The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-05-31
THE GOLDEN GOOSE.

HE OOLDEN UOUSEs
Aunt Picnic was the " Golden
Goose" A facetiOus niece had be-
slowed the sobriquet upon her, but it
was a long time before Aunt Picnic
found it out; when she did, she smiled,
not without touch of bitterness, how
ever, and made sudden, though not
very strange resolution, which she kept
with great firmness for such an amiable
old lady.
The family to which Mrs. Picnic
Macfarlane was aunt consisted of five
persons - nephew, Henry; three
nieces, Mary, Jane and Kate-all Mac
farlanes-and an adopted niece, by
name Jessie Lambert. Aunt Phemie
was fond of them all, but somewhat to
the modification of her blood relations,
she seemed to care most for Jessie, the
adopted niece, who was not a blood re-
lation.
Aunt Phemie was a warm-hearted,
generous, simple old lady, very atfec-
tionatc and unsuspccting; and | don't
think she even knew herself that she
cared more for her adopted niece than
for her real ones. The fact is, Jessie
loved the old lady very dearly, and
quite unconsciously the old lady loved
her in return, and loved her better than
she loved her own relatives, for a
similar reason-because Jessie loved
her best. But if Aunt Picnic was not
aware of the state of her own feelings,
Mary and Jane and Kate Macfarlane
understood them too well; and they
made Jessie feel that they understood
them, too; and that is why the
poor girl sometimes appeared with wet
and swollen eyes, and seemed wretched
and confused when Aunt Picnic ques-
toned her as to the cause-only she
never acknowledged it. No, she was
too genuinely attached to her bene-
factress to complain of bitter tauntS
and cruel inuendoes bestowed on her
when out of her hearing; and deter
mined to bear the undeserved NORTH
cations and humiliatons put upon her
rather than wound the heart of the
dear old lady who loved them all and
was too supplemented and affectionate
herself to suspect envy, rancor and
jealousy in the minds of others.
But her patience was often severely
tried; and gradually the thought forced
itself into her mind that it might be
necessary for her to look about for
another home-some employment, she
meant, when she debated the matter
with herself, by which she could earn
enough money to pay her frugal way
in the world. But all unsought another
home presented itself TO her, and very
earnestly besought her acceptance.
In house full of pretty girls-and
all of Aunt Phcmie's nieces, Jessie in
cluded, were pretty -Of course, the
magnetic power of good looks is shown
in the number of young people of the
opposite sex that come to the house;
and it was pretty well understood by
their friends and ncighbors generally
that the Macfarlane girls had plenty
of beaux.''
Among these bcauX some were eligi-
BILE and some were not, for the position
of partners for life; and one of the lot,
Clarence Cook, a young physician OF
large practice, was decidedly the IA
vored one of Kate the beauty of the
family, who was allowed, in all such
matters, being the beauty, to have first
choice-more especially as the gentle
mans admiration seemed to have set
tied the point anyway. So from the
first DR. Cook-or Glare, as he soon
came to be called-was regarded as
Hates property exclusively. The fair
Kate accepted the position at once, and
only waited to be asked in form to ac-
cept his handsome hand and fortune
Strange to say, DIR. Cook did not seem
TO be in hurry; and although Kate
may have wondered secretly at his de.
liberation, she never for a moment
doubted his ultimate decision. Imag
inc, then, her consrernation-for thai
was her first feeling and then her rage
mt discovering that Jessie, and not her
self, was the object Of his choice. Once
or twice such an idea had forced itseI
into her mind. hut she had always dis
missed it as something too absurd to be
seriously entertained; but ut last tn,
appalling fact was past doubling, anC
the overwhelming proof stared her il
the face impudeutly stared her on
of countenance.' as she said afterward
in describing the scene.
1t happened in Aunt Phemie's from
parlor, and in this way: The parlor
maid had Just told Miss Kate that DR.
Cook had called, and had INDUCED il
the quiet smile permitted to a priv
legged servant as her young mistress
danced out of the room and down stair,
10 meet her suitor Bounding into tn,
room, trlling a love-song ar the full
pitch of her clear voice, she came to
full stop with a suddenneSs that literal
" took her breath away, and apprupri
atelv broke off her love-song forever
Under the circumstances the sight tina
met her ewes was decidedly appalling
In the middle of the room stood Jessie
her graceful head bent forward, he
eyes fixed on the carpet Mt her feet, ant
bushes mantling her delicate, lily-l,k
face, which now rivaled the roses in tn
garden. DIR. Cook was holding he
hands, and talking so eagerly and rap
idly that neither observed that they ha
an interested, although nearly petrified
listener.
"You must have known-you mus
have seen-why I came here, Jessie
and why ] will continue to come foreve
until YOU promise to go with me TO m
own home, my darling, my own littl
wife a"
No, no!o protested Jessie, CROWN
pale, and raising scared face 3"
never knew never suspected; and il
deed, DR.. Cook, / dare not believe i
for we all Thought my Cousin Kate wa
the magnet that drew You here. Sh
thought so, too. Everybody. Oh
fdearn
But no, my sweet Jessie. il wa
YOU interrupted the ardent love-