The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-05-23
.UNT JAMES EAR TRUMPET.


WIN Its load of passengers Just re
fu1ned from the railroad station, and
ttiiii7ss- 7ss-''vTcflicie paused before the gate of
rather pretentious house on the
man, street of the village.
Mrs. Graves looked out of the win
dow. and an expression of dismay
crept over her face.
Fl DECLARE" she exclaimed, "if it
isn't Aunt jane Breed come to MAKE
US q visit I"
'sOh, dear" chimed in Arabella. a
young lady of Is years. "what a pity.
JusthS we are going to have party,
too Couldn't we tell her it is incon-
venleat for US to have her, and send
her t. Uncle Merriam's 2"
e. 1ss,% 40, Arabella, that would never
do. You must consider that your
Aunt Jane has twenty thousand dol
lars which she can dispose of as she
pleases."
She had no time to say more, for
the bell rang.
Mrs Graves went to the door her.
self. BY the time she had opened it
her face was compressed into an ex-
preston of joy.
"Why. Aunt Jane, how do you do ?
What pleasant surprise. ArabelIa
and l were speaking of you only this
morning."
"Wait a minute, Eleanor" said the
old lady, and, fumbling in her pocket,
she produced an ear-trumpet which
she adjusted to her ear.
"There," she said, "now we can
talk"
II had no idea you were deaf"
said Mrs. Graves through the trum-
pet.
age has its infrmities," said
Aunt Jane. "How is ArabeIla ?"
"Very well. thank you. Here she
is to speak for herself"
Mrs. Graves turned toward her
daughter and spoke in her natural
voice.
"Aunt Jane is as deaf as an adder"
she remarked. "You see she has to
use an ear trumpet"
Ppm glad of it," said ArabelIa
'for now we can just say what we
please, without her overhearing US.
Is she going to stay very long?"
II don't know, I'll ask her." and,
turning to the aunt she said, with her
mouth in the ear-trumpet, 81 hear
you are going to favor us with a long
visit"
81 can't spare you but month";"
said Aunt Jane "that is If it is en-
tireIy convenient for you to haye me
with you so long aS that"
1--WE shall he delighted, said Mrs.
Graves. finishing the sentence fer her
daughters benefit, "tO have you 60.
That's the truth, isn't it Belle 2"
"How shall we eyer live through
the month ?" asked ArabeIla, dis
NAL y, without venturing to express
the feeling on her countenance.
A peculiar expression fitted over
the old lady's face, but this was not
observed by mother or daughter.
Three days passed. The Old lady
had become quite domesticated at the
house of her neice.
1t happened that Arabella had a
beau, Il young man of very much the
same calibre as herself, who was en-
ployed AS a clerk in one of the village
stores. He called one evening when
Aunt Jane had INDUCED herself in
sitting up little later than usual.
81 suppose | must introduce you to
my aunt" said Arabella. "She will
not be in our way, for she is as deaf
as post. Aunt Janet" she said,
through the eear-trumpet, "this is Mr..
Storrs."
Il am glad to see him." said Aunt
Jane. extending her hand.
"There, we needn't say anything
more TO her." said Belle, cordially.
Il believe you never saw her before"
mo" said he.
"Ain't she a beauty" laughed
Belle.
care you not afraid she will hear 2"
"Oh, no. she is entirely dependent
upon her trumpet"
"ThapS lucky for us. If she could
hear she might not be gratfied by
what she heard, Ha, hal" laughed
StOrrS.
cit is great trial to us to have her
here, but you know when one has Il
rich aunt she cannot be very we'll put
off"
$50 your aunt is rich," said the
young man, with increased interest,
"Yes, she is worth twenty th0us-
and dollars"
THAT is large sum-" said Storrs.
thinking how large portion would
!