Connecticut western news., 1888-02-15
AUNT HULDAHS STORY.


 "Do you suppose I'll get valentine, Aunt Huldshf
 'For mercy's sake, Kittyl" said l, laying down on my lap tho vest upon which was working buttonholes, 'do you never think or speak of anything but valentines at this time of yeari"
 Kitty pouted, and shook her yellow braids-the real corn-stalk yellow that matched her blue eyes as perfectly as if :ome designer in high art had picked them out to correspond.
 "Well, aunty, why shouldn't 1s'' said she. "Just look at those blue-bird darting in and out of the old cedar treel They're twitteriug St valen- ines Day. you may be very sure. Look 1t the crocus-buds peeping out from under the deadsleaves
 "Well," said l. curtly, 'you're aeither blue bird nor . crocus, 50 how would it do if you were to go to work on Lizzie Barrow's now dressf'
 Kitty was . quick-tempered little .hiug from her cradle, and she fired up 1t this rebuke
 'T might have known better than to expect any sort of sympathy from an old naidp' said she, catching up her work basket, and flying out of tho room.
 It was scarcely five minutes, however, before she returned, fearful and peni- tent. ......
 "Aunt Huldsh," said she, 'Tm so sorryl Please kiss mo, and be friends [ didn't mean to call you that-that aamep
 sOh, bless you childl" said I. q don't mind being called an old maid. am one, you know, aud the truth Dughtn't to sting" .
 "But you arc tho dearest, incest, prettiest old maid in the world, Aun, Huldahr' cried the girl, caressingly.
 s'Fiddlesticks said I. 'Pm a. homely as hedges fence, and know it. Now leave off coaxing and fattering, and go about your business!" And Kitty obeyed, singing a snatch out of cloves Young Dream,' for she knew that she was forgiven. Yet the words recurrcd to me ove and over again, as sat stitching there with the yellow February sunshine streaming through tho white, ,curtainet window, and tho blue birds whistlint 10 each other outside.
 Yes, was an old maid, 40 last birth day. It was rather absurd of my prett, niece, Kitty, to expect mo to sympathiz' with her on the question of lovo ani lovers Well, would make the best O it I resolved, and to try to bs as cheer ful as possible.
 'What's for dinner, Aunt Huldsh 2 said Kitty, coming to mo at last
 "Pork and beans. You'll find tn pork in the brine barrel down cellar; b, sure aud pick out nice, sm,ll, squar, piece, and bring the beans to me, an' I'll pick them over. It will save yo time, dear"
 Kitty looked at me, as l sat pickin over the white beans
 s'Aunt Huldah," said she, ''you' v got beautiful profle-you have, in deedl You must have been real prett when you were . girl Aunt Huldah why did you never get marriedr Because Cupid never camc m way" said I, with laugh. "Her are the beans, Kitty. Get them a-soa as quick as possible"
 Just thcn Betsey, MT. Chandler maid, came in.
 Could you lend mo yeast cak, Miss Darwin7' said she. "rve som, how got clean out O yeast cakes. Ane
 Miss Darwin-''
 ''Yes, Betsey."
 "That gray cat O yourn ha, scratche up all MT. Chandler's seed-lcttue ag'inp "You shouldn't have left the colo frame sashes of, Betsey." "Well, p'raps We should an p'ra we shouldn't," remarked the indcpcnt ent Betsey. "But our lettuce. it growth in our own gard en, you kno, ) an it's no way pleasin' to hev the neissl , bors' cats a-haulin' of it outer Il
 ground with their claws. Aud it VI 5 only yesterday week the drattel crcetu broke the glass of the dairy wind oy arter the pans O cream" i, "I am very sorry, Bst.ey," said "but-n
 4 .But I'm notr' flashed back Xii, (Mhosn maternal grandfather had con from County Gsvan, in Ireland, and w] NSsxty had inhsrited' n strain of fl gh , i,aI1l r; t>sSdf Nero bre,
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