Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-12-14
HIS AUNT'S REQUEST.
BY CARRIE L. POINTS,

owner OF little else; and my readers will
readily acknowledge that, desirable as
such possession may be considered
they will not go very far toward paying
the tailors bill.
Having done nothing for several
months, and, in consequence, being de.
cidedly "hard up" all at once the
thought struck Augustus that it would
be an admirable idea to go down and see
his angel aunt, of whom he had heard.
| but whom he had never seen. His
resolution was stimulated by a knowledge
that his Aunt Rachel had several thou
sand dollars bank stock which she might
bequeath to whom she pleased.
And why not to him ?
There really seemed to be no good rea-
son why not She had no nearer rela-
tive; and he fattered himself he could
introduce himself into her good graces.
Certainl y there was no time to be lost:
for the old lady was verging upon
eighty, and might naturally be supposed
to have but brief term of life remaining.
The first thing to be done was to re-
move all traces Of his being a "fast
young man." to don more sober cos
tune and to assume more subdued air.
Before taking any decisive step he
concluded to propose visit by letter,
and guide himself by the answer.
He accordingly, after some labor, sue
ceeded In producing the following letter:
DEAR AUNT RACHEL.-A1though have never
seen you, that [ remember. feel that the re-
lationship that exists between us will excuse the
liberty now take in writing to you. It would
give me a great deal of pleasure to make you
visit, and thus become better acquainted with
one OF whom have heard SO much. Would it
be convenient for you to receive me a? And if
SO, when? l sometimes get tired of the city,
and long for the quletude of the country. It is
very saddenlng to a sensitive soul to see the
amount of dissipation there is among Young
men in the city. Many of my acquaintance
smoke and drink, and nothing that I have said
has been instrumental in reforming them This
last statement was certainly true.)
have just returned from hearing an excel
lent sermon by the Rev. DR.. Higgins. I wish
you could have heard it. But duty calls me
away, and [ must close here. Be kind enough
to let me know whether visit from me will be
agreeable. Your affectionate nephew.
AUGUSTUS FITzRoY.
Augustus surveyed this epistolary eff
fort with no little complacency. He felt
that it was calculated to produce the de-
sired effect
"Aunt Rachel will think I am one
of the steadiest young men breathing !"
said he to himself. "The way in which
[ speak of my acquaintance smoking
and drinking will lead her to think that
[ never indulge myself either. It will
be for my interest to keep up the de-
fusion; and [ suppose If I visit her I
must reform for the time being. It'll
be confounded hard; but it's a pity If
a poor fellow can't deny himself with
an object in view!'
Accordingly Augustus slipped his let
ter into the Office, and, with as much
patience as he could muster, awaited the
reply. He felt that it was to have q
critical bearing upon his future; since
he had now contrived, by exhausting his
credit, to get himself into position
which was my no means an agreeable
one. He was liable to have visitors
who, with an importantly which he re-
garded as very impolite, would insist
upon his attention to thei~ demands. In
fact, it was after an interview with his
washerwoman, which had seriously dis
composed his nerves, that the postman
brought him a letter, folded square, in
an old-fashioned style, and without an
envelope. Guessing that it was from
his aunt, he tore it open, eagerly, and
read as follows:
Ny DEAR NEPHEW AUGUsTUs:-I haven't seen
you since you were a baby; but am glad to hear
from you. I shall be glad to have you come
and make me visit as soon as you like. If you
were one of those Whipper-Snappers that some
of the city young men are shouldn't invite
you; but judge from your letter that you are
steady young man: and Unjust say that your re-
marks about dissipation do you great credit. I
should like to have heard the sermon you speak
of. When you come here I will introduce you
to our minlster-whO is excellent man-in
whose society you will, am sure, take great
comfort. No more this time from your affec-
tlonate aunt, RACHEL JONES.
cit seems my letter produced good
impression on the old lady p said Au-
gustus, exultantly, after reading the
above.
.'She evidently thinks I'm one of the
steadiest of mortals. I'm in for long
and intolerably tedious visit, no doubt;
but, then, dare say, I shall get paid
it; and. the fact is, the city has become
too hot for me. Only yesterday met
my tailor on the street, and he inquired,
with a growl, when [ intended to pay
that little bill I was owing him. A little
Ul1l, Will FSuSoduC6! L D6lleV0 III
mounted up to three hundred dollars al
ready
Actuated by the worthy motives above
mentioned, Augustus set out, in three
days time for his aunt's residence.
She lived in modest, two story house,
in a country village, where there was
little Or nothing going on. She had
never been married; and perhaps her
household was more quiet and staid for
that.
She greeted her nephew kindly.
There was nothing in his appearance
that would lead her to suspect him other
than the steady young man he wished
her to believe. His jaunty coats, snowy
vests and variegated pantaloons had
given place to pepper-aud-salt suit, of
exceeding plainness. His neatly fitting
kids were thrown aside for dark-worsted
gloves; and of his former self heretained
only his superb whiskers He could not
make up his mind to give up these; but
after q time, that sacrifice became neces-