Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-05-25

mildewed walls. ssWhat can do TO
You, Cousin Patsey? p
"You can take the bellows and blow
mp the fire, " said the old crone. "Ant
you can make me some oatmeal Cruel
And tomorrow you can go out and sci
YARDS for me-"
"Sell =" / hesitsted, uncertain
whether / had heard Alright.
"Yarbs !" screeched the old woman
'Ya-a-arbsl Don't you hear me? Cat
nip. and penny-rile, and tarragan. ani
life-everlastin' and sich-the garret'l
full Of 'em. That's the way makes
my livin', sellin' YARDS. And I was
mortal feared I'd lose all my custom
with this pesky rheumatic. But it's al
right, now you've come"
So this was my Cousin Patseyi This
was the life Of rich refinement to which
had fancied myself dedicated. / cried
myself to sleep that night, and dreamed
I was beggar-girl plodding from doc,
to door.
was up betimes in the morning tc
cook Aunt Patsey'ss breakfast over the
kitchen stove-I, the petted darling Of
the household, who had never been al
lowed at home to know single care-to
clean her room and comb cut her tan
gled white hair. And then, with many
reproaches over my sluggishness and
lack Of faculty" I was sent up to the
garrett to fill basket with the little
bunches of dried herbs which were
dangling from hooks in the beams over
head.
"What am 1 to do with them, Cousin
Patseya ?" said !, feebly.
"Take 'em into town." said Miss Pat
sey. s'Sell EN-"
'sBut whereT pleaded 1.
'From door to door," responded my
witch-like cousin. ssGo everywhere.
Tell 'em they're Miss Patsey Pounsett's
YARDS. Everybody knows me. Five
cents q bunch for the small ones,.ten for
the large ones. And don't let the grass
grow under your feet, for I've got to
take my hot drink at one o'clock, and
you must be home to fix it for me-"
And this was the fashionable career
of which I had dreamed at Powder City.
Well, what was to do? could not go
back to the East, for I had not money
enough. Iconldn't write home, for the
matter of the '.yarbs" was too pressing
to admit. in Cousin Patsey's eyes, OF
even half-hour's delay.
Moreover, there was the old creature,
sick, alone, and in trouble, and I was
too loyal to dream of abandoning her.
So, without more ado, took the basket
and set forth on my weary way, blush
ing if any one looked at me-ready to
cry If any shrill tongusd housekeeper
decried the value of my wares.
/ sold some herbs-enough to buy
Miss Patsey's medicine, and little
knuckle of veal to boil into nourishing
soup-and came home, with muddy
boots, weary limbs, and considerably
deprecated valuation Of myself
Cousin Patssy had great many ques-
tions to ask. and appeared to think that
I might have driven deal more profit
able business if only had chosen. But
she was feeble and weak, and pitied
her too much to rebel.
On the third day, I chanced to meet
my travelling companion the tall, dark
young man, with the bright eyes, who
had been instrumental in finding my
traveling-bag on my journey. he was
in store where had meekly proffered
my wares. and he stepped esgerly for
ward, with smile OF recognition.
'tMiss Harperl r. he exclaimed, offer
ing his hand.
"Do you want to buy any herbs p
said !, with a mischievous twinkle in my
eyes. "Catnip, tarragan, feverfew
Only five cents bunch And quite
fresh and genuine"
sTll buy the whole basket r. said he.
ssNo." pronounced, s'that wouldn't be
business. But il you choose to select
half dozen assorted bunches-"
So he bought them, with such won.
dering eyes that felt myself constrain
ed to explain.
ssMy Cousin Patsey isn't rich at all, >
said I. ssShe earns her living by sell
ing these herbs. And as she is Ill and
unable to sell them herself, l am acting
as her proxy"
"You're q heroinel'sa he, earnestly.
"a very involuntary one" answered,
signing and smiling.
When he had gone out Of the store.
could not help asking the old woman
behind the counter who he was.
TITS Mr.. Aylmer," she answered.
'He's an artist, miss, as paints picters,
and they do say as how he gets dreadful
big prices for bit OF canvas as yor
could cover with dinner-plate.'
Mr.. Aylmer came out to the farm
house to see me the next day. HI
| lnpo-,r1,h ma 4 I,r,r,ch ~ 7oyf3ro,,c q