The Republican journal., 1882-02-16

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low complexion with shudder. "Money
wouldn't induce me to risk my life again
in that horrid steamer. where one is buf-
feted and seesawed about on waves that
are as high as a house The palace car
fare will be something of an extra expense
and | shall lose my return ticket by
steamer, but Pm sure Mr.. Symngton
won't grudge it to me when he hears how
Eve been pitched and tumbled about on
the ocean in peril of my life
And she put on her black brocaded
silk, her new plumed hat, and the seal
dolmau, and took the northward bound
train, resolved to present an imposing APP
pearance to Aunt GriZZy Grumpton when
she should reach Wild River station.
1t was Very cold a dull, bitter leaden
cold--with the ground frozen like rock,
the streams bound in ice, the sky gray
and bitter, with an inetfable gloom.
Aunt Grizzle Grumpton lived i'll little
one stored house on the top of IN un-
compromising hil, where a solitary cedar
tree was twisted around like corkscreW
with the force Of the east wind, and the
few lean sheep huddled behind the rocks
in sbivering groups, picturesque, but tar
from comfortable. And even after they
had come in sight of the old building
whose one coat of red paint had long ago
been worn away by the suns and rains Of
well nigh Il century, Mrs Symington had
serious doubts whether the one horse
sleigh in which she was .jerked and jolted
up the incline, would not be blown, sheer
away by the rush of the tempest before
they could reach their destination.
However. it wasn't. And once in Aunt
Grizzy's cottage, things were very com
Portable. There was no wide throated
chimney, filled with moss fringed logs,
such as the fancy of city dWellerS is apt
to depict in the solitary farm house. Peo
pie in Maine knew better that that. But
there was an immense cook stove, which
heated the room to an atmosphere Of
eighty odd degrees; the cracks in the
window sashes were pasted over with
brown paper, and sand bags were laid on
the top lodges, while a double rag carpet
covered the flour, and wood box heaped
chimney piece. Aunt GriZZys dress was
of blue homespun flannel, and she were a
worSted hood pulled over her ears, and
little plaid shawl folded across her breast
and she was addicted to the use of snuff,
and said "Hey ~ whenever any one ad-
dressed a casual remark to her.
"My cheeny y said Aunt Grizzy. "Well
I'm free to own that think deal Of that
cheeny. But | don't know, Niece Ara
bella, how you came to hear Of it."
ats an heirloom in our family, Aunt
Grizzel," said Mrs. Symington, eXerting
herself to speak loudly.
"Hey?" said Aunt Glizzy, with her
hand placed sounding board fashion be
hind her ear.
every one must have heard of it,"
said Mrs Symington, at the risk Of break
ing blood vessel i'll her throat.
Aunt Grizzy's wrinkled face fairly
beamed. "Well, calculate it aint ab-
solutely ugly" said she. "But still, if
you've really set your heart on it, Niece
Arabella-But it amt unpacked al
ways put it away this time o year when
i there ain't 40 tea parties given"
"Oh, never mind that y said Mrs. Sym
ington, her heart leapng within her at
this easy conquest of the fort. ''lt will be
all the more convenient for me to carry
it. People always keep such treasures
put away in secret places"
'Hey ?" said Aunt Grizzy, and Mrs
| SymingtOn repeated her words.
ooh, there amt no secret about it !"
said Aunt Grizzy, as she turned the hiss
ing sausages in the pan. "Only | hain't
had time to overhaul it since you've been
here
"Naturally ?" interrupted Mrs Syming-
ton. "But | suppose it is all in good
condition ?'
''Sartinly, sartinly," said Aunt Grizzy
~
/ Niece Arabella."
"Oh, that is not at all necessary" said
Mrs. Symington. "But now as to the
price, Aunt Grizzy =
IL amt one to haggle with my rela-
ton" said Aunt Grizzy, giving the frying
pan a shake over the blazing sticks
''Set your own price, Arabella, and if |
don't like it I'll make bold to say So"
''Do you think, Aunt Grzzy," hesitat-
ed the city lady, 'that twenty-five dol
lars would be a reasonable compensation
for it ?"
"Well, yes" said Aunt Grizzy ut
never cost me that because se-n
"No, of course not" hurredly interpos-
ed Mrs. Symington, and she produc-
ed the twenty-five dollars, all in gold
half eagles, with the eXultant feeling of
one who has picked a precious diamond
out of the dust. "But should wish you
to feel that had dealt fairly with you in
Il matter like this p
"Well,.l hain't no reason to complaint
said Aunt Grizzy. "Some folks fancies
cheeny. | don't. A plates a plate to
me and cups cup, and you're kindly
welcome to my set if you've took no
tiOn to it."
Mrs. SymingtOn went home the next
day, through whirlwind of snow, having
been fed upon pork and sausages, saus-
ages and pork, at every meal since her
arrival, and retaining very vivid recol-
lection of the Maine winds and tempests.
~ don't think I'd 90 back there again
even for set of china" said Mrs. Sym
ington, as she seated herself on the vel
vet cushions of the palace car and shrank
shiveringly inside of her seal doman and
fleece lined fur gloves. "Aunt Grizzy will
never die natural death she'll be blown
away, like Mother Hubbard"
But all these petty tfibulations were
forgotten as thing out of mind on the
brilliant January morning on which, in
front of the sea- ccal fire in her own cozy
drawing room, she unpacked the coarse
! NoOuCll DoA w Nutl tll were COIlC6dltu l1o
priceless treasures of Aunt Grizzy Grump-
tons china.
"Don't touch them, Stanhope," said
she, with small shrek Of dismay. "Men
are so dreadfully careless. Oh, here they
are on the top, all wrapped in separate
pieces of paper"
"Eh9 ?" said Mr.. Symington. standing
by, with hammer and screw driver
brandished in either hand care these
antiques ?"
"Good gracious me-" gasped Mrs.
Symington. "What can this mean 2"
For the china which she unwrapped
from its coverings of coarse brown paper
was cheap and common style, such as
is associated in the mind with tea chromos,
gaudy Autographs and salesmen Of the
Hebraic persuasion-white, with band
of imitation gold around each piece, and
a coarse flower sprawling below, as if it
had been laid on with a miniature white
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