Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-02-16

Aunt Susan in crestfallen manner, her
kind old voice trembling little. eNow
! thought you'd be ticklcd about to
death with them. I found them all in
@ (Uncle Phil and John exchanged
guilty looks, and I was so took aback
at losing mine and I noticed you looked
SO red and cut up the morning the news
come. SO ] thought to myself Now I'll
Just buy these for you, John. This
here burrow-" placing her hand low
ingly on an imposing piece Of furniture
-"did look SO exactly like the one
purchased Of Squire Thomas and had in
my buttery, that couldn't help gitting
it. You know you kinder wanted it,
John, the night it come home, and
alus felt sorter mean that I didn't give
it to you then SO as sot my eyes on
this one I up and bought it and sent it
down with the rest, unbeknown to any
body, SO as to surprise you. You didn't
even suspect, did you Phil ~
But Uncle Phil was still speechless,
and even Johns ready tongue refused
to do its usual work.
While they yet stood, silent, crest
fallen, group, shrill high treble broke
upon the silence, and Aunt sMarthy''
came walking in.
/ s'Wall I do say You look meeching
enoughi ! told you, Phil, that Susan
would find you out ! thought should
bust when Susan went to Caleb to go
down to the depot to haul up these
things just ten days after he hauled um
down, though as fur that, twas dark
enough when he took um down, being
night
At this awful stage John recovered
himself sufficiently to confront Aunt
Martha and by dint of winks and mods
make her understand that she was max
ing mess of it.
| Poor "Marthy" stared as open
mouthed as the rest but the warning
had come too late Aunt Susan was by
no means slow, and the whole plot was
as plain as daylight to her.
Sand SO, Philip Wheeler" she burst
out with whitening scorn, 'syou thought
'twould be fine fun to deceive me with
your trump up story of thieves
that has made the shivers run down my
back ever since I came home! Oh, you
needn't say nothin' "-as Uncle Phil at
tempted to speak-''it's mighty honest,
mebbe, and does great credit to your
profession. As fur you, John, wouldn't
hev beli'ved you would hev treated your
old auntie in such way. You ken
take them old things and send UNI back
to O.; hate the site of uml" And
Aunt Susan fairly broke down, and
bowling her head on Mary's shoulder,
burst into shower of tears which
caused Uncle Phil and John to feel not
only like sneaks and scoundrels, but
like the midnight assassins and burglars
as well.
There was not much to say, but what
could be said, John said he explained
that no harm was intended, and that it
was but foolish, boyish trick And
Uncle Phil scratched his head and
tried to look boyish, and failed utterly
because he already looked so sheepish
and mean.
But Mary did just what a warm
hearted, clear-headed woman should
have done. She kissed Aunt Susan affec-
tionately, and said -
"Uncle Phil and Jonn meant to play
off good joke on you, but you have
turned the tables finally, and I am
doubly glad-frst, because do love to
get the best of joke, and secondly,
because I doat on these dear, quaint
old things. Why, aunty, you have
given me treasures just wait till you
see how sweet I'll make this place
look"
And SO she did; SO quantity sweet,
and altogether charming did the little
house grow under her skillful fingers
that it became the rage, and the demand
for old things was almost as high in the
village as it was in our big city. where
something always RACES.
John became a convert at very early
day, and even Uncle Phil said -
sI .snum didn't know the old truck
could look SO kinder scratic"
To which Aunt Susan would reply
sI allurs knowd twas 'ristocratic,
Philip"
They are all very happy, and Aunt
Susan has long since forgotten and
forgiven Johns little joke.