The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-02-28
AUNT MILlY;
Or All for the Best.

do not think there could be found
in the three Kingdoms blither old maid
than Miss Milheent Orme. otherwise
Aunt Milly, for so she was universally
called by her nephews and nieces, first,
second and third cousins-nay, even by
many who could not boast the smallest
tie of consanguinity. But the sort OF
universal aunthood to the whole neigh
borhood was by no means disagreeable
to Miss Milly, for in very little body
she had a large heart, Of most
India rubber nature; not, indeed, as the
simile is used in speaking of female
hearts that never break, but always
stretch" But Miss Milly's heart pos
sessed this elastic nature in the best
sense, namely, that it ever found room
for new occupants; and, moreover, it
was remarkable for its quality of eta
cling all unkindness or injuries as easily
as India rubber removes pencil marks
from paper.
Aunt Millv-T have some right to
call her so, being her own nephew,
Godfrey Estcourt-was an extremely
little woman. She had pretty little
features, pretty little feet and hands, a
pretty little figure, and always carried
pretty little work bag, in whose mys-
terious recesses the children of the
neighborhood loved to dive, seldom re-
turning to the surface without some
pearl of price in the shape of a lozenge
Or sugar plum Her dresses was always
aeat, rather old fashioned, perhaps, but
Invariably becoming: her soft brown
hair-it really was brown still-lay
smoothly braided under tiny cap; her
white collar was ever snowy; indeed,
Aunt Milly's whole attire seemed to
have the amazing quality of never look
ing worn, soiled or dusty, but always
fresh and new. Yet she was far from
rich. as every one knew: but her income
was enough to suffice for her little self.
she lived in 4 nutshell of house, with
he smallest of small handmaidens: in
deed, every thing about Aunt Millv
was on the diminutive scale. She did
not abide much at home, for she was
everywhere in request-at weddings,
christenings. etc, Aunt Milly did
not turn her feet from the house of
mourning. She could weep with those
that wept: vet. somehow or other. she
contrived to infuse hope amid despair.
and in general her blithe nature con-
serted all life's minor evils into things
not worth lamenting about.
Every one felt that Aunt Milly's en-
trance into their doors brought sun
shine. She was a sunbeam in herself.
there was cheerfulness in her light
step; her merry laugh, the jingling of
the keys in her pocket was musical.
She had word of encouragement for
all, and an inclination to look on the
sunny side of everybody and everything
No one was more welcome in mirthful
lays. no one was more sought for in adj
sersity: for she had the quality of MAX
ing the heaviest trouble seem lighter.
and her unfailing motto was. "All hap
pens for the best"
All my school boy disasters were de-
posted in Aunt Millv's svmpathizing
ear; and when 1 grew up, still kept to
the old habit. / came to her one day
with what considered my first real sor-
row; it was the loss. by sudden failure
of country bank, of nearly all the few
hundreds my poor father had laid up
for me. Ny sad news had travelled be-
fore me, and | was not surprised to see
Aunt Millvs cheerful face really grave
as she met me with, MY dear boy, 1
am very sorry for YOU"
1t is the greatest misfortune [ could
have, cried. Il wish that wretch.
Sharpless-'
Don't wish him anything worse than
he has to bear already, poor man, with
his large family" said Aunt Millv,
gently.
But you don't know all have lost.
That Laura and here / stop ped,
looking, without doubt, very miserable,
and possibly very silly.
You mean to say, Godfrey, that since
instead of a little fortune to begin the
world with, you have hardly anything
at all, Miss Laura Ashton will not con-
slider that her engagement holds. I ex-
pected it."
''Oh, Aunt Millv, she is not so mean
as that. but we were to have been mar
ried In two years, and I could have got
q share In Mortlake's office, and we
should have been so happy. All that is
over now. Her father says she must
wait, and Laura is to be considered free.
Life is nothing to me. 1 will go to
America, or shoot myself
How old are you, Godfrey?s asked
Aunt h1illv, with quiet smile that rath-
er annoyed me-
I shall be 20, next June" said.
Young people always put their age in
the futher nse: it sounds better.
1T is now July, so that / NAV call
YOU 10 and one month. Ny dear boy.
the world must be horrible place in
Heed, for you to grow tired of it so soon.
L would advise you to wait little while
before you do anything so very des-
perate."
<hohO Auhly, Saul L, GuIuluS away,
1T is easy for you to talk-you were
never in love"
A shadow passed over her bright face,
but Aunt Milly did not answer my IL
lusion :
Il do not think boy of 10 is doomed
to be victim to loss of fortune or
hopeless love-" said she, after pause.
My dear Godfrey, this will be a trial
of your Laura's constancy, and of your
own patience and industry. Depend
upon it, all will turn out for the best"
"Oh," sighed, ''you talk very we'll,
Aunt Milly, but what can do?"
Il will tell you. You are young and
clever, and have been for two years in
good profession. It will be your fault
if You do not rise in the world. Every
man is, in great measure, the architect
of his own fortune; and where, as in
your case, the foundation of good ed
ucation is laid, SO much the easier is it
to raise the superstructure. You may
be rich man by your own exertions;
the best of fortunes is q fortune self