The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-11-30
Written especially for this paper.
AUNT JORIB.
A Thanksgiving Sketch.
MATTE C. CAMPBELL.

MATTE c. CAMPBELL.
She was a very disagreeable aunt. She
came regularly every Thanksgiving, to
make us a visit. and so surely as the year
came round we knew that Aunt J0riD and
chaos, on a small sale, might be expect
ed, for she had a mania for arranging fur
niture and she was never in the house an
hour before she had Il new scheme going.
One year she would insist that mother
might make more 70 m in the little. old
study by a re -arrange lent of the book
shelves; the next, she would see them
safely back in their old quarters. Once,
she hectOred mother into changing the
place of the family medicines, and then
there was confusion for II while; and
once, never forgotten in the mem ,ry of
our family, she insisted on making a
mOck-mince pie for dessert. instead of the
real art Gle. She had never made One,
but her native confidence, a thing that
never, for a moment deserted her, be-
guilel easy-going mother into thinking
that, perhaps, after all, Aunt JOrib was
in the = ght, that the health Of he dear
children was being slowly undermined
by the da nty pies and cakes which
mother always managed to give us on
Thanksgiving. and which would have
added the needed touch to our home cheer
md comfort, lad not our happiness al
ways been married by the presence of
Aunt Jorib; she gained her point, and the
result of her attempts was to replace hat
expensive luxury which Is usually com
posed of everything rich and, to Aunt
J0ribs mind, fndigestible, with one Of her
''mock mince pies.
Well, the pie was made, the hour came
and we drew up to the table with not a
few fears, for money did not grow among
the roses in our garden, and we usually
depended on mothers exquisite art in the
cookery line to make up to US in quality
all that we lacked in variety,
The turkey was fine. 20 was the cram
berry sauce, Soon, too soon, we came to
the pie, or rather the pie came to us, for
it was brought in by our worthy domestic,
who also bore upon her cOuntenance, a
trace of sarcasm. One by one, we tasted
and ran. Aunt Jorib, alone, was left.
We had the satisfaction of hearing her
at the wrong closet after the peppermint
during the night, and as most of us had
gone through with the same experience
during the removal" of the family reme-
dies, we knew just how to %sympathiZe
with her! We decided that she must have
eaten too much pie.
But lit is a long lane which has no
turning" inc we have each and all lived
to bless Aunt Jorib.
This change, l am happy to state,
came about during her last visit to us. 1t
began in this way. Helen, Tom and l
were en- Dying the last week before
Thanksgiving as much as we could, for
we expected Aunt Jorib the neXt week,
and enjoyment anc Aunt Jorib rarely
spent Thanksgiving together.
Cne day we were talking together,
while Helen and | were busy with her
sewing. for she would hire nothing done.
We'll" essayed Tom, from the old
couch which occupied the ''cozy corner
of the sitting-room, Il suppOse our below
ed aunt will be along soon. Better nail
the furniture to the floor, Yell, if you
want to use it for the wedding"
My sister was silent. She had said lit
| tie to any of us since she decided to mar
ry Mr.. Bonnet.
ssTom, do GO away..'' 1 cried. 'Your
| Aunt Jorib ever did. Sc what a mess
you are making of the curtain"
Curtain, indeed. How much longer
do YOU think the old thing will see SER
vice? I'll tear it down, myself, one of
these days.
| tried to stop him, but what boy of six
teen can take a silent hint?
.'What do you mean Oh, hang it. 1
suppose Aunt Jorib is a saint, now, and I
am nowhere. 1t is really wonderful how
the love of shekels grows upon 49,"
{ waited to see what Helen would do:
she slowly rose and left the room, at
which light began to dawn upon Tom.
II say. Judy, I've done it now, l sup
pose. Why can't a fellow keep from say
Ing the wrong thing?"
81 am sure | do not know" cried !,
desperately. "What a dreadful thing it
is TO lie as poor as we are. How 1
wish"
Say it, my dear Judy. How you wish
Aunt Jorib would Shu lie o 1 this mortal
coil. and-,eave her money to an orphan
asylum"
Il would wish anything" l cr:ei. des-
perately, that would make US all happy
again. Here is mother, worried to death
about the bills, and Helen Icing sold
yes, sold to pay.off the debts, and break
ing Ter dear. proud heart over it. o, dear!
what a world"
Ny remarks were cut short by a shrill
voice which certainly sounded like Aunt
Jorib's. She had undoubtedly come in on
the last train. 1t had been the custom of
our royal family to absent Our elves upon
her arrival, unselfshly. as is the manner
of children, Sinking the burden of her
reception upon mother; but this time, at
least, we must face 1t out There was
one consolation, however. Tom, who
was generally so acute, must face her.
also.
why will you persist. Catharine. in
placing the hall-rack at that side? l NOV
ed it the very last time l was here, but"
in an in. ured tone, II see you do not rely
on my judgment. AS | haze told you
often and often. - she hal. indeed--'I ar
ranged the furniture in the new orphan
asylum. and it has proved a satisfactory
ar--Why, how does il happen that this
is still used for the family sitting-room?
[ thought we arranged that last winter.