Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-05-11
CHE Story Teller.
A DOUBLE MISTAKE.
& letter for you. Aunt Thankful.n

"a letter for you, Aunt Thankful.'
A bright young face, like gleam of April
sunshine, flashed into the room where Miss
Thankful Moore sat knitting-a pretty, girl
ish face, with saucy dimple in either cheek,
and merry sparkle in the laughing eyes. A
mammoth blue-checked apron, much too large
for her, quite enveloped her slender form,
and both sleeves were fastened up above the
elbows, displaying two plump, snowy arms,
the sight of which would send thrills of envy
to the heart of any ballroom belle.
'Lay it on the table, child, and 60 back to
your mornings work.
"Who do you suppose it's from % question
ed the girl, turning the letter over, and view
ing the superscription curiously.
''I'll see soon's ever I've knit to the seam
needle. make it pint never to lay things
aside all in muddle, no matter what hap
pens"
The girl colored consciously.
"Oh, that everlasting seam-needle! be-
lieve sometimes you knit past it just to keep
me waiting"
Harriet -
Miss Thankful never used this name in ad-
dressing her niece except when extremely dis
pleased. Slowly and carefully she folded her
work, sticking the needles firmly and securely
into the ball then wiping her Spectacles an
unnecessary length of time on her spotless
apron, she adjusted them in their proper po-
sition across her nose, and took up the letter.
Meanwhile, Harriet had flown back to the
kitchen, where she gave vent to her impa-
tience by making great gathering among
the breakfast dishes.
'sShe's the dearest old auntie in the world ~
she said ''but she does try me so with her
awful precision. She'd like to have me spend
the rest of my life in the unvalying routine of
the old family clock Oh the mantle yonder.
But can't: I'm too full of life and activity.
l want something new, and dearly as love
her, I'D like change once in while. Aunt
Thankful and the old clock are exactly alike.
The tick, tick tick of the clock, and the
click, click, click of her knitting needles, are
about the only sounds l hear, except the occa-
sional racket make just by way of variation.
The clock is perfect model of accuracy and
promptness so is she. They never make a
mistake or 60 wrong"
In the next room, Miss Thankful Moore
had taken the letter from the envelope, and
had read it through twice before commenting
upon it. Then dropping it into her lap, hel
face assumed thoughtful expression, hel
eyes took on dreamy look ; and no wonder
for she was gazing far back into the past-ful]
forty years.
''Strange, strange ~ he murmured medita.
lively, ''that Mehetable should have writ to
IIlo dlIeI Ill OllcSc yedlS lOfeu W
bleville quite lately, and wants to renew ou1
acquaintance, she says. Only twenty-five
miles from here, an the cars run right past
her house, an mine, too. Seems most like be.
in neighbors. She's a widow, poor thing
an her children are all dead an gone but Nell
Well, well haven't been called upon to pass
through them Affections, an I reckon on the
hull, as how I'm about as contented as most o
women o. my age. I'm right glad that she
hasn't any boys. Her Nell must be quite q
girl. Mehetable's every bit as old as l am, an
Nel's her youngest, she said. l wouldn't
wonder if she's about Harrie's age. Dear me
how that girl does fret. She's so lonesome.
don't knows blame her either was young
an clipper once myself. Mehetable writ ar
invite for me to come and spend week or two
with her. couldn't think of leaving home
for so long time. Things would 60 to rack
an ruin if did. But it would be real treat
for Harrie, an could run down an stay
couple O. days when she's ready to come home
If Mehetable's as glib talker as she used tt
be, we can, talk upthe past forty years in two
days, an not half try. It's blessed thing
that she's only got daughter. If she hat
grown-up sons, I'd never think of lettin' Har
rie go ; for she is pretty. there's no denyin