Mohave County miner., 1890-03-22
AUNT SUKEY.
By DORA R. cooDALE.

"Let Albert carry the crock down.
stairs said my mother.
1t was long after dark, but had
JAS come in from the barn, for w
were living ON a farm, and that winter
! had the Eorses to fodder and pigs and
poultry to feed, kindling to split, wood
and water to fetch, and six or eight
cows to milk by the light Of the
lantern. set down the full pals now
and got of my coat, which was alread !
well powdered with snow, and stood
half-dazzled, awkward, raw .boned lad
that was, enjoying the warmth and
holiday air of the Kitchen. II was a
g:eat, dusty room, with high, oak
waiLscot and beams overhead, old
time, six-foot fireplace, brick open
oven and all; and the whole family
was Observation-Disclosures, p!acidly eat
ing his pudding and milk from the
thick blue bowl on his knees, while
Louis lat on the floor sorting beans,
and Esther was hanging the walls with
laurel and ground pine, humming 10
herself as she went.
At the other end of the room old
Aunt Sukey was weighing out suet
and plums with her jolly black hand,
and mother bent over the glowing
stove--poor mother, she was always
behind hand, and her voice was quite
sharp with WEAKNESS, now as she
spoke.
"Albert can carry the crock down
stairs" size repeated.
~ can't 60 down those stairs after
dark; they're not safe, ! observed with
decision.
''Oh, layr, now chile, jes' get erlong
wild ye fer we can't stop fer no argy-
flying, sho'ly," exclaimed Aunt Sukey
in hortatory tone, tossing her head
with Its gay turban till the shadows
danced on the wall. She was standing
before the table, which was heaped
with mofley collection of boxes and
trays, rollers, sifters and graters.
Sukey drew only theoretical line be-
tween what she designated as "de
plant" and eide grejients," but, like all
true artists, while she scorned conven-
tional arrangements she maintained
certain order well known to herself,
and went on choppiEg and shredding
with lofty composure.
81 can't go, tell you," answered,
angrily. 81 should only smash the jar
and break my neck into the bargain y
'4Oh, snucks, now" burst out Sukey,
with more alarming voice and fall
Ing into a somewhat broader pathos.
"Any one tink you was afraid O.
ha'nts, an You too nigh man to be
rat skeery, sho'ly. Dis yer jar got to
git down dere somehow, IL ole Sukey
hab ter tote iton her back and here
she glared at me vindictiveIy.
"Come, hold candle then, Estie,"
said !, with assumed authority.
"Oh, nonsen'e, run along, Al, L
don't dare stand in that cold entry
answered Esther, impatiently. "You
IAN do 1t well enough, and don't YOU
see that every one else is busyS"
She looked over her shoulder and
made q mouth at me as she spoke.
Just sixteen. Esther was-less than
TWO years older than land pretty and
tull of spirit. She was standing on
iptoe having to fasten an evergreen
wreath around the great face of the
;lock; and the scent of the freshly
broken boughs spread through the |
Kitchen. Her face was flushed, and all |
her long light hair hung down un-
,raided.
Very well, then; the jar can wait |
i'll morning" threw myself into q |
hair and began eating fried cake.
Why, de Lawd knows we amt got |
ie caDd e-grease to waste fer dis yer
'berlastin' foolishness. If dem
grejients don't get toted of right spry |
ieys agwine to spile sho; an den we |
ha-an't hab nuttin' ter fatten up dem
'eak-faced Simonse,. Jes' you say de
word now and elar him outen here.D
'ried Aunt Sukey, looking at my
mother with that despotic air that
me that Nature fayors some
orms of absolute monarchy.
My mother was one of those gentle,
dependent souls rare in New England, |
ybo, finding her lot cast amid q race
Il iron-clad housekeepers, clung to this
amily anchor with blind confidence.
md if Sukey had pronounced that
loney would sour, or miDcemeat was
ikely TO explode in the p: ocess of bak-
ng, she would have received the ora
lie with becoming submission. .Go,
Albert" she said, ..you hear me! Go
md take care"--at the same time cast
ng iimid, entrcating glance from
be ambush of Aunt Sukey's shoulder.
"Oh, very well, it's your lookout il
come to grief" said ], in an uBgra-
ious underlonc, seizing the disputed
ar, great five-gal!on crock. with a
udimentaiy ear on either side, while
.s'her began to dance reel, and
'ukey struck up, ''Oh, de good ole
hariofs passin' by" rolling out the
horus with great unction.
The little dark buttery was filed
nth good things. but stalked through
In anything but Christmas humor.
he cellar stairs were narrow and steep,
ie jar heavy and slippery; and / was
Dnscious of half-formed resolve TO
now Aunt Sukey for once that she
nd made mistake in her Mercury.
Jes' aggravatin'ness,p commented her
oice from the other room. followed
y rich, mellow laugoand ref ain
!, "Roll. Jordan, roll" Here my
,ot slipped bit on the stairs, and,
stead Of nerving myself to regain