Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-01-05
AUNT JANE.
What She Did to the Scamp" She
Found Under Her Fed.

Found Under Her Fed.
1have met persons who stoutly main
tain that they have distinct recollec-
ton of things that occurred when they
were but three or four years old. l
can not remember SO far back in my
own career as that. but l can very
well remember the first time saw my
Aunt Jane, and | was not quite six
years old at the time.
But my Aunt Jane was a lady who
usually made lasting impressions on
those whom she met. / remember that
my mother had said. while subjecting
me to a severe course of scrubbing and
cleaning and hair-combing before she
came: Now, Bonnie, you must keep
yourself as clean and tidy as you can
until Aunt Jane comes. and after she
gets here, too. She can't bear dirty
little boys. and she would speak about
it if she saw you with dirty hands or
face"
This did not PROPOSES me in Aunt
James favor. since l had genuine
boyish contempt for soap and water
and combs.
Mothers injunction escaped my
mind, and l was in the full enjoyment
of my sixteenth mud-pie. when my
sister Betty came to the back door and
cried out, excitedly: Come right in.
Bonnie; Aunt Jane is here
Then l remember meeting tall,
thin woman with very black eyes and
thin, gray hair. She wore long
black cloak. or circular. and high.
''sky-scraper' bonnet, the front of
which was filled with red and blue and
yellow and pink and white flowers.
1t had strings and ''streamers' of wide.
vail, with figures in silk around the
edge, was thrown over the whole bon
net. Aunt Jane was kissing each one
through this vail. When l put up my
face she threw up her lace-mittcned
hands and said: Mercy goodness on
us. What dirty little boy. Don't
come near me with such hands and
such face. child!'
Thus abused and rebuked, with
drew to the more agreeable compan-
ionship of my mud pies. and there re-
manned until Betty came out. again to
present me to Aunt Jane, after had
gone through the dctested process
called ~ good cleaning up"
l. al.
green satin bonnet and the black cir
cular when / was next ushered into
her presence. and was sitting in state
on our parlor sofa. wearing shiny
black silk dress flounced to her slender
waist.
Now" she said. "you look like
something. How freckled your
nose is. And you're a Kennedy out
and out. Freckles run in the Kennedy
family. hope you are good boy.
but doubt it. Good boys are mighty
scarce nowadays. and don't like the
way your nose turns up; it means mis-
chief"
l could not have remembered all
this had l not heard my parents telling
it to others and laughing over it many
times afterward.
Five minutes after our affectionate
meeting. was ordered out of the room
by Aunt Jane. who announced that she
intended taking nap on the sofa; and
mother was hidden to keep the house
perfectly still until Aunt Jane should
awake.
NY mother says that when she was
tucking me away in my bed that night
manifested sufficient interest in Aunt
Jane to ask how long she expected to
STAY Mt our house; and she adds that
looked very sober and downcast at her
reply.
..Aunt Jane has come to stay always
with u.s." she told me. This is to be
her home, and we must make it as
pleasant as possible for her. She was
very good and kind to your papa when
he was q little boy. and now We must
be good and kind to her"
Iought perhaps, to have said before
that Aunt Jane was not my ''for true
aunt" as l called it; she was the
widow of my fathers uncle.
From the day Of Aunt James arrival
was. in many respects. changed
bow. / had several brothers and sisters
Younger and older than myself. and
VIC had NO servant Mother could not
give NJ the attention needed TO keePm
tidy = all timea Aunt Jane took this