Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-04-01

BANG g, whom she had seen only t>yic,
in her life; he was married, she heard
and mad several children; but her grand
relatives knew little of them. Perhap:
this was IN their favor; at all events. il
was with CLEAN of hope that she
wrose to her brother-in-law, letting hel
poverty be again inferred, and asking
for home in her lonely old age. By
retufn of post an answer came, anC
such an answer as could have beer
wrltten only by noble-hearted gentle
mar. He and all his family sent her q
heaity welcome, and promised her q
large share of their love and sympathy
The5 were not rich, he SAID, and could
not 2ffer her any luxuries; but such a.
they had she was truly welcome Il
| share. Through the whole letter there
wasisuch wiring of truth that the heart
of the poor old woman beat with joy,
for she felt that she had found at last
what she mad so long vainly sought.
She was not long in going to them;
and her hopes were more than realized.
They were indeed poor-far poorer than
she lad thought-and many cares and
troubles were pressing heavily upon
then; yet, like the good Samaritan, they
tooh In the weary stranger, and poured
into her wounds the oil of ready SYM
pathy and the wine of generous love.
Since then she has watched them day
by day, and her admiration has grown
witt every hour. She has seen the
father, whose life for the last twenty
years has been one long struggle against
misfortune, brayely carrying bold
front before the world, with ever a
CHEEKY word and smile for his wife and
children; she has seen the delicate
mother patiently bearing her pains and
suferings, and repressing every possible
sign of them, lest they should add to
the already heavy burdens of her dear
ones; and she has seen the children fit
ting like sunbeams through the house,
always busy, always cheerful, always
unSelfish She has known them all but
very short time, yet she cannot wait
any longer; she needs no further proof
of their ster ing worth.
my dear ones"-and aunt Margaret
smiled into our bewildered fearful faces
IL am not poor woman at all, but a
very rich one. Your uncle was not
successful at first. in the days when he
still kept up correspondence with the
old country, and so arose the mistake as
to my poverty, which | was careful
never to explain away; but, after our
children died, and we cared nothing for
money, Fortune, ever capricIous, ia
vored us wonderfully.
''But even had no idea OF the amount
of my husbands wealth till his property
was realised before my return to Eng
land last year. Everything had been
left to me Internationally; and, half
afraid of my responsibility, L resolved
to test my relatives carefully, lest |
should leave the money in undeservlng
hands.
"You know what the result has been
how falsely the metal has rung in so
many instances, and how have found
the true gold at last. Nay, not a wordl"
AS my father and mother strove to
speak "You promised not to interrupt
me. and my story is almost ended.
There is no necessity to enter into busi-
ness details tonight, but | should like
to give you a sketch of my plans, and
see whether you approve. First, 1
thought of buying pretty house some
where in the country, where the sweet
fresh Air might bring the color into
Mabel'S cheeks-lOOking fOndly at my
mother-''and where the girls could ride
about, and have their rose gardens and
strawberry beds and such like You
would find enough to do, Charles. in
acting as my steward; for of course
shall want little ground about the
house. Then Mollie and Esther must
have their season III town, and l will
see that their faces are not their only
fortunes.
81 have left you out in the cold,
Ethel, because l think Fate holds other
things in store for you. AT all events, /
mean to give you ten thousand pounds
on your wedding-day; and have nice
little brOHgham which Is just the thing
for a doctor. Do you think you could
help me to choose a hoTse?"
a year has passed since that never
to- be-fOrgotten night, and our widest
dreams have been realized. Paul and
Ethel are married, and are as happy as
mortals can be. Early in the spring
there is to be gay wedding in the vii
lage church, and a certain Cuthbert
Vernon Is to carry me away to the
stately seat that we can see amid the
tall trees about mile away.
81 know there are very few aunt
Margarets inthe world, "MOllie remarks
wisely; ''but there must be many people
as badly off as we were. and 1t may do
good to remind them that there is al
ways silver lining to the cloud, though
it may be long time in showing itself"
81 am afraid ours sounds very wild
story" say; 'but L only
wish, for others sakes, that 1t were a
more common one"
''At ali events" returns Mollie mis-
sit will impress upon people
the fact that mortals arc very short
sighted, for you must admit you were
rather mistaken in calling aunt Mar
garet THE LAST STRAW "