Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-04-18

to sin; and Jest az we was a turning of
the corner of the lane a comiog home
We came across an ino ffeLsive COW lying
right across the road; and what did j cd
do but give her good kick for being in
the way. Thet ERE toll the hull story
TO me-, said aunt Mirandy, "for man
that would i'll treat dumb critters,
wouldn't be over and above coed to his
wife nuther." Aunt Mirandy said fur
Their for she was terrible fnickinR) that
she couldn't and wouldn't set at the
same table with man that had the ag-
2revatin' way OF eating cowcumbers that
Jed had; and "Jabe," said she, "what did
he care FOR humbiy Old me?' (she was
dretful pain featured), che was after my
money and good snug home; and Just
told him | couldn't have 10 man a
tromping through my clean kitchen, a
trackin' in mud aEd lettin' in flies, 20
eont him of with flea in his ear. jed
said ne thought | Was rather harsh on
him, aud no didn't mean no barn, and
any woman ought to feel mplimented
at seech an offer. | told him | saru't
like the other wimmen of his acquaint-
auce, and Jed sed be guessed he'd better
be q goiu', as il looked like rain. | ed
vised him 10 start right away before he
was overlook, and wet to the skin, and
| tell you, Jabe, "said she, che never came
botherIn' of me egin."
Aunt was shrewd and somewhat suspi-
oions, but she was real fond OF Thank full.
Thankful was very useful around the
house, and glad of so good a home, ar d
so she and aunt Mirandy got along fust
rate together. When 1 was 33 came ont
to California TO make my fortune, and
before | started | went to Woodburu to
hid the folks good by, and / stayed ovsr
Sunday, and was glad | did, for I never
saw the old lady agin. The second year
after | came 10 the diggins, 1 got long
letter from Thankful giving me the par
ticulars of Aunt Mirandy's death.
Thankful wrote that one Saturday,
along about the middle of December. her
aunt said she wonld have to go to Water
town To zee to a little business, and she
wanted TO see the doctor, too; for aunt
always feared that she had heart disease
and the Watertown doctor always helped
her more tnan any one else. Thankful
tried to pursuade the old lady to stay at
home, for it was fearful cold day aud
the ground was like iron from the second
hard frost, and it looked rs though in
it wouldn't be long before it began TO
snow The old lady was sorter cranky
like, and wanted her own way, and
wouldn't listen to any thing that Thank
full had TO say but told her to have
Timothy Tubbs hitch up the old mare
aud they would start right off Thankful
wrapped aunt up in her big clock and
boa, and tied on her bnnnit for her, and
put hot prick in the chaise, and about
II O'Clock ,she and Timothy started, and
along about they came back in driving
snowstorm, aud the old lady seemed just
about spent when she came in.
Thankful had blazing fire and a good
cup of strong tea all ready, and after
aunt MiraLdy got warm she kinder chick
ed up like and was real lively and enter
tanning, and she gave Thankful CHERRY
colored neck ribbon that she'd bought for
her in Watertown. Thankful asked If
she'd good luck with her business and
the old lady said "partly so,' but she
didn't SEQ the doctor, for he'd gone TO a
funeral over in Danqury aud would be
/ home for a week At s O'Clock she told
! Thankful to lock up aud they would go
/ to bed, for she was completely tuckered
out Aunt Mirandy made Thankful 90
first, for she said she had something to
/ see 10, so Thankful said good night and
went upstairs to her little room.
It was a bitter cold night, with a high
! shriekiug wind, and the trees groaned
and the house shook in the blast, and
along toward l O'Clock the wind sorter
died away and Thankful dropped into a
sound sleep and didn't wake until long
| past her usual time. In the morning
when old Ennioe (the hired gal) called
/ Thankful To breakfast, thankful found
out that Aunt Alrandy hadn't come out
of ner room yet; so when Thankful went
into her aunt's room TO call her she found
the old lady lying outside of the bed, with
her clothes all on jest as she'd leit,her the
night before. Thankful ran out and
called old Eunice, and the two gals to-
gether couldn't rouse Aunt Mirandy, VINO
was. stiff and cold. Timothy got the
Woodbury. doctor there as soon as he
could, and he said the old lady had been
dead, for hours, and that she had died of
heart disease and that her death was
FASTENED by her going out into the bitter
GOLD on the day before, but from the
peaceful expression OF her countenance
he said her death was no doubt painless,
and that was great comfort to poor
Thankful, who felt dreadfully to think
that her aunt had died all alone.
Wen tsey had big funeral. All our
folks went over, and after Aunt Miraudy
was laid away, in the cold and frozen
grave, on the bleak and barren hillside,
along with the rest of her kin, they came
back 70 the house to hear the will read.
Thankful's pa found out who Aunt Mir
andy's lawyer was. The lawyer said Aunt
Miraudy had brought her will home the
day before she died, 20 make some alte--
atoms in it. Well, they hunted the score
tary through, and her workstand aud
| every available place; but no will do they
find; and Tnankfurs pa jest asked the
lawyer, what was ia the Will anyway? but
The lawyer wouldn't make any disclosures,
but said probably the law would allow
Thankful TO stop on until the will was
found, but If it never turned up, until
she heir-iu law, the scalawag uncle, could
be hunted up.
Well, the law decided that the two gals
was to stay on, and the expense of their
keep was to come out of the estate. II
was long, cold winter, and ~ cold spells
| vha two oaIs sparghed for the will which