New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-02-22
AlIa1T' EalLL-Y.
Or Ell for Che E,sss.

In the three kingdoms q blither old maid
than Miss NIilIicent Orme, otherwise
Aunt lIilly, 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 consequently. But the sort of
universal aunthood to the whole neigh
borhood was by no means disagreeable
TO Miss Milly, for in a very little body
she had a large heart, of a most
India rubber nature; not, indeed, as the
sinile is used in speaking of female
hearts that "never break, but always
stretch" But Miss Milly's heart pos
sessed this elastic nature in the best
sense, namely, that it ever found room
for new occupants; and, moreover, it
was remarkable for its quality of eta
cling all unkindness or injuries as easily
as India rubber removes pencil marks
from paper.
Aunt Milly-I have some right to
call 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 figure, and always carried
q pretty little work-bag, in whose mys-
FERROUS recesses the children Of the
neighborhood loved to dive, seldom re-
burning TO the surface without some
pearl Of price in the shape of lozenge
or sugar plum. Her dresses was always
meat, rather old fashioned, perhaps, but
invariably becoming; her soft brown
hair-lt really was brown still-lay
smoothly braided under 2 tiny cap her
white collar was ever snouy; indeed,
Aunt Millys whole attire seemed to
have the amazing quality of never look
ing worn, soiled or dusty, but always
s8resh and new. Yet she was far from
2xioh; as every oneknew; but her income
HxEas enough to suffice for her little self
she lived in a nutshell of house, with
She smallest Of small handmaidens; in
deed, every thing about Aunt Alilly
was on the dirninutive scale. She did
not 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 wept; yet, somehow or other, she
: contrived to infuse hope amid despair,
and in general her blithe nature con-
verted all life's minor evils into things
MOI worth lamenting about.
Every one felt that Aunt Milly's en-
Ggance into their doors brought sun
shine. She was a sunbeam in herself;
there was a cheerfulness in her light
step; her merry laugh, the jingling Of
the keys IN her pocket was musical.
She he'd word Of encouragement for
all, and On inclination to look on the
sunny side of everybody and everything.
No one was more welcome in mirthful
days, no one was more sought form adj
versity 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, I still kept to
the old habit. I came to her one day
with what / consideredmy firstreal sor-
row; 1t was the loss, by a sudden failure
of a 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 Ddilly's cheerful face really grave
I. as she met me with, MY dear boy, I
am very sorry for you"
st is the greatest misfortune I could
have" / cried. "I wish that wretch,
,Sharpless-
sSDon't wish him any thing worse than
he has to bear already, poor man, with
his large family" said Aunt Milly,
gently.
''But you don't know all I have lost.
That Laura" and here I stopped,
looking, without doubt, very miserable,
and possibly very silly.
s'You mean to say, Godfrey, that since
instead Of little fortune to begin the
world with, you have hardly anything
sidG Sill 1llSS ldUId tASubOu WILL 1OU con-
slider that her engagement holds. ex-
peeted it,"
'fOh, Aunt Milly, she is not so mean
as that, but we were to have been mar
ried In two wears, and could have got
q share in Mortlake'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- I will go to
America, or shoot myself~
Glow old are you, Godfrey" asked
Aunt Milly, with quiet smile thatrath-
er annoyed me.
81 shall be 20, next June, said.
Young people always put their age in
Che futher nse; it sounds better.
1T is now July, SO that may call
you 19 and one month. My dear boy,
the world must be a horrible place in
deed, for you to grow tired Of it SO soon.
I would advise you to wait little while
before you do anything SO very des-
perate."
r