Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1881-12-28

"Cross old thing" cried out Lefty.
II wish to goodness she would get
married" said Posy, with a sigh.
"Then perhaps, you and and Frank
Lacy and Alfred Moore-might have q
little peace of our lives
II really think" said Lefty solemn
ly, that it is our duty to encourage
the singing master rs much as possible.
Is this the red barn night, Posy?'
NO. said Posy, gravely. IF it
had been, Aunt Lex would have baked
cream biscuit and lemon pies, and
picked all the monster Strawberries
ont of the Champion beds It's to-
morrow night that Mr.. Grecngage
holds court.
Aunt Alexandra went to bed early
that night. She had been whitewash-
ing the kitchen ceiling and was tired.
But she did not desert her post until
.ho had seen Lefty and Posy safe in
their room. with their candles blown
out and the key Of the big front door
safe in the depths of her own pocket.
DUTY before every thing else, said
Aunt lex, grimly screwing up her thin
lips
In the midwatch Of the night. how
ever, Aunt Lex walked up with pccu-
liar sensation Of the ear.drums.
is tie big church bell a-ringins
said she 20 herself, "or il there storm
a-blowin' up, and the wind shriel>in
down the north chimney like mad -
But rs the cobwebs OF slumber clear
ell away from her brain, Aunt AleNan-
dria was aroused TO the consciousness
that the strange sounds disturbing her
dreams were neither church bells nor
chimney hues.
Its music" said Miss Alexandria,
scrabbling ont of bed Its fiddle
or else banjo. It's that unprincipled
Frank Lacy and Alfred Moore come
to ,erenadc the girls, as true as my
name is Alexandria Poplar. But III
serenade them, see if | DON'T
And nimbly making he way toward
the big pitcher of water, which stood
in readiness for her morning ablutions,
Aunt Lex lifted the sash and flung the
entire contents over a dark figure,
which was dimly visible below by the
light of a gibbous moon.
There said Aunt Lex, with
shrill accent Of reprobation. Got il
now, | guess, haven't you? And |
only wish there was twice as much Of
it to soak the nonsense out Of you
III teach you TO come here disturbing
an honest familiy's rest in the middle
Of the night, with your songs and your
hddles and your foolishncss , Clear
out Of this will YOU? Or do you want
me to unloosc lowser and get the old
gun: ~
Not word was uttered in the shape
of response, but the velocity with
which the dark figure sped across the
yard and down the winding cXpanse Of
the road bespoke his ardent desire to
escape from the old gun, Towser, and
Towser', mistress,
I've settled him e. said Aunt Lex,
triumphantly, as she banged down the
easement and went back to her pillow. 7.
Il didn't see the other one run; but
guess likely he amt far behind.
When she came down to get break
fast the next morning, Israel Meadow,
the Farmland, stood in the kitchen,
pumping water. Beside him, on the
lay confused heap Of con
-lomerate wood and leather.
Mercy on us - said Mis-, LcAy,
what's that
"Suthin' | found, out alongside the
gate, in the bushes" said Israel. 1t
looks like Mr.. Ezekiel Grcengage's big
lccordeon, that he pitches the psalm
tunes with in Squire Dcnnson's barn
what" shrieked Miss Lexy.
Yes said Posy, who CHANGED to
enter the room Just then "Nr. Green
gage was singing and playing beauti-
fully under your window, Aunt LcXy,
last night, until you threw cold water
on him. 70 think Of your having
-erenade -
I'VE were quite Jealous, Posy and
I, said Lefty. but Aunt Lexy,
why on earth did you repulse him SO
cruelly?'
Aunt Lexy sank down all in heap
in one of the kitchen chairs, and threw
an apron over her head to conceal her
tears.
Il never dreamed it was him!"
said she. 81 s'posed, Of course, it was
Frank or Alfred Oh, dear oh, dear!
what have | done 2"
She had settled her own autumnal
love affair. Mr.. Ezekiel Greengagc
never came near her again
81 wouldn't marry woman with
temper like that" said the musical
prodigy, mot for the biggest farm in
the country"
Kansas Atmosphere and Illinois Fish