The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-04-12
AUNT PATTY'sM sMUCKLERER-
RY PIE.

iuii heat ulu iudlu. RiueT ferk1nI
was sixty, and a widower withou
children. A large huekleberry patel
with few houses scattered here and
there was nearly the extent Of the
elders parish.
The Westinghouse was square
brown, solid and uglY+ full Of wasp:
in summer--full Of drSughts in win.
ter. Its windows had ! quaint and
famished look-it's dodE's gaped un
comfortably-even when SHUTS
pulpit, high and awkward, seemed
perpetually'to be asking TO be put
somewhere else. In il little man
could not be seen beloH1his neck.tie,
ifhe wore one, and tallman tower.
ed almost out of sight ofthe sparse
congregation below.
Elder Perkins was an inoffensiye
man, meek OF face-prodigious in
mouth and hands. "Finally, my
brethring," was favorite expression
with him when about half through
his sermon, and tone word more"
served for the heading of all his di-
visions. From his perch, one Sun
day, looking down straightly into
Aunt Patty's pew, he saw a sweet,
rosy face with dimples in its chin,
and bright, wavy chestnut hair
framed about it in CLEANS that too k
on tints Of gold, sometimes. Elder
Perkins was wonderfully impressed
with that almost childish vision
Though he was no poet, he watched
the sunshine, after he had given out
the hymn, and compared it to the
bright locks of Nelly Darlington
that was in reality her name. He
even blundered on in his sermon,
though he was not conscious why,
poor man, and Aunt Patty's timid
heart auttered not little at his
frequent glances in that direction.
Aunt Patty's straw bonnet, with
its pearl.gray ribbons, was as demure
as her face, which nobody, seeing in
repose, could call pretty. And yet
if she were pleased, or animated, a
color would flush her delicate cheeks
and deepen the light Of her gray
eyes SO that she looked almost hand.
some. A tender-hearted creature she
was. in spite Of her lonely life, and
would have been no one knows how
happy if, despite herself, some wor-
thy man had picked her up and car
ried her off a wife.
$50 that's your ministerl" Nelly
Darling said, as they left the old
Westinghouse steps, pretending, shy
puss, a total Inconsistencies that
everybody was trying to get a peep
at her sweet face. "Well,-I-I-
should guess he was good man."
"He is, indeed" Aunt Patty re-
piled, earnestly.
"Why, Aunt Patty-why don't you
set your cap for him?" This was af.
ter they had walked some distance
in silence.
"Me?" cried Aunt Patty, almost
stopping short.
"Yes, you; you're good enough to
be minister's wife-only in a large
parish they'd work you to death. To
be sure, Aunt Patty, you should set
your cap for him."
Aunt Patty laughed-a little, short
shy laugh it was.
II don't know, child, how people
go to work to set their caps" she
said.
20! various ways" Nelly retorted;
III dame Nature never taught you
any Of them, why then l must say
she has failed in her mission. But
you must have noticed, Aunt Patty,
that the elder, good man, frequently
looked in our pew this morning.
Does.he always do that2"
II can't say that have observed
it before" said Aunt Patty, flushing
a little under the scrutiny of her
niece, whose pretty rosy lips were
pressed together to keep them prop.
erly in place.
II expect the good man is bashful,"
Nelly ran on, poking the barberry
blossoms with thepoint of an elegant
little parasol;;," such good souls always
are' Why, Aunt Patty, do you know
you're the very pink and pattern of
a minister's wife2"
Aunt Patty opened her gray eyes