Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-08
AUNT JAMES ONLY OFFER.
BY J. w. WATSON.


ly an event was about to happen,
which, through it may more than once
In a woman's life, on its first happen
is especially fraught with excitement.
One of the Misses Tibbs, the eldest,
Jennie, a very pretty. blonde of %,
was about to be married, and natural
ly the talk and thought all ran to
matters matrimonial.
The three Misses Iibbs were very
busy, intensely so, not really making
up the rousseau, for that important
matter been intrUsted to the hand of
Madame Lollipop, the eminent modiste
of Fifth avenue and Twenty third
street, but in evolving the hundred
little nothings that arc supposed to ap-
pertain to a wedding, and that must,
IN the majority Of cases, enanate from
the home circle, or near it.
At this employment the three misses
were busy, assisted by their Aunt
Jane she was to everybody, even those
who conld not even claim goth cous-
inship, though really, Aunt James
name was Hopkinson.
The three girIs-Jennie, the eldest,
named after hersallnt; Josephine, the
second. aged 90, named after her
Uncle Joseph, and Maud, the baby, "
aged 16, and named after nobody, had
often discussed Aunt James charming
qualities and how pretty she must once
have been, but it had never occurred
to them to think of why Aunt Jane,
still at the age of so, renamed a
maiden, with no apparent aspiration
toward changing that condition. But
now, brought forth by what was soon
to happen to one of the trio, every
thing that bore upon the subject came
prominently forward, and every &C
quaintance of the female persuasion
became subject to discussion.
do you know" said Josie, what
was the reason that Tillie Smith did
not marry John Penn?"
''No!' was Jendie's response. 1--WE
always wondered, but never knew"
''T'll tell you. It was because when
John went eff, as he cid after mis- en-
gagement, to Chicago on business,
and, of course, had to write Title let
tiers, for the first time she discovered
that not only he did not write good
grammar, but he did not know how
to use the capital letter, and so she
broke off the engagement. You
know Title is very partlc ular and
teaches in a public sceOol. "
''Why, how absurb!" said Jennie,
II don't think my Tom is perfect in
his letters, but love 'em and I'm as
glad to get 'em as though they were
classically correct. [ think it was a
fortunate escape for Mr.. Penn.
$50 do l." said Maud. iii never
put on such nonsensical airs as that
with anybody. You know I'm too
infantile-sO you all say-tO think OF
getting married, and think SO my
self, but I can't help it ifEI don't like
every body that likes me. Now, you
know; you wanted me to explain why
it was that [ wouldn't come down
stairs the other,evening, when young
Charles Keller called. Well, I'll tell
YOU. It was because when he came
last Wednesday evening, just week
ago to-day, he leaned back ia his
chair against the wall, over In that
corner, and he left that grease spot
that you see there from the back of
his head Now, girls, even if was
years older, [ wouldn't want anybody
coming to- see me the creased his hair
so as leave a spot on the new wall
paper. >
f'Well, Idon't know, Maudie, but
what you may be right" said Jennie.
thoughtfullv. "but [ don't think [
would send my Tom away for that.
I'd try and clean the spot, and If /
couldn't I'd show it to him, and tell
him he must be careful the next
time"
"Aunt Jane" said Jennie, impa-
tiently, as if the idea had just reached
her, ''how was it you never married. "
Perhaps it was because | had no
offer" said the old maid with a
smile.
"Oh, that's impossible" said the
three Misses Tibbs in chorus.
"Why impossible, my dear girlsQ
Everything is possible" replied Miss
Hopkinson gravely.
Eyes auntie, but | knew that you
had everything attractive about you
to draw the best of offers. Mamma
says that you were the most charming
girl she ever knew"
''Your mamma, my dear, is very
kind, but you must remember that she
speaks with the prejudice of a sister,
and besides that woman does not
look upon these things with the eye
of a man"
''Oh, but. auntie, I know for my
self. | can see how very pretty you
have been, and I can see that you
have not lost it yet. One can grow
gracefully old, and keep all their good
looks to those who love them, even
though they be little shaded by
age"
"Yes" put in Josephine, land
there's one thing ordained by Provi-
dence on that point, which is that we
do not see those we are with every day
getting old. We never notice age
creeping on them unless our attention
IS particularly called to IT. "
II think that may be so in some
cases." said Aunt Jane, smiling, ''but
it could hardly be, girls. ia your cases
with me. I have watched you from