Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-04-09
that she must come at this particular


time.
Sabina made little grimace, as she
read the letter which her mother hand
ed her.
Must go, mother said she.
don't see that there is any choice
left for you, said Mrs. Gray, sadly,
1t will be the worst dose of medicine
have ever taken yet, said Sabina.
So she started with her little travel
inG-bag and the blue-lined bonnet that
made her face look like a newl,.
bloSsomed violet so sweet, and fresh,
and innocent. But instead of taking
her ticket for Long Branch, she bought
one to Mauch Chunk instead.
For there in the leafy wilderness
that skirts the beautiful Lehigh river,
lived old Aunt Mehitable Cooper, who
wove rag carpets for living.
In the family discussions, no one had
mentioned Aunt Mehitable. She was
Old and she was poor; but in her secret
heart, Sabina felt that she had rather
go to Aunt Mehitable, in her one
storied farmhouse, than to share the
elegances OF Mrs. Streeter's Queen
Anne cottage at Long Branch.
will write to mamma when / get
there, she thought, l know Aunt
lletty lost daughter once, and
perhaps that will make her none the
less glad to see me; and perhaps l can
help her about her carpets; and | know
there used to be such lovely wild flow
ers in the woods around the Lehigh
river
X *
Well, l am beat. was Aunt Hetty's
characteristic ejaculation, as her grand
niece came up the path through the
woods, her belt stuck full of ferns and
wild-lowers. Why, its Mary Gray's
darter, Sabiny, amt it? l knew you
by your blue eyes and the way you
smiled at me.
I've come to visit you, Aunt Hetty,
said Sabina.
Then she told her simple tale.
You're as welcome as flowers in
May said Aunt lIetty-that is, if you
can sleep on the caliky lounge in my
bedroom, because I've got boarder-
IL city young man, Come out here for
three weeks to fish.
Oh. said Sabina.
But he's real pleasant, added Aunt
lIetty. No more trouble than a
chicken. His name is-Bloss me,
here he comes now. Adam, this is
sabiny Gray. Sabiny this is my
boarder.
Sabina bad been half-inclined to be
veXed at the idea Of this delicious soil
tude being invaded by any one save
herself, but one glance at the hand
some, frank face of Mr.. Adam disarm-
ed her; and they were presently the
best Of friends, chatting away on the
doorstep, while Aunt 1Ietty baked
biscuit, set forth a comb of new honey
and produced dish of wild straw
berries whose fragrance perfumed the
whole room, and broilel some delicious
spring chickens of her own raising.
And after tea, Aunt lletty took
Sabna out to the shed to see the carpet
loom, where the bright colored rags
glowed like sections of a Kaleidoscope
Why don't you lock the door, Aunt
Hetty? said Sabina.
La, child, said the old woman.
What should | lock it for? Nobody
comes here but artists to sketch the old
house they won't wait until get the
north chimney fixed up again and the
neighbors to see about jobs of carpet
weavin'' I've deal of time to work
since Adam came. lie mlks for me
every night, and brings home the
cattle, besides keeping me in fresh fish
all the time. lie lights the fire for me,
too, of morning, and fills the kettle.
and brings in wood for all day
Oh. thought Sabina. Mr.. Adam is
poor young man, is he, working for
his board? Well, Pm a poor young
woman, AMI | must do the same
Well, Aunt IIetty she said, cheerily,
Ill cook the dinner for you tomorrow,
and sweep the house-an'l you must
teach me to weave rag carpet?
La, me, Sabiny! that arn't no way
to treat company said Aunt He.ty.
You're here to 60 walkin', and gather
posies, and freshen up those white
cheeks of yours bit.
Yes, Aunt Hetty, l know. said
Sabina, coaxingly, but l would rather
help you little, too-just little
So the next day she tied one of Aunt
lletty's gigantic checked aprons around
her, and cooked the glistening spotted
trout which Mr.. Adam brought home;
and afterward she washed the dishes
and wove half yard in ared and blue
rag carpet which Glanced to be on the
loom, before she went walking
1t is such wild, lonely life! she
said to herself. should like to weave
rag carpets always!
She lost her way in the woods, of
course; but what cared she for that?
1t was only to follow the blue windings
of the river Lehigh till she reached
home and, before she was halfway