Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1882-02-16


sea. and WAS consequently very seasick, for
the water was rough and the gales tempest
uous.
II will come back BY land" she said to
herself, as she sat in the little hotel al Port
lan& and viewed her green and yellow com
ple,ion with a .hudder Money wouldn't
induce me to risk my life again IN that hor-
rid steamer, where one is buffeted and see
sawed about on waves that are as high as a
house. The palaee-car fare will be some
thing Of an extra expense, and shall lose
my return ticket by steamer, but I'm sure
Mr. Symlngton won't grudge il to me when
be hears how I've been pitched and tumbled
about on the ocean in peril of my life.
And she put on her black brocaded silk,
her new plumed hat, and the seal dolman,
and took the northward bound train. re-
solved TO present an imposing appearance
to Aunt Grizzy Grumpton when she should
reach Wild River station.
1t was very cold-a dull, bitter leaden
cold-with the ground frozen like a rock,
the stream. bound in ice, the sky gray and
bitter, with an lneffable gloom. Aunt GriI-
zel Grumpton lived in a little one-storled
house on the top Of an Incorporating hill,
where s solitary cedar-tree was twisted
around like a corksoreu with the force of
the east wind. and the few lesn sheep hud-
died b, hind the rocks in shi,ering groups,
picturesque. but far from comfortable. And
even after they had come IN sight of the old
building whose one coat of red paint had
long ago been worn away by the suns and
rains Of well nigh a century. Mrs. Syming-
ton had seriou. doubts whether the one
horse sleigh in which she was jerked and
jolted up the incline would not be blown
sheer away by the rush Of the tempest be
fore they could reach their destination.
However, Il wasn't. And once in Aunt
GrizTy'. cottage. things were very comforta-
bile There was no ~ide-throated chimney.
filled with moss-fringed logs. such as the
fancy of cit, dwelIers Is apt to depict in the
solitary farmhouse. People in Maine knew
better than that. But there was an immense
cook stove. which heated the room to an at
mosphere Of eighty ode degrees the crack.
IN the window sashes were pasted over With
brown paper, and sand bags were laid o.
the top lodges. while double rag carpet
covered the hoor and ~ood-boX. heaprd
to the very top. stood in the angle OF the
chimney piece. Aunt Grizzy's dress Was Of
blue homespun flannel. and she wore wor-
s,ed hood pulled over her ears. and a little
plaid shawl folded across her breast. and she
vas addicted to the use Of snuff aud ,.id
"HcS p v heneNer any one addressed a cas-
usl remark to her.
M, cheeny ?" said Aunt GriEEy. We'll.
I'm free To own that think deal Of that
cheeny. But don't know. niece ArabeIla.
how YOU cam. To hear Of It."
1T Is an heirloom in our family, Aunt
GrizIy," said Mrs. Symington, eNcrting her
self to speak loudly,
Hey ?" .aid Aunt Grizzy. with her hand
placed sounding board fashion behind her
ear.
Every one must have heard Of II" said
Mr. S,mington. at the risk Of breaking a
blood vessel IN her throat.
Aunt GrI1y, wrlnk led face fairly beamrd.
We'll. ! calculate it amt absolutely ugly" !"
.Aid she. But It'll. If you've reall, set
Your heart on 1t niece AraLella-But Il amt
uupacked. | always put II away this time
o year when there amt no tea parties CIV
en.'
'.Oh, never mind that :" said Mrs. SYM
ington, her heart leaping within her at this
easy conquest Of the fort. at will be all
the more convenient for me to carry II.
People always keep such treasures put away
in secret places"
"He, ?" said Aunt Grizzy, and Mrs. Sym
ington repeated her words.
''Oh. there amt no secret about il :" said
Aunt GrIEzy, as she turned the kissing
sausages IN the pan. ''Only ! haln't lad
time TO overhaul il since you've been here"
Naturally ?" interrupted Mrs. Symlng
ton. but suppose it is all IN good con-
dtion ?"
'Sartinly, sartinly." said Aunt Grizry.
"lou can look al j, yourself il you Ike,
niece ArabeIla."
.Oh, that is not all necessary" said Mrs.
Ssmington. but now as to the price, Aunt
Grizzy ?"
Il amt one 10 hs.gie with my relations"
said Auu, Grizzy. giving the frying pan a
shake over the blazing sticks. "Set your
own price, Arabella. and if don't like it
I'll make bold TO say so"
''Do you think, Aunt Grizzy,T hesiiated
the city lady, THAT twenty five dollars would
be reasonable compensation for il p
We'll, yes" said Aunt Grizzy. at never
cost me that, because
NO, of course not" hurriedly interpreted
Mrs. Symington, and she produced the
twenty five dollars. all in gold half eagles.
with the e1ultant feeling of one who has
picked precious diamond out OF the dust.
But should wish you to feel that had
dealt fairly with you in a matter like this"
well, hain't no reason to complain
said Aunt Grizzy. "Sone folks fancies
cheeny. don't A plates plate TO me,
and cups cup, and you're kindly welcome
to my sci if you've took notion to it.
Mrs. Symington went home the next day,
through whirlwind Of snow, having been
fed upon pork and sausages, sausages and
pork. at every meal since her arrival. and
retaining very vivid recollection of the
Maine winGs and tempests.
Il don't think Id go back there again
even for set Of old china" said Mrs. Sym
ington, Us she seated herself on the velvet
cushions of the palace-car, and shrank
shiyeringly inside of her seal dolman and
fleece-lined fur gloves, AUNT GrIzzel will
never die a natural death she'll be blown
away, like Mother Hubbard"
But all these petty tribulations we're for
gotten as a thing out of mind on the brilli-
ast January morning on which, in front Of
the sea-coal fire in her own cosy drawing
room, she unpscked the coarse wooden box
wherein were concealed the priceless treas
ures of Aunt Grizny Grumpton's china.
Don't touch them. Stanhope," said she,
with small shrek of dismay. "Men are
so dreadfully careless. Oh. here they are
on the top, all wrapped in separate pieces
of paper"
"Eh ?" said Mr.. Symington, standing by,
with hammer and screw-driyer brandished
in either hand. "Are these-antiques
Good gracious me-" gasped Mrs.
Symington. "What can this possibly
mean?"
For the china which she unwrapped from
its coverings Of coarse brown paper was
cheap and common style, such as is associat-
ed in the mind with tea chromos, gaudy
Autographs and statesmen of the Hebraic
persuasion white, with band Of imitation
gold round each piece, and a coarse flower
sprawling below, as if it had been laid on
with a miniature whitewash-brush.
This is never my grandmother Grumpton's
old china" said Mrs. Symington, bursting
into tears. and pushing the hideous afro
cities away with force which cracked two
plates "I'n write to Aunt Grizzy at once,
and this misunderstanding shall be cleared
up"
In the course Of time an answer came
from Wild River, stiffiy written in pale ink,
and conveying in its tout ensemble the
general impression that Aunt Grizzy had
o