Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-11-06
AUNT MITABLE's THINGS.

AUNT MlTTABLE'S THINGS.
The orange glow of the March twi-
light threw the leaness copses into
strong relief; the little brook had burst
its thick crust of ice, and sang merrily
under the velvet fringes Of the pussy
willows, and up from the woods there
came an indescribable odor Of spring.
A red flag rolled up and tied around its
stick by hemp string, lay just inside
the dooryard, when Mrs. Grigson came
in with the last pail of water that she
should ever draw from the old well.
She sighed as she filled the squat cop
per kettle and hung it over the fire.
"The auction sale is to be Tomorrow"
said she, "and 1 never was so glad of
anything in all my born days. Sech
time as I've had cleanin' up and scrub
bin down and scourin' and polishin'
There aip't bone in my body but
aches"
"It's all time and trouble thrown
away" sepulchrally observed Miss
Ketchum, who had dropped in on her
way from the store; 'the old traps
won't sell for sixpence apiece-you see
if they do"
"But the things amt no use to me"
said Mrs. Grigson, "and 1 need little
money so awful bad AS for the poor
luck I've had, right straight through,
there amt no calculatin' it. Ef 1 was
to tell you, Martha Ketchum, you
wouldn't believe it. Even down to my
last gold dollar!''
"Eh?" said Miss Ketchum. Being of
a melancholy turn, she liked to hear sad
recitals, although personally her SYM
pathies were enlisted on the Widow
Grigson's side.
"Why, it was last week." said Mrs.
Grigson, in the level, complaining tone
that always reminded you of the little
brook down in the hollow, "Brother
Lyman left his little Brazil monkey
here over night. He was a-calculatin
to sell 1t to Mrs. Gartney's little boy,
John Henry. And eff you'll believe me.
the miserable critter swallowed the gold
dollar I'd left on my bureau to pay the
meat peddlar with, and dropped my sill
yer specs down the WE'LL"
"La!" said Miss Ketchum.
81 seen him champin' it between his
jaws" said Mrs. Grigson, "and shake
and squeeze him as would, couldn't
get it out of him W
"Well, 1 never did," remarked the
guest.
"It did seem as eff that was the last
straw that broke the camel's back"
sighed Mrs. Grigson. "Brother Lyman
he was dreadful consarned about it, but
he couldn't do nothin' for me. He of
fered to kill the monkey, but knowed
how disappointed John Henry Gartney
would be, and arter all, the critter had
only acted accordin' to its natur', and
they was to pay Brother Lyman a dol
lar and half for him. AS for the specs,
Brother Lyman fished 'em up with
long pole with crooked pin hitched on
to the end ont. The glasses was broke,
but the frames is good yet. I'm calki-
latin to get 'em mended when .,
"Wonder how much the feather-bed
III 20 for!" said Miss Ketchum, break
ing in on the monotonous refrain.
"There amt no tellin'," said Mrs.
Grigson. They're dreadful old. Aunt
Mittable she'd kept house for forty
years, and never had nothin' new. L
don't s'pose an auction sale will pay,
but what else could do with all the old
duds? Squire Daggett wants posses
sion of the place at once, and"
"Ain't gwine to sell these 'ere house
plants, be YEP" said Miss Ketchum,
nodding toward green-painted stand
in the corner.
"Brother Lyman thought they might
fetch few cents" said Mrs. Grigson.
"And the stand ought to be worth
quarter of dollar. 1t had a new coat
of paint year ago. give one J'rusa-
lem cherry-tree to Abigail Barton for
helpin' me to clean out the old cup
boards. She's been dreadful neighbor-
| ", and she wouldn't take a penny for
what she did,"
"More fool she" "curtly observed Miss
Ketchum. ''I'd like that thar monthly
rose with the striped blooms on it,"
"It is pretty" said Mrs. Grigson, ig-
noring the broad hint. Sand 1 guess
it will sell cheap. I'd like some friend
to buy it, for the slip it growed from
was give me by Grigson the very first
year we were married."
And as she was not invited to stay to
tea, Miss Ketchum at last went away,
leaving Mrs. Grigson sitting sorrowful-
" before the fire of discarded barrel
slaves, ruinous packing boxes, ancient
chair legs and wooden stools which had
absolutely refused to be made capable
of further service. "Aunt Mittable"-
which name was perversion of the good
old New England pranomen Mehitable
had been all the mother she had
/ Lnown .ud n coonod Ionosorno anot. 0h