The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-03-01
AN UNEXPECTED VI3ITOR.

"Good gracious, ma! do come to the
window and see who this isp'' exclaimed
Sarah Belinda Mushroom. Did ever
any one see such an antiquated speci-
men OF humanity? Just look at the
huge poke-bonnet and the queer cloak,
that comes nearly to the heels. The
coachman is taking off an old hair
trunk. | do believe she is coming here"
Reused from the comfortable nap. in
which she always indulged after dinner,
by these exclamations, Mrs. Mushroom
left the sofa and came to the window.
The subject Of them, a queer-looking
old lady, very oddly dressed, stood on
the step in front of the door.
She held an umbrella and q bandbox
in her hand, and had reticule on
either arm.
She was talking loudly and gesticulat-
ing violently with her umbrella to the
driver, who was taking out of the coach
any number of parcels and bundles, ard
who evidently did not know what to
make OF her.
The look Of langud curiosity in Mrs.
Mushroom S countenance quickly chang
ed 20 asionIshment, and then dismay.
lit can't be.-yes, it is; as true az
I'm alive, it's Aunt Sally Hookerr'
why, ma, l thought Aunt Sally was
rich"
so she is; she could buy two or three
such houses IS this, and live in the first
styie. Grandfather left her a large
property, and so did her husband
~ wonder what possessed her to
come here? There she is humping on
the door, with her umbrella. Doesn't
she know enough to ring the bell? Do,
ma. go to the door before the servants
hear her. Godness! there is Mrs
Morton opposite putting her head out
of TIE window to see what is the
matter"
Mrs. Mushroom hurried to the door,
but John had got there before her, and
had reused the old lady's ire by asking
her, with contemptuous stare, why
she didn't 90 to the other door?
'-W nat d yc mean, you young jacka-
napes, by telling me to go round to the
kitchen door?" she exclaimed, with an
indignant flourish of the blue cotton
umbrella.
Mortified as Mrs Mushroom was at
this exposure, she was too anxious 10
stand well in the graces of her wealthy
relative not to dissembie it, as well as
the yeXation she felt at her unexpected
appearance.
And she succeeded admirably.
She came forward with 4 beaming and
happy smile.
MY dear aunt, how delighted [ am
to see you! John, take that trunk and
those parcels up to the room over the
parlor,"
The abashed and astonished footman,
who had no idea that the new conner
was any way related to his fashionable
mistress, obeyed, and Mrs. Mushroom
led the way to the parlor with many
polite expressions of her delight ut q
visit. which she inwardly styled - most
awkward and annoying circumstance.
''What did you say, chiId?' said
Aunt Sally, as, after divesting herself of
her cloak and bonnet, she sank down
into the stuffed chair that Mrs Mush-
room wheeled TO the fire for her accom-
mediation. Speak little louder; I'm
dreadful deaf-can't hearany kind Of or
dinary conversation.
Delighted to see me, hevP" added
the old lady as Mrs. Mushroom made
this announcement, with an eXertion of
lungs that made her turn red in the
face.
"Knew you would be. I've been
tallliB' bout comm these dozen years.
So | sent word to Dora, through Hub
bard, brother Sans widder-she that
was Dorothy Jones-if she'd come an
keep house for me, | wouldn't wait no
longer. So here am, you see, bag and
baggage"
In the meantime. Sarah Belinda-she
was christened plain Sarah, but had
found it TO be too commonplace for
young lady of her lofty pretensions-
stood back BY the window, regarding
with stare OF surprise and curiosity
the aunt, of whose wealth and eccen-
tricity she had often heard. but whom
she had never seen till now.
Il s'pose that is your daughter
Sally" continued the old lady, as she
turned her eyes in that direction; s'she
that was named for me. Dear mel l
should have knowed it anywhere. She
looks the very pictur, of me, when was
gal
"rd drown myself if thought sor'
was the young lady's indignant com
ment, as she came forward, at her
mothers bidding, to receive the sound
ing kiss that Aunt Sally gave her. THE
horrid-looking frightr'
''|Nhat did she say?n said Aunt Sally,
looking from one to the other.
''She said" screamed Mrs. Mush-
room. putting her mouth close to the
OLD lady's ear. 'that she considers it q
higa compliment. for You must have
been very handsome when girl
Its fortunate that she's deaf. said
Sarah Belinda, smothering laugh at
her mothers adroitness. I'VE can free
oar minds about the tiresome old thing,
and she be not g bit wiser"
We'll, | dun know as | was ever
called much OF beauty" said Aunt
Sally little obviously; ''but there amt
many gals nowadays that can hold
candle to me as to work. | don't git up
about noon, as most gals do now, david
ling through the rest of the day, doing
bits of fancy work, an sich nonsense.
"No-I was up with the sun, and as
happy and busy as bee all day long.
Father had one of the largest fnrms in
the county; but help was skurce. an if
there was plenty to eat. there was
plenty of work. too-whieh amt bv no
manner of means the wust thing that
can happen to gal, or boy either. L