Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-06-15
LOVE AND HOUSE.CLEANING.

Gait!
eyes, Aunt Leah-I am coming in
a minute.''
s'In a minute - sarcastically re-
peated the old lady. ats always lin
a minute with you, Saidee! But l
suppose, because I'm old and help
less, my comfort~is a matter of no
consequence whatever.
'Dear Aunt Leach, you must never
think that!'' answered a bright,
CHEEKY voice; and Saidee Lynn came
into. the room, with a little tray where
was arranged, on a snowy napkin,
some biscuits, half az dozen pink
radishes, Il few thin-cut shas.ngs of
smoked beef, and little pot of tea,
With a cup and saucer fold blue
china which would have been invalua-
ble to a collector. sttYou see l had
you in my mind all the time, Aunt
Leah,'' she said merrily. Il gath
cred the radishes from yss1r own gar
den. Don't they look nice?"
Aunt Leah, withered, little old
lady, in a dress of worn black silk,
and sharp, gray eyes, peering through
gold-bound spectacles, tasted Of the
tea and shook her head.
''It's too weak" said she. cit
isn't fit to drink!''
II put in all the tea that was in the
canister, Aunt Leah, said Saidee,
with a distressed countenance.
Aunt Leah pushed away the cup,
with an expression of distaste.
''It is as l might have expected" !"
SAID she. s'My meces have too little
thought for my comfort to study my
poor and few necessities. Never
mind the tea; I can drink cold water,
dare say
Saidee wrung her hands in despair.
How could she tell this weak, feeble
old lady, above whose declining years
hung the threatening Damoc1es sword
Of heart-disease, of their narrowing
circumstances, Of the empty excheq-
uer, the clamoring creditors, the
pitiful straits to which they were re.
|duced?
"What shall I do?'' she asked her.
self, as she went slowly back to the
little kitchen of the ruinous Gothic
cottage, which they had obtained fol
a ridiculously low rent because it was
ruinous. 'I've borrowed of the rec
tors wife twice, and I'm ashamed tt
go there again, and I've sold every
thing I can lay my hands on.'' Bu
glancing up at a picture which hung
in the hall beyond, ''there's th'
Velasquez still. A Velasquez is al
ways worth money. Belle will scolt
about parting with it, and Aunt Leal
will mourn but we can't live on al
and dew, like the faires. I'll take i
down to Mr.. Rruner, the artist, thi
afternoon, and ask him to get us
purchaser. Poor people, such as w
are, can't afford to retain old fa1nil,
relics" fs.s
, And so, when Aunt Leah was in
dulging in her afternoon nap, ant
Belle, the beauty of the family, wa
: ironing out the flounces of her-Whit
muslin dress for the morrow's picnic
!: valiant Saidee~ climbed ON chail
took the unframed picture down Ii
5 was the head of some old Spanis
grandee, with a stiff-pointed ruff, an
. an evil leer in the eyes), wrapped
! up in a newspaper, and crept acros
J. the meadows with it to the village.
Mr.. Bruner was in his studio
grizzle-headed, blunt gentleman, in
tbelted linen blouse and a faded velvt
/ 'ii cap. He nodded kindly at Saide,
+ who had once taken few lessor
: from him; but when she displaye
h the canvass he shook his head. Fl j.
! GLOW much do you think it
worth?'' asked Saidee, wistfully.
; "Nothing!" said Mr.. Bruner.
Q 'sBut,' cried the girl, sit is v
,. lasquez!' ....
n ''That a Velasquez!" said M
t Bruner, contemptiously. 'My dea
e there isn't picture dealer in IL
ss country who would give fifty cents fl
it. It's mendacious imitation, an
y a wretched one at that!" IL.
= So Saidee tied up the poor pictur
and went home again, shedding a fe
Il tears as she walked under the whi
r. pering trees. =-'--'7 u Z q >
{. My last hope is gone! s.
Thought. ''But I'll not tell .Au
at Leah or Belle that it is an i1npostur
:; They have always taken such innoce
D pride in the old Velasquez.''
1T As she came past the old bril-
house at the foot of Il Locust Lane,
4 load of furniture was being carried i
: for it was in the second week of Ma
Wicker chairs, twined with blue ri
he h bon, a cottage piano, cases of book
engrayings, bird-cages, plants -
at sorts of pretty things. sf5. ?
ry Saidee paused and looked at the1
$ not without interest. : ~ ~ ~
~ II wonder who OUR new neighbo
= are to be ?''@she Thought. t.
r.. Just then, out trotted a stout, che
" ry-eheeked old lady, with her cap
one side, and worsted shawl ii
- over her shoulders - sa-
= + 'Ohl"-said she, aars you 4