Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-08-21
AUNT |. H|lILY;
or An for the Bsst

Aunt Mllly, for so she was universally
called by her nephews and nieces, first,
second and third cousins nay, even by
many who could not boast the smallest
tie OF consanguinity. But the sort of
universal aunthood to the whole neigh
borhood was by no means disagreeable
20 Miss Alilly, for in very little body
,he had "a large heart, of a most
india rubber nature; not, indeed, Us the
iInile is used in speaking Of female
1earts that never break, but always
stretch" But Miss Milly's heart pos
7esscd this elastic nature in the best
sense, namely, that it ever found room
or new occupants; and, moreover, it
xas remarkable for its quality OF eta
ling al unkindness or injuries as easily
IS Intlia, rubber removes pencil marks
from paper,
Aunt Milly-I have some right TO
all her so, being her own nephew,
Godfrey Estcourt-was an extremely
little woman. She had pretty little
features, pretty little feet and hands, a
pretty little fgnre, and always carried
pretty little work bag, in whose mys-
FERROUS recesses the children of the
neighborhood loved to dive, seldom re-
turning TO the surface without some
pearl Of price in the shape Of q lozenge
,r sugar plum. Her dresses was always
.eat, rather old-fashioned, perhaps, but
invariably becoming; her soft brown
aair--it really was brown still-lay
,moothly braided under tiny cap her
white collar was ever snowy; indeed,
Aunt Milly's whole attire seemed to
nave the amazing quality Of never look
ng worn, soiled or dusty, but always
resh and new. Yet she was far from
.ich, as every one knew; but her income
vas enough to suffice for her little self.
she lived in a nutshell of a house, with
he smallest of small handmaidens in
iced, every thing about Aunt Milly
VAS on the diminutive scale. She did
aot abide much at home, for she was
everywhere in request--at weddings,
christeninGs, ETC., Aunt Milly did
not turn her feet from the house of
mourning. She could weep with those
that vept; yet, somehow or other, she
contrived to infuso hope amid despair,
.nd in general her bithe nature con-
yerted all ife's minor evils into things
not worth lamcnting about.
Every one felt that Aunt Milly's en-
rance into their doors brought sun
shine. She was sunbeam in herself
here was cheerfnlness in her light
step; her merry laugh, the jingling Of
the keys in her pocket was musical.
She had word of encouragement for
all, and en- inclination to look on the
sunny side OF Everybody and everything.
No one was more welcome in mirthful
days, no one was more sought for in ad-
7ersity; for she had the quality of max
ing the heaviest trouble seem lighter,
and her unfailing motto WAS, "All hap
pens for the best"
All my school boy disasters were de-
posted in Aunt Milly's sympathizing
ear; and when grew up, T still kept to
The old habit. I came to her one day
with what considered my first real sor-
row; it was the loss, by sudden failure
II Il country bank, of nearly all the few
hundreds my poor father had laid up
for me. My sad news had travelled be-
fore me, and [ WAS not surprised to see
Aunt Milly's cheerful face really grave
rs she met me with, my dear boy, I
am very sorry for you"
1T il the greatest misfortune I could
have" / cried. 81 wish that wretch,
Sharplcss-~'
''Don't wish him anything worse than
ne has to bear already, poor man, with
his large family" said Aunt Milly,
gently
but you don't know all I have lost.
That 'Lsura---" and here / stop ped,
looking, without doubt, very miserable,
and possibly very silly.
"You mean to say, Godfrey, that since
instead Of n little fortune to begin the
world with, you have hardly any thing
1T al, Miss Laura Ashton will not con-
alder that her engagement holds. I ex-
pected it."
''Oh, Aunt Milly, she il not so mean
as that. but We were to have been mar
ried i'll two years, and could have got
share in 1lortlake's office, and We
should have been SO happy. All that is
over now. Her father says she must
wait, and Laura is to be considered free.
Life is nothing to me. / will go to
America, or shoot n1vselfw
How old are you, Godfrey?" asked
Aunt Milly, with quiet smile that rath-
er annoyed me.
Il shall be 20, next June, said.
Young people always put their age i'll
The futher t nse; it sounds better.
1T is now July, so that I may call
you 10 and one month. My dear boy,
the world must be horrible place in
deed, for you to grow tired Of it so soon.
L would advise you to wait G. little while
before you do anything so very des-
perate."
'Aunt Mlly," said I, turning away,
cit is easy for you to talk--you We're
never in love-"
A shadow passed over her bright face,
but Aunt Milly did not answer my il
fusion.
-, II do not think boy Of 10 is doomed
y 10 victim to loss Of fortune or
hopeless love-" said she, after a pause.
''My dear Godfrey, this will be a trial
Of yonr Laura's constancy, and Of your
own patience and industry. Depend
upon it, all will turn out for the best.
ooh" I sighed, lyon talk very well.
Aunt Milly, but what can [ do?"
II will tell you. You are young and
clever, and have been for two years in
good profession, Tt will be your fault