbara" for
her father had disinherited her, so
great was his displeasure.
One day Miss Lefingwell's landean
drew up before the door of Smith i
Smythe, grocers. and the naughty dame
gathered up her rich dress ana care
fully picked her way through the store
to the little Office, without deigning to
notice the attentive clerk behind the
counter.
"Does Mrs. Augustus Grant trade
here?" she asked abruptly of Mr..
Smythe, who started up from his long
legged stool not little surprised at
the appearance Of such lady in the
dingy office.
"No, ma'am, but Miss Grant has a
bill here"
"Yes !" interrogatively.
GA quarterly account; she Is a
teacher, you see, and so"
"Yes, yes, 1 know. How much is it %
Mr.. Smythe consulted his ledger and
named the sum. Miss Leffingwell laid
a roll of bills down on the desk and
counted out ohe-half the amount due
him.
"There. Mr.. Smythe,' she said,
p1i l>ua IC
to Miss Grant, and making out a new
bill, minus items, for the remainder.
Consequently she will think her bill is
small, but not know that I have paid
one:half of it. Does she keep any ac-
count?
"No, 1ndeed-leaves it all to me.
Could cheat that girl, a'am, she is SO
innocent and unsuspecting."
''I hope you don't try it," returned
Miss Lefingwell, tartly.
"Bless you, no. I've daughters my
SELF"
ssThis transaction is to be kept pro-
found secret, Mr. Smythe," laying a
bill on the desk again, which the good
man promptly returned, not caring to
take brlbe.
Miss Leffingwell was rich, and her
little peculiarities were we'll worth hu-
moring. The butcher and tie coal
dealer that Lizzie patronized were like
wise honored with visit from the
richest woman in town ;" also Mrs.
Grants landlord, and Lizzie was much
surprised, few days later, to receive a
courteous little note from him saying
that rents were low now, and she might
consider the next quarters rent paid,
as the sum paid for the previous quar-
ter was as much as his conscience (?)
would allow him to take for both.
"Why, mother, dear, I'm famous
business woman" she cried, enthusi-
astically ;; I've paid all our bills and
fifty dollars left. Only think You
shall have new fannels and nice
shawl this winter"
Lizzie laughed and cried alternately,
with delight, for she had been secretly