The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-07-26
LOVE AND HOUSE CLEANING.

M
"saideel saideel Where are your
Why don't you answer me when
call3"
"Yes, Aunt 1eah--f am coming in
a minute.'
"In a minutep sarcastically re.
peated the old lady. sits always Sin
a minute with you, Sadiel But 1
suppose, because I'm old and helpless,
my comfort is matter of no conse-
quence whatever"
'Dear Aunt Leah, you must not
think thatl" answered q bright CHEEKY
voice; and Saidee Lynn came into
the room, with a little tray, where
was arranged, on snowy napkin,
some tea-biscuits, half d dozen pink
radishes, a few thincut shavings Of
smoked beef, aud a liltN pot Of tea
with cup and saucer of old blue
china which would 1Ssse b95n inyal.
liable to collector; ayou see I had
you in my mind all the time, Aunt
Leah" she said merrily. II gather.
ed the radishes from our own garden.
Don't they look nice?"
Aant Leah, wilhered, little, old
lady, in a dress Of worn black silk,
and sharp, gray eyes, peering through
gold.bound spectacles, tasted Of the
tea.biscuits, and shook her head.
"It's too weak" said she. at isn't
fit to drink"
81 put all the tea in there was in
the canister, Aunt Leah" said Saidee
with q distressed countenance.
Aunt Leah pushed away the cup,
with an expression Of distaste.
at is as l might expect" said she.
"My nieces have too little thought
for my comfort to study my poor and
few necessities. Never mind the tea
l can drink cold water, l dare say!
Saidoe wrung her hands in despair
How could she tell this weak, feeble
old lady above whose declining years
hung the threatening Damocles sword
Of heart disease, Of their narrowing
circumstances, Of the empty exche.
quer, the clamoring creditors, the
pitiful straits to which they were
reduced.
"What shall l do7" she asked her
self, as she went slowly back to the
little kitchen of the ruinous Gothic
cottage, which they had obtainedfor a
ridiculously low rent because it was
ruinous. GIVE borrowed of the rec.
tors wife twice, and I'm ashamed to
go there again, and I've sold every.
thing I can lay my hands on. But"
glanclng up at picture which hung
in the hall beyond, 'there's the ve-
lasquez still. A Velasquez is always
worth money. Belle will scold about
parting with it, and Aunt Leah will
mourn; but we can't live on air and
dew, like the fairies. I'll take it
down to Mr.. Bruner, the artist, this
afternoon, and ask him to get pur-
chaser. Poor people, such as we are
can't afford to retain family relics"
And so, when Aunt Leath was in.
dulging in her afternoon nap, and
Belle, the beauty Of the family, was
ironing out the founces Of her white
muslin dress for the morrow's picnic,
valiant Saidee climbed on chair,
took the. unframed picture down
Gt was at the head Of some old Span
ish grandee, with a stiffpointed ruff
and an evil leer in the eyes,) wrapt
it up in a newspaper, and crept
across the meadow with it to the vii.
lage.
Mr.. Bruner was in his studio-a
grizzle.headed, blunt old gentleman,
in q belted linen blouse and faded
velvet cap. He nodded kindly at
who had once taken a few
lessons from him; but when she dis.
played the canvas he shook his head
Elbow much do you think it is
wmth?" asked saidee, wistfully.
"Nothingl" said Mr.. Bruner.
"But," cried the girl, "it is a We.
lesquezW
"That velasqaezt" said Mr.. Brun.
or, contemptuously. "My dear, there
isn't q picture dealer in the country
who would give fifty cents for it.
Its q mendacious imitation, and d
wretched one at thatt"
So Saidee tied up the poor picture