The Baltimore County union., 1883-03-31
AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.

Good gracious, ma do come 70
the window and see who this is?" ex-
claimed Sarah Belinda Mushroom
"Did ever any one see such an antigua
ted specimen OF humanity Just look
at the huge poke e-bonnet ard the queer
cloak, that comes nearly to the hccls.-
The coachman is taking Off an old
hair trunk. l do believe she is coming
here"
Reused from the comfortable nap, in
which she always INDUCED after dinner,
by these exclamations, Mrs. Mushroom
left the sofa and came to the window.
The subject OF them, queer. looking
old lady, very oddly dressed, stood on
the step in front Of the door.
She held an umbrella and n band
box in her hand, and had reticule on
either arm.
She was talking loudly and gesticu-
lating violently with her umbrella to the
driver, who was taking out Of the coach
any number Of parcels and bundles,
and who evidently did not know what
Ito make of her.
The look of languid curiosity in Mrs.
Mushroom countenancc quickly chang.
cd to astonishment, and then dismay.
alt can't bci-yes, il is; rs true as
I'm alive, it's Aunt Sally Hooker -
"Why, ma, | thought Aunt Sally
was rich"
$50 she is y; she could buy two or
three such houses as this, and live in
the first style. Grandfather left her 4
large property, and so did her husband. I"
al 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, 60 to the door before the servants
hear her. Goodness there is Mrs.
Morton opposite putting her head out OF
the window to see what is the matter. 1"
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 a conten.ptuous stare, why
she didn't 60 to the other doorp
! ."vhat dye 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 rs Mrs. Mushroom was at
this exposure, she was too anxious to
stand well in the grace OF her wealthy
relative not to disscmble il, as we'll as
the vexation she felt at her unexpected
appearance.
And she succeeded admirably.
She came forward with a beaming
and happy smile.
any 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 at a
visit, which she inwardly styled ga most
awkward and annoying circumstance.
"What did YOU say, child =: SAID
Aunt Sally, as, after divesting herself oi
her cloak and bonnet, she sank down
into the stuffed chair that Mrs. Mush.
room wheeled to the fire for her accom-.
modation. "Speak little louder I'm
dreadful dcaf-can't hear any kind oi
ordinary conversation.
"Delighted to see me, heyl" added
the old lady rs 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
talkin' bout comm these dozen years.
So / sent word to Dora, through Hub
bard, brother Sans widder-she that
was Dorothy Jones es-if she'd come an
keep house for me, wouldn't wait nc
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 a
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.
al s'posc that is your daughter
Sally" continued the old lady, as she
turned her eyes in that direction "she
that was named for me. Dear me
should have knowed il anywhere. She
looks the very pictur' Of me, when
was a GAL"
ard drown myself il I thought sol
was the young lady's indignant com
ment, as she came forward, at hei
mothers bidding, to receive the sound
ing kiss that Aunt Sally gave her. "The
horrid looking fright"
"what did she sayl" 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 il ;
high compliment, for you must hav,
been very handsome when GIRL"
ats fortunate that she's deaf" said
Sarah Belinda, smotheringa laugh at hel
mothers adroitness. "We can free
our minds about the tiresome old thing
and she be not bit WISER"
"Well, dun know as I was evel
called much Of beauty" said Aun
Sally little obviously; "but there ain
many gals nowadays that can hold |
candle TO me as to work. don't gi
up about noon, as most gals do now
dawdling through the rest OF the day
doing bits Of fancy work, an sich non
sense.
"No-I was up with the sun, and a
happy and busy as bee all day long
Father had one Of the largest farms il
the country, but help was skurce. an
there was plenty Of work, too-whicl
amt by no manner Of means the wus