The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-10-31

child, and her large hazel eyes looked
out graveIy from the snowdrop face,
with its halo of chestnut curls.
Good morning, Rose" said Mss
Hartwell, pleasantly but the girls held
a little aloof, feeling that she owed
them an explanation for her failure 10
keep her promise.
''And who is this dear little grip"
her teacher went on.
This is my aunt from India, Mss
Hartwell," Rose replied. Then over
come by the mystificd faces before her,
she hid her own, and laughed till she
fairly cried
Rose Bellamy! What do you meanP'
THAT baby. your aunt! You can't
impose on us that wayw
''But she isl" gaspcd out Rose,
almost in Mysteries, "and there's II
Younger one still, an uncle, eighteen
months old!'
The girls looked at each other They
had half u 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.
"And so you've been humbuggiDg us
ali this time" said Maggie Grey.
What a shame, Rosen
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 mel
you ought to have been there, when he
brought Aunt Marion in and intro
duccd her to Us.
lit must have been funny enough"
said Fanny Grey, "but, must say, I'm
rather disappointed We had pictured
a nice, jolly, mddle-aged aunty, sort
of fairy g0dmother. And how about
that bracelet, you deceitful girl9 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 darling"
80 she is!' 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 Il BID
boat" The girls, quite delighted to
think there were tho aunties, crowded
round the child to kiss and pet her.
while she, sociable little creature, met
their advances in the most friendly
manner The ringing of Miss Hart
wells bell brought them TO order
Take your seats young ladies.
Rose, you may place your elderly rcla-
tive beside you, and l will give her
something to amuse herself with.
Roses great-aunt turned cut 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 droll airs of dignity carried
all hearts captive. The Bellamys only
regret is, that they can not keep her
and her aunt always with them
The bracing air of Brookville has
worked wonders with the little stran'
ger already, and her pale cheeks arc
, blossoming with roses. She fairly lives
l outdoors, and is a great pet with the
children of the neighDorhood. Indeed
r they can scarcely tell which they love
: best, the elderly lady, or the funny lit
t tie ''aunt from India. "-CidrG Trough
| ton, in Chicago Standard