Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-14
Gales ano Skftfkes.
AUNT DeRCls.
By LIZZIE G. SHEPARD.

IL was lOug slretcn Vi WOOA "hNh
bordered either side of the winding road
that led from the little village OF A-to'
somewhere never did know where.
Late one afternoon in November, hg-
ure might have been deserted, slowly
wandering about in the forest, now and
then bending over to gather up the broken
branches and bits of wood, which the
wind in its fury had hurled about there.
A closer view would have proved the
figure to be that of an old woman,
scarcely more than four feet high, with
breadth of shoulders and stoutness o!
build that contrasted strangely with her
diminutive height.
She was dressed in short skirt Of dark
calico, beneath which protruded pair OF
stout leather boots of generous dimen-
SONS.
Her sacqne, long and loose. was of some
brown wooden stuff, for the day was raw
and cold, such one as warns us in No
yember how near winter is at hand.
Her head was covered with pumpkin
hood, out Of which peered two glittering
steel gray eyes, set in a face that was
crossed and recrossed by lines which time
and trouble draw, Her hair. coarse and
gray, grew long on her forehead, and she
occasionally tucked under her hood, with
an energetic movement, the short locks
which the wind as constantly blew out
again.
This was Aunt Dorcas at the age Of
eiphty-two, unattractiye, certainly, ana
unloved and unprotected.
do not know why she was called Aunt
Dorcas, for she had neither kith nor kin,
no one could have wished to claim rela.
tionship with her but by this name she
was known to all the country round. She
lived over the hill through the woods. iul-
ly mile and a half from her nearest
neighbor, in little old house blackened
by years of wind and weather. The we'll
worn latch which yielded to the slightest
pressure. opened the door into low,
wide room. evidently intended for the
kitchen of the house. But. this, with her
charming disregard for conventionalities.
Aunt Dorcas used as her bedroom. In
further corner stood her high-posted bed,
on which were thrown numerous comfort
ers, some barely reaching TO the edge,
whilst others dragged upon the floor.
"Them comforts has been a world of
company to me- she would say in her
gruff, hoarse voice, her thick uuder lip
protruding far beyond the rest of her face.
II guess there's bit of ev'ry dress
ever had in 'em never buy but seven
yards o. caliky nnther. an | allus hev enuf
left for an apron, and some pieces for
nv patchwork besides" after which re-
mark she would drop into her old rocking
chair with grunt of satisfaction, taking
Il generous pinch of snuff the while.
There were two or three chars scattered
about the room, and these. with a small
deal table. comprised the remainder of
the furniture. if we except a tallow candle
which in battered candle-stick. roasted
upon the high. narrow chimney-piece.
Roasted. say, tor every night Aunt Dor
cas- must needs climb into a chair To reach
it. her old. rheumatic limbs often refusing
to aid her till after repeated and weari-
some effort.
When asked why she did not keep her
candle conveniently on the table. she
would answer loudly, Theirs WHARF I've
allus KEEP it. an WHARF | allus shell, y
and that settled the question.
The paper of this room, which had long
since lost all vestige of its original color
and design. had slowly looseced its hold
on the Wondering walls. and hung from
the top where Aunt Dorcas had tackled il.
in narrow ribbons. majestically waving to
and fro. or giving fierce, angry snaps. ac-
cording to the strength or direction of the
wind which whistled down the old fire
place, and in around the doors and win
dows.
had almost forgotten to mention an
other and very important article in this
room. An old green cotton umbrella.
which IN pleasant weather quietly reposed
in the corner back of Aunt Dorcas's bed,
but on rainy nights it was called into
requisition, being unfurled and held stall
wartly aloft by its owner. to protect her
self and her bed from the rain which
poured down through tie leaky roof.
Aunt Dorcas could get into her cellar
only through trap door in the floor of
this same room. One night, during a
heavy thunder-shower. while she was val
iantly protecting herself from the pelting
rain. she bethought herself of dish of
food she had left on the bench outside the
door, and she Scrambled out of bed to
rescue it. When halfway across the
room. n binding flash of lightning stag
gered her; she stepped back heavily upon
the trap door; the rusty hinges gave way.
precipitating Aunt Dorcas and umbrella
together into the dark depths below.
Ludicrous as it may appear. it was a
great shock to the poor old creature, who.
although miraculously escaping unframed.
always declared that she had been struck
''by lightnin'."
In a small room in the lean-to on the
right of the house, stood Aunt Dorcas' 5
stove. where all her cooking was done.
The oven she had never used. save as a
place in which to dry wood. preferring to
bake in the ashes on the hearth in the
good old-fashioned way. or rather the bad
old-fashioned way. Her poker. which
hung on nail close to the stove, was
worn to mere stub by incessant punch
ing of the fire. When sad or mad or
happy or glad. she gave vent to her feel.
ings in this wise, and when any one called
this operation had first to be gone through
with before a chair could be offered him.
Continued to-morrow