St. Landry democrat., 1885-10-31

child, and her large hazel eyes lookeo
out prayelY from the snoWdrop race
with its halo of chestnut curls.
"Good morning, Rose, said Miss
Hartwen, pleasantly but the girls held
a little aloof, feeling that she owed
them an explanation for her failure 10
keep her promise. $40. :-,o,,
..And who is this dear little glrl!
her teacher went on.
seThis is my aunt from India, Miss
Hartwell," Rose replied Then over
come by the mystified faces before her'
she hid her own, and laughed till she
fairly cried. -,
s.Rose Bellamy! What do you mean?'
..That baby, your aunt! You can't
| impose on us that way!"
s.But she isr' gasped out Rose,
almost in Mysteries, ''and there's a
Younger one still, an uncle, eighteen
months old!''
The girls looked at each other. They
had half mind to be angry, but the
| ludicrous side of the matter struck
them, and they broke into peals Of
laughter, in which Miss HartWell
joined.
Sand so you've been humbugging us
ali this tune. . said Maggie Grey.
s.What shame, Rose!
mo, papa's been humbugging me,
said Rose, Wiping her eyes, land the
rest of us children. Mamma knew, but
he wouldn't let her tell us. He's so
full of his Jokes you know. Dear me!
you ought to have been there. when ne
brought Aunt Marion in and intro
duced her to us. y
at must have been funny enough, "
said Fanny Grey, ''but, | must say, I'm
rather disappointed. We had pictured
a nice, jolly, middle-aged aunty, sort
of fairy godmother. And how about
that bracelet, you deceitful girl? You
said your aunt gave it to you.
''Well, SO she did, my dear great
aunt Ellen. and she's just the kind.
jolly soul you've been imagining. But
/ you must love my baby aunty, too, for
she's darlingr'
$50 she is!F cried Sophie Green, with
sudden enthusiasm. ''And, oh, just
look at the dear little thing, almost
ready to cry! Aunt Marion I've got
some sugar-plums in my pocket, and
we're real glad to see you. Did you
really come across the great wide sea?
'.Ess,'' lisped the little one, smiling
through her tears. Il TUNED in bid
boat The girls. quite delighted to
think there were tao aunties, crowded
round the child to kiss and pet her.
while she, a sociable little creature, met
their advances in the most friendly
manner. The ringing of Miss Hart
wells bell brought them to order.
Tcl~ ladies'
Rose, YOU may place your elderly rela-
tive beside you, and | will give her
something to amuse herself with. "
Roses great-aunt turned out even
more ..jolly'' and kind than the girls
; had imagined. She was very fond OF
young people, and it was her delight to
gather them round her, and tell them
Stories of the wonderful country she
had left Her room seemed to them an
enchanted chamber, full of delightful
mysteries and understanding treas
ures. '.Aunt Ellen" they all called
her, and could not have loved her bet
!, ter, had she been a relative OF their
} own.
AS for little Marion, her sweet dispo.
> sition and drol airs of dignity carried
, all hearts captive. The Bellamys only
: regret is, that they can not keep hel
and her aunt always with them.
: The bracing air of Brookville has
: worked wonders with the little stran'
ger already, and her pale cheeks are
9 blossoming with roses. She fairly lives
a outdoors, and is great pet with the
children of the neighborhood. Indeed
r they can scarcely tell which they love
7 best, the elderly lady, or the funny lit
t tie s'aunt from India. CLARA Brough
i ton, IN Chicago Standard.