Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-08-03
uOUSE-CLEANING.


"S,idce! Saide,! Where are yon? Why
dent you answer me when call?'
EYES. Aunt Lcah-I am coming in a
minute"
"lDa Dinutc," sOrcastically repeated the
old lady 'lts always minute ~ith you,
Saidcc! But suppose, because am old
and helpless. my comfort is a matter of no
consequence whatever"
Dear Aunt Leach, you must never
think tha!" answcrcd u bright CHEEKY
vice; aud Saidce Lynn came into the
room, with a little tray, where was ar
ranged, on snowy napkin, somc lea-..bis"
cults, half dozen pink radishes, q few
thin-cut slavings of smoked beef aud a
l,tIe pot of tea, with cup and saucer of
old blue Chiua which would have been in
valuable to collector. ''You see | had
you in my MUD all the time, Aunt Leah"
she said, mcrily. "1 gathered the radishes
from our own garden. Don't they look
nicc?'
Aunt Leah, wlhcred, little old lady.
dress Of black worn silk and sharp, eyes
pccring through gold bound specie 'os,
tasted of the tc' aud shook her head
"lt's too weak" said she. ut isn't fit to
dliuk!r
81 put in all the tea there WAS in the con
lister, Aunt leaf," said Saidee, with
distressed oountcnanoo.
Aunt Leah pushed away the CUP, with
an expression of dstastc.
SIT is as l night have expected" said
she. "My nicccs have too little thought
for my comfort to study my poor and few
necessities Never mind the tea; | can
drink cold water, dare say!"
S.idco wrupg her hands in despair. How
could sho tell this weak, feeble old lady,
above whose declining years hung the
threatcoing Damoc!cs sword of heart dis
ease, of their narrowing circumstances, Of
empty exchcqucr, the clamorlns creditors,
the pitiful straits to which they were re-
du cd?
"What shall l do?" she asked herself, as
she went slowly back to the little kitchen Of
tic ruinous Gothic cottogo which they had
obtained for ridicu!ously low rent because
it was ruinous. "l'vo borrowed of the
rcctor's wife twice, and I'm ashamed to 60
there again and l'vo sold everything can
lay my hands on. But" gaucng up at
picture which hung in tho hall beyond;
"therc's the Velasqnez. A Volasquez is
always worth money. Belle will srold
about parting with it, and Aunt Leah will
mourn, but we cant live on the air like tho
fairies Ill take it down to Mr.. Bruner, the
artist, this afternoon and ask him to get US
a purchaser. Poor people, such as VIC are
can't oiford to retain old families" And,
so, when Aunt Leah was iuduIging in her
afternoon nap, and Belle, the beauty Of the
family, was ironing out the Aouaces Of her
white muslin dress for the morrow's pic nic,
valiant Saidec climbed on chair, took the
unframed picture down Git was tho head of
somo old Spanish grandco, with stiff.
pointed ruff aud on evil lccr in the cycs)
wrapped il up in newspaper and crcpt
across the meadows with it to tho village.
Mr.. Bruncr was in his studio--a grizzlo.
headed blunt old gentleman, in bclted
linen blouse and faded velvet cap. Ho
nodded kindly at Saidce, who Fad onoo
taken few lessons from him; but when
ssho displayed the canvas ho shook his
head.
"ilow much do you think it is worth?"
asked 'Saidcc, wistfully.
Nothing" said Mr.. Bruncr.
"l5nt," cried tho girl, cit is q Yolas-
quez"