The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-03-01

well-nigh a 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
comfortable. There was no wide
throated chimney, filed with moss
fringed logs, such as the fancy of city
dwellers is apt to depict in the solitary
farmhouse. People in Maine know
better than that. But there was an i'm
mense 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 ledges, while double rag carpet
covered the floor, and wood-box,
heaped to the very top, stood in the
angle OF the chimney piece. Aunt
Grizzy's dress was of blue homespun
flannel, and she wore worsted hood
pulled over her ears, and little plaid
shawl folded over her breast, and she
was addicted to the use of snuff, and
said "Hey |" whenever any one ad-
dressed her.
My cheeny ?" said Aunt Grizzy.
"Wen, I'm free to own that think
deal of that cheeny. But don't know,
Niece Arabella, how you came to hear of
it."
sit is an heirloom in our family,
Aunt Grizzel" said Mrs. Symington
exerting herself to speak loudly.
Hey ?" said Aunt Grizzly, with her
hand placed sounding board fashion
behind her ear.
Every one must have heard of it,"
said Mrs. Symington, at the risk of
breaking a blood-vessel in her throat
Aunt Grizzy's wrinkled face fairly
beamed. Well, I calculate it amt
absolutely ugly" said she. "But still,
If you've really set your heart on it,
Niece Arabella- But it amt unpacked, 1
always putt away this time o. year when
there amt no tea parties given"
I" Oh, never mind that" said Mrs
Synington, her heart leaping within her
at this easy conquest of the fort. It
will be all the more convenient for me
to carry it. People always keep such
treasures put away in secret places"
" Hey 2" said Aunt Grizzy, and Mrs.
Symington repeated her words.
" Oh, there amt no secret about it ~
said Aunt Grizzy, as she turned the hiss
ing sausages in the pan. " Only I hain't
had time to overhaul it since you've
been here"
Naturally" interrupted Mrs. Svm-
ington. "But ! suppose, it is all in
good conditionP p
"Sartinly, sartinly," said Aunt
Grizzy. "You can look at it yourself
if You like, Niece Arabella."
"Oh, that is not at all necessary"
said Mrs Symington. "But now as to
the price, Aunt Grizzy?"
81 amt one to haggle with my rela-
tions," said Aunt Grizzly, giving the fry
ing pan shake over the blazing sticks.
"Set your own price, Arabella, and if I
don't like it I'll make bold to say so."
"Do you think, Aunt Grizzy," hesi-
tated the city lady, "that twenty-five
dollars would be reasonable compen-
sation for it ?"
"Well, yes," said Aunt Grizzly. "It
never cost me that, because"
'No, of course not" hurriedly inter
posed Mrs. Symington, and she pro-
duced the twenty-five dollars, all in
gold half eagles, with the exultant feel
ing 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 matter like this"
"Well, 1 hain't no reason to com
plain" said Aunt Grizzy. "Some folks
fancies cheeny. 1 don't. A plates a
plate to me, and a cups a cup, and
you're kindly welcome to my set il
you've took notion to it."
Mrs. Symington went home the next
day, through whirlwind of snow, hav.
ing been fed upon pork and sausages,
sausages and pork, at every meal since
her arrival, and retaining O very vivid
recollection of the Maine winds and
tempests.
CT don't think I'd go back there
again, even for SCI of old china" said
Mrs. Symington, as she seated herself
on the velvet cushions of the palace car
and shrank shiveringly inside of her
seal dolman and fleece lined fur gloves.
Aunt Grizzel will never die natural
death; she'll be blown away, like
Mother Hubbard"
But all these petty tribulations were
forgotten as thing out of mind on the
brilliant January morning on which, in
front of the sea-coal fire in her own
cozy drawing-rOom, she unpacked the
coarse wooden box wherein were con-
cealed the priceless treasures of Aunt
Grizzy Grumpton's china.
"pon't touch them, Stanhope," said
she, with a small shrek of dismay.
"Men are so dreadful careless. Oh,
here they are on the top, all wrapped
in separate pieces of paper"
Eth p said Mr.. Symington, stand
ing by with hammer and screw-driver
brandished in either hand. care these
-antiquesY'
HGood eracious me- 20 oasDed Mrs