Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-03-28
dollars both ways, If I go by sea, includ-

dollars Dc ID9 both ways, If go by sea. includ-
ut appears to me-" said Mr.. Syming.
ton, discouragingly, ''that this is a good
deal Of wild goose chase, going dancing
up to the northern boundaries Of Maine
at this time of year for an old set Of
trumpery china which probably didn't
cost ten dollars to start with.n
"Oh, 6tanhope, 1t did !" cried the lady,
indignantly. ut was real India ware,
imported. without paying a dollar ol
duty, by an old sea captain in the India
trade, expressly for my grand mother
Grumpton. And besides you are 90
groveling and prosiac in your ideas. Az
II the origina! cost of q thing of this ma
ture signifies! It's the aesthetic value
that we look at, don't you see ?"
'Ah!" said Mr.. Symins ton. "Well,
II you must 60, you must 60, suppose;
and of course 1 shall have to give you q
check for what money you are likely to
want"
And Mr.. symington sighed deeply
and went upstairs to get q piece of court
Mrs. symington went to wild River,
In the northern boundaries of Maine,
where the pine forests were thatched
with snow, and the icicles tinkled in the
woods of moonlight night like 80
many castanets gone mad She made
the greater part of the voya.e by sea,
and was consequently very seasick, fol-
the water was rough and the gale tenn
pestuous.
II will come back by land" she said
to herself, a. she sat in the little hotel at
Dne nd Win hnp nd
yellow complexion with q shudder-
"Money wouldn't induce me to risk my
life again In that h0rrid steamer, where
one is buffeted and seesawed about on
waves that are as high as house. The
extra expense. and shall lose my re-
|Symington won't grudge 1t to me when
he 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 n0rthward- bound
train, resolved to present an imposing
appearance to Aunt Grizzy Grumpton
when she should reach Wild River sta
ton.
1t was very cold-a dull, bitter, leaden
cOld-witb the ground frozen like rock
the streams bound in ice, the sky gray
and bitter, with an ineffable gloom.
Aunt Grizzel Grumpton lieed In little
one storied house on the top of an un
compromising hill, where solitary
cedar tree was twisted around like a
corkscrew with the force of the east
wind, and the few lean sheep huddled
| hal, To- ohi
picturesque, but far from comfortable.
And even after they had come in sight
of the old building whose one coat of red
the suns and rains Of well-nigh q cen
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 before they could
reach their destination.
However, it wasn't. And ONCE in
Aunt Grissy's cottage things were very
comfortable There was no wide throat
ed chimney, filled with moss fringed
logs, such as the fancy of city dweliers
IL apt to depict In the solitary farm
house People in Maine know better
than that. But there was an immense
cook stove, which heated the room to
an atmosphere of eighty-odd, degrees !;
the cracks in the window sashea were
pasted over with brown paper, and sand
bags were laid on the top lodges, while
doubled rag carpet covered the floor,
and wood box, heaped to the very top,
stood In the angle of the chimney piece.
Aunt Grizzy's dress was of blue home
spun flannel, and she wore worsted
hood pulled oyer her ears, and Q little
plaid shawl folded over her breast. and
che was addicted to the use ofsnuff, and
said Hep? ?" whenever any one address
ed her.
"My cheeny ?" said Aunt Grizzy.-
well, I'm free to own that I think q
deal of that cheeny. But don't know,
Niece Arabella, how you came to heas
of it +"
"It is an heirloom in our family, Aunt
Grizzel," said Mrs Symington, exerting
herself to speak loudly.
"Hey ?" said Aunt Grizzly, with her
hand placed sounding-board fashion be
hind hef ear.
every one must have heard Of II, )"
said Mrs. SymiDgton, at the risk of
breaking q blood vessel in her throat.
Aunt Grizzy's wrinkled face fairly
beamed. "Well, calculate 1t amt alb
solutely ugly" said she. "But still, if
you We really set your heart on it, Niece
Arabella-But it amt unpacked, al
ways put 1t away this time of year when
there amt no tea parties given"
"Oh, never mind that" said Mrs.
Symington, her heart leaping within
her at this easy conquest of the fort ut
will be oil the more convenient for me
to carry it. People always keep such
treasures put away in secret places "
"Hey ?" said Aunt Grizzly, and Mrs.
Symin. ton repeated her words.
"Oh, there amt no secret about it ~
said Aunt Grizzly. as she turned the
Kissing sausages in the pan. "Only I
hain't had time to overhaul it since
you've been here,'s
Naturally ?" interrupted Mrs Sym
ington. "But suppose it is all in good
condition ?"
"Sartinly. sartinly," said Aunt Grizzly.
"You can look at at it yourself If you
like, Niece Arabella"
"Oh, that Is not at all necessary, said
Mrs. Symiugton. But now as to the
price. Aunt arizzy 2T
II amt one to haggle with my rela-
tions," said Aunt Grizzly, giving the
frying pan . 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," hesi.
tated the city lady, that twenty. five
dollars would be reasonable oQmpen-
sation for it ?"
swell, yes" said Aunt Grizsy. 1T
never cost me that. because"
No, of course not" hurriedly inter
PISSED Mrs. Symingtpn, and she produc-
ed the twenty five dollars, all fp gold
half eagles, with the exultant feeling of
one who has picked precious diamond
out of the dust. "But I should wish you
to feel that I had dealt fairly with you
In q matter like this"
"Well, 1 haiD't no reason to COM
plain" said Aunt Grizzly. "Some folks
fancies cheeny. I don't. A plates a
plate to me, and a cups a cup, and you
are kindly welcome to my set if you've