The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-02-05

the sweetest and dearest in all the world,
that she looks "qulte too utterly" quaint
and lovely in her lace and muslin kerr
chiefs and her pretty white aprons; and
she always answers deprecatingly:
"But, oh, my dears, am so old-fash
ionedr'
Nevertheless, when she Is alone she
looks in the glass aud bushes warmly,
half-inclined to believe their sweet
words, and wholly glad that she is not
yet growing homely, though she feels a
little guilty, too, as if she ought to do
so. Then she turns away and sighs soft
| ly, she knows not why.
| Now fate bad ordained that when
Aunt Bethia came to visit in our family
we should be entertaining, as an honoted
guest, our uncle, Jeremiah Barker, or
Uncle Jerry," as we children familiarly
called him, though he'was only distant
relative on my fathers side.
He had been knocking about for the
last fifteen years or so in Australia, and
having amassed considerable fortune
returned now to his native city with the
hope Of ending his days among his kim
dred.
He was unmarried, and hidden secret
Iy away in his rugged bachelor heart was
the long cherished dream Of wife and
fireside OF his own.
But after spending the best part of his
life in rough toll. separated from all So
ciety of women-or in fact society of any
sort--he fo1nd himself now laboring IN.
der great disadvantages.
Fhe girls that he knew aud played
with when he was boy had grown so
far away from him in many directions
that he felt he had no part or lot with
them, and so, slowly and sadly, the hope
Of years began 10 fade away
1t was just here that dear, old fashion.
ed Aunt Bethia came into his life; and
from the first moment OF their meeting
Uncle Jerry appropriated her in his
heart of hearts as the one woman spe-
cially provided for him, and straightway
elected her to preside over that ideal fu-
ture he had dreamed Of.
In short, for the first time in his life
he found himself passionately in love,
and as men OF his years are apt to do in
such case, be resolved to make "short
work. OF his wooing.
Accordingly he spent one week in
watching her every word and action and
in studying her face from under his
shaggy eyebrows while be pretended to
read his newspaper.
Another week he devoted to folio wing
her about and waiting upon her with
such alarming assiduity that the little
woman. began to wonder and to tremble
at che knew not what.
Finally he grew impatient to know his
fate
"Whst 10 the use of beating about the
bush ?" be said to himself ia his blunt
fashion. "If she don't fancy me now
she never will, and may as well know
it,"
So he came in upon her one afternoon
as. she sat. knitting by the window aud,
nerving himself for decisive effort, be
thus addressed her:
"Bethia, l hain't known you long, to
be sure, but feel better AGO tainted with
you to-day than I should with any other
woman in years time. Things have
changed 'mazingly in the fifteen years
that I've been away from home, and the
women most of all. l find don't know
'em.
"The girls that used to study out of
the same books with at school, hear
talking now about 'cultur',' and art
and saff1nities,' and so on and 80 forth
all Greek to me l left 'em doin' house
work and knittin' stockin's, and now l
iud 'em playin' on the pianner, and rs-
vim over picters and statoos things /
don't know nothin' about--and what's
more, / don't want to!
"Ths only statoos that l ever liked
the looks on at all, is the Indian girls
standin' outside Of the tobacker shops.
"And as for music-whv, Bethia, I'd
ruther hear you sing old Naomi, the wav
you did last Sunday night, than all their
rattle and clatter,
Il did use to think, when | was out in
Australy, that when l come home I'd
git married and try to settle down, but
don't s'pose any Of these newfashion.
ed, highfautin' women would have me
with all my money; and" says be, un.
gallsutly, "by George! l don't know as
I want them T.
Aunt Betbia looked mildly shocked
"You see," he continued, apo'ogeti
cally, 1--WE couldn't take much comfort
together less we felt somewhere nigh
alike about things. now could we ?"
"Why no." said Aunt Bethia candid
|ly, looking up at him in a meditstive
wav Isl don't s'pose YOU could
"And should hate to see nv money
fooled away on trash that don't care q
continental for, though l know women
are master hands to spend money, and l
mean my wife shall have a plenty, too. -
II don't think all women are extrava-
giant, I'm sure" said Aunt Bethia, with
some show Of spirit. 81 know I amt
unless" she added, deprecstingly, "per-
haps I am in the matter of white aprons
Mother always said so, and do like
plenty of clean aprons-say one every
u afternoon.