, 1884-01-12
"AUNT Ess."

my friends. Everybody in the
house used to call her "Aunt Ess. "
Her real name, l think, was either
Estelle or Esther. She was rapidly
approaching 60; but her completely
white hair was the only outward in
dicatiOn of her age. Her skin was
delicate and unwrinkled, her eyes
full of spirit, and she had superb
teeth, which an almost ever-smiling
mouth cOquetishly displayed. She
must have been once very pretty ;
she was still good-looking. And
this persistent beauty was further
accentuated by a really eXtraOrdin-
AIRY animation Of manner.
The brightness Of her eyes, her
quickness Of expression, her rapid
gesture, her pretty speech, her al
ways hurried walk-all indicated
that this charming seXegenarian,
ever alert, obliging and busy, was
devoted to some very active calling,
and was thoroughly absorbed by the
worry Of business.
In fact, Aunt Ess chad been in
business" Did | say had been /?
She was still in business. In her
family it was generally predicted
that this indefatigable woman-work-
er would never find rest, would never
be able to rcpOse.
For Aunt Ess was not Il millionaire
by any means.
Although she was really well es-
tablished in bu iless on her own ac-
count, she had always lived in pow
erty-independcnt poverty it is true,
but nevertheless. She had never
asked any favorS from anybody.
Even in order to induce her to take
dinner with the family once in Il
fortnight, the most urgent solicita-
tions were required. She used to
come clad in grey wOOlen dress
always the same dress winter or
summer, with sleeves tight at the
wrists, long waist, and little
flOunccs around the bottom. Then
as II general rule, she would always
bring some confectionery for the
children, would be very kind, very
merry ; and il anybody chanccd to
inquire about her affairs she would
always reply that business was "tol-
erably good"
Nevertheless the business Of Aunt
Ess was not Of colossal importance.
The poor old woman lived in a
regular cellaT-One Of those frightful
Amsterdam cellars, damp, unhealthy,
veritable nests Of fever, wherein the
visitor is astOunded to find clean and
pretty business established, fruit
booth, shoemaker's and cOOper's
shops, fishmOnger's establishments,
and even drinking halls. One had
to 90 down a flight Of about dozen
steps in order to reach her little sta
tionery shop, no bigger than the
cage of an eronaut. There was a
little table there-a very little table
which served as a counter; three
or four paste-bOard boxes full
Of reams of writing paper of differ
ent sizes an old glove box in which
steel pens, quill pens and bad pen
ellis were all jumbled pell-mell to-
gether; six ink Jars and four rules.
That was all. 1t would not have
been hard to make an inventory of
the stock. In her busy season Aunt
Ess could make from II to 10 flOrins.
In the evening the little shop was
transformed into supper-roOm at
night, into a sleeping-room. The
counter was turned into a dining
room and the bed was an armoire
IN the further end Of the cellar-an
armOire with folding doors and only
one shelf upon which narrow mat
tress was placed.
1t was in that underground place
she lived and she had lived there
for forty years when j first knew
her. She lived honestly, loyalty,
never contracting one cent Of debt,
and nevertheless finding means to
save up and treasure away enough
money for her dOwry. .,
For Aunt Ess was engaged-Aunt
Ess had betrOthed.
1t will be necessary, ere continu-
ing this little narrative, to relate
something about betrothals in Hol-
land.
When a young Dutchman finds
the young Dutch girl Of his dreams,
and the said Dutch girl has found
the young Dutchman to her taste
the families Of both Ahaying been
duly consulted and having given
their consent-it is forthwith agreed
that the twain shall remain be-
throthed for a year or two.
From that time forward the fu-
ture husband and future wife live
altogether for one another, just as
though they already belonged to one
another. They can come and go as
they please, or walk out together,
without that chaperOn who has be-
come an apparently indispensable
feature Of our French social system.
You can sec the betrothcd every