Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-10-14
AUNT MARGARET'S DREAM.
An Old Miser's Sudden Trans
formation.

A very quiet, orderly household we
were at the farm after that wild. frol' G.
some, noisy Joe had gone back to his
city life. He had only dragged through
month and half of the summer at
the dear. delightful old country home
when he declared the whole place a
bore, but in truth it had only been
bored by him. and packing up once
more he went back to his work in the
city, leaving verything more peaceful
for his absence; all, perhaps, except
two anxious, yearning hearts thatwere
fast growing sorrowful and old-one
the mothers, the other fathers. But
little the high-spirited boy thought of
that the morning he drove away from
the old farm gate; rs spirit, like the
pranc ng horse the driver firmly held
in check. was impatient to be of, to be
freed from restra mt. How hurriedly
he told the old folks goodbye, and then
as he dashed away threw kiss from
the tips of his fingers to his sister Nell,
who stood and looked longingly after
him. Oh, brothers, soIs, too little you
care fer the tender, anxious hearts at
home when you set sail upon an un-
tried sea and venture out alone.
Several weeks passed away quietly
and pleasantly, too, except for occa-
sional BITS of news dad news goes
here, there and everywhere, you know
which found the way out to our coun-
try home, that Joe wasn't living Just
as he ought to do rather too fast, too
fond OF drink and sometimes found at
the gaming table. Poor Aunt Mar
garet, it seemed as if her face grew
little thinner. her hair a little whittier
every day after that. / shall never for
get how she looked one morning as we
all sat around the breakfast table.
Pushing herplate away, having scarcely
tasted the food upon it, she said, look
ing up at uncle, who was himself in
danger of falling into a brown study
over his smoking mullins and steaks:
Husband, couldn't you spare q little
time to run up to the city in a day or
twoP 1 fear that things are going
was queer dream had last night"
and here she leaned her head upon her
hand and looked down thoughtfully.
IL thought that Joseph was standing
on precipice at fearful height above
black, yawning sea, and that we were
powerless to help him, but when |
reached out my hand and shricked for
aid an ugly little dwarf came in sight,
and, in answer to my entreaties, he
said there was only one way to save my
boy, and that was money; but even
that effort would cost me the life of my
other child, and then, as l threw up
my hands in despair, a beautiful angel
appeared at my side. AT that instant
/ awokc."
Tut, tut; there's nothing in dreams,
wife. What could there be in such
nonsense as thatp" and uncle went on
slipping his coffee, while Nellie glanced
toward me with strange, serious ex-
preston on her face, and then, with a
cheerful smile ut her mother, she said:
Never mind. mother; you know tits
said that Dreams must go by contrarics,
and If so, Joseph is going to make us
very happy about something"
Aunt Margaret shook her head sadly,
but nothing more was said about the
dream. think, however, it did not
quite pass out of anybody's mind, for
the massive old door knocker resound-
ed through the house. we all started
nervously. A sigh of relief went round
when Andrew returned to say that 1t
was Mr.. Wells to see Miss Nellie. Poor
Nell, think she had been longing for
something to break the monotony of
the day; she might have been glad If
it had only been any other visitor than
Mr.. Wells. Uncle Ben sat in his big
arm chair reading the paper, but in no
way ignorant of what was passing
around him, so Nell did not dare re-
fuse to go into the parlor. Mr.. Wells
was neighbor farmer, you must un-
derstand. Pray don't let your imagin-
alton rush off into picturing some rus
tic young gallant of tender years and
sentimental heart. No; such is not
the beau who comes counting our Nell
lie to-day. There he is-a lank, grim
visaged little man, slightly stopped
about the shoulders. bending be-
meath the weight of the sixty
years he had lived through, / guess.
His thin, white hair hung in a most
neglected fashion about his neck and
ears, and the long white beard, flowing
down upon his breast. added not lit
tie toward making up the appearance
of a patriarch. Wait minute. worse
than all this, he was a most miserable
miser, and had already been twice mar
rid. and how cosald ho dnro ant hin