The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-03-11

Atsu UCcA HiiStreSS mere 80 long, tAaI SHe
resented 10 suggestion from me, and
always looAed daggers if I as much as
ventured into the kitchen. I used to
spend my time mostly rumaging over all
the rooms, airing closets, and disgorging
bureaus. One thing puzzled me-where
all the pretty things came from--the
little knickknacks, and Dric-a-brac
Charlie had no sisters or cousins, q fact to
which ! allowed myself to feel resigned,
especially as I had SO many, you know.
His mother died when he was q baby.
How then could he have picked up all
these lovely bits that no one but lady
could c6ntrivc? 1t is really surprising
how much this worried me. You could
never believe how silly, and how miser-
able was over it. One day he came in
with raging headache, and after had
rubbed him into temporary quiet, was
turning the sofa pillow for him, when it
came to me, that now was the time
BY the way las if it had never oc-
Cured to me before, "who made this
sofa pillow? tits beauty; and should
like to know who did all the rest of the
lovely work about the rooms the lam
brequins, and screens, and mats, and
chair-covers-andw while you are about it
you might as well tell me who made your
double gown, who embroidered your
slippers, and handkerchiefs, who pieced
your silk bed quilt?"
/ had capped the climax then, and L
was actually trembling all over. Charlie
sat up and looked at me, as if had taken
the last leave of my senses; and felt as
if I had.
why Aunt Orpha, of course"
''Aunt Orphap'
Eyes, certainly, Aunt orpha. Who
else could do it?'
Mollie brought in his dinner, and I
waited three minutes by the watch-it
seemed three hours-while he addressed
not to me, but his appetite.
At last I blurted out:
lone would think you had never seen
eating long enough to tell me who this
wonderful Aunt Orpha is, and where she
is, and why you never spoke of her to
me?"
Charlie dropped his knife and fork, and
looked across at me in amazement.
II have told you of her"
"Never-never."
"Well then, that is surely unpardona-
BILE. She was my dear mothers young
est sister; she was my poem-till 1 knew
you"
That was silly, of course; but he said
it, and then he drew up letter from his
pocket, i'll which Aunt Orpha called him
''her dear boy" and actually announced
her intention of paying US a visit the
middle of next week! Then he told me
little about Aunt Orpha-of what her
life had been, how she was engaged to
be married to q sailor, how he was lost at
sea and she heard of his death the very
day that had been fixed for their bridal.
Oh tell you-you don't any of you
know what Aunt Orpha is. No more did
then; but I have been learning ever
since Charlie said one thing that amazed
me; he said she would be my 'revela-
ton" I wondered why. or how.
Before went to bed that night wrote
Aunt Orpka letter; "My dear Aunt
Crpha-Charlie did it; that is, he failed
to do ito tell me much of you, mean,
and that is how it happened that L did
not invite you to call on us. But of
course I want you, and expect you just
the same. And I send this by first mail
for fear there will be a small earthquake
or something that will prevent your COM
ing. Don't be prevented Then / di-
rected my letter and posted it, glad that
something was going to happen the next
week. But something did happen the
next day which put all thoughts of Aunt
Orpha out of my head. And now am
coming to the smallpox.
It all came about through the ''youtk
who discovered America" as we called
Christopher Columbus Collins. He was
a poor half-wit who lived on the town
mostly, what time he did not live with
us; for Charley would pick up every cast
off waif of humanity. There was bed
in the wood-shed chamber which Clum
occupied whenever he chanced around
which was pretty often. Mollie did not
like it, no more than I did; but we could
not help it, and made the best of it from
pure philosophy. The day after / had
posted my letter to auntie he came, and
he styed; and when I saw that he
brought small pox with him you will un.
derstand the reason why. Charley was
away when Clum went to bed, complain
ing of headache, and Moliie was really
kind at heart made tea and toast and ac-
tua1ly sat up half the night. Moilie
had had small pox in New York, and
long before daybreak she was wringine
her hands in despair, waiting for the re-
turn of the doctor.
It was clear case, and SO far had il
progressed that removal was out OF the
question.
"What's the use?" I said. s'The wood
shed chamber is far removed from civil
ization as any habitable place this side
the mountains of the moon; and I'm not
afraid of of smallpox. Let us retire be
hind the red flag and while Mollie learns
patience over poor Clum, will learr
housework with none to modest or to
| make afraid.
And now, though have been a long
! time coming to it, have actually
reached the meat-pie. Of course Charlie
set up his authority, and set his foo
down, but I tied on my sweeping cap
and arming myself with the broom
shook my finger in his face. ssIt is oi
| no use-no use Il am not only queer
| but prime minister; and while Mollit
| bends her capacious intellect to the occu
pant of the wood-shed chamber, and yor
| take care of both, who is going to TAKE
care of you? What is it you say abou
| danger? Pshaw, there is no danger tt
any one who can show such royal sea-
as can," (baring my arm), besides i
the worst comes who cares for few pocl
marks here and there? You will see wha
| appetizing dinners and toothsome sup
pers shall arrange for you"
SO had my say, and by my persist
ence more than my wit, I carried tn,
day. But alasi alas! for the toothsom,
suppers; alas for the dinners. At tn
very thought of what we should eat, o
what we should drink, was ready t.
sink down on the nearest hand-wrough
sofa cushion in despair. Still. I wouL
not give up! consulted cook books an.
burnt my fingers, aud scorched my face
and lost my temper, and tried again AM
again.
One morning I remembered that it wa
Mollie's day for beef pie, and my cour
age arose equal to the occasion. Glanc