The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-12-02
AUNT MITTABLES THINGS.

uC OIhuBc grow Ol bnc MuTcn JWl-
light threw the lesfless copses into strong
relief; the little brook had burst its thick
crust of ice, and sang mcrrily under the
velvet fringes Of the pussy willows, and
up from the woods there came an indie
scribabc odor of sping. A red flag
rolled up and tied around its stick by
hemp string, lay just inside the door
yard, 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 copper
kettle and hung it over the fire.
''The auction sale is to be to morrow"
said she, land never was so glad OF
anything in all my born days. Sech a
time as I've had ceanin' up and scrub
bin down and scourin' and polishin' !!
There amt bone in my body but
aches"
''lt'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
II they do"
"But the things amt no use to me, :"
said Mrs. Grigson, "and need little
money so awful bad AS for the poor
luck I've had, right straight through,
there amt no calculatin' it. Eff was to
tell you. Martha Ketchum, you wouldn't
believe it. Even down to my last gold
dollarw
''Eh?" said Miss Ketchum. Being of
a melancholy turn, she liked to hear sad
recitals, although personally her sympa-
thies were enlisted on the Widow Grig-
sons 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
overnight He was a-calculatin' to sell it
to Mrs. Gartney's little boy, John Henry.
And eff you'll believe me. the mis'abe
critter swallered the gold dollar I'd left
on my bureau to pay the meat peddlar
with, and dropped my silver specs down
the we'll"
"La" said Miss Ketchum.
81 seen him champin' it between his
jaws, f" said Mrs. Grigson. land shake
and squeeze him as | would, l couldn't
get it out of him !"
swell, / never didr remarked the
guest.
at did seem as ef 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 uothin' for me. He Of
feIed 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
dollar and half for him. AS for the
specs, brother Lyman fished 'em up with
a long pole with crooked pin hitched
on to the end ont. The glasses was
broke, but the frames is good yet. I'm
calkilatin' to get 'em mended when"
"Wonder how much the feather bed
III 90 forh 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 KEEP house for forty year,
and never had nothin' new. / don't
s'pose an auction sale will pay, but what
else could do with all the old duds;
Squire Daggett wants possession of the
place at once, and
"Ain't gwine to sell these ERE house
plants, be ye?" said Miss ketcuum, nod.
ding 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 new coat
of paint q year ago. give one J'rusa
lem cherry-tree TO Abigail Barton fo
helpin' me to clean out the old cup
boards She's been dreadful neighborly
and she wouldn't take penny for wha
she did"
"More fool she" curtly observed Mis-
Ketchum. "rd like that thar MONTH,
rose with the striped blooms on it.
at is pretty said Mrs. Grigson, ig
noring the broad hint. "And l CUES
it i'll sell cheap. I'd like some friend Il
hev it, for the slip it growed from wa
give me by Grigson the very first yea
we were married" "
And as she was not invited to stay h
tea, Miss Ketchum at last went away
leaving Mrs. Grigson sitting sorowfult