The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-01-03
BACKYARD STUDIES.
Aunt Matnda's Observations from
Her Back Window.

w hen Aunt MaLllGA came W NAS4I
us and insisted on having back
room, we were greatly disappointed.
fer sister Matte and Ihad spent weeks
of our precious vacation time in max
ing all sorts OF pretty nothings to
beautiiy the guest-chamber for her
occupancy. We had not seen Aunt
Matilda for ten yeara- In that time
Matte and l had grown from little
girls to young ladies in our teens and
members of the high school The
principal things l could remember
about Aunt Matilda were her pretty
gray curIs and gold-rimmed glasses,
and that when she visited Us l always
had on fresh. white pinafOre, and she
would say 20 me:
Come here, my dear. and let me
wipe my glasses on your clean apron "
Very proudly would comply with
her request. for We considered 1t a
great honor TO wear any thing clean
enough TO come IN contact with her
polished gold spectacles Then when
she had used ono corner Of the pima
fore so carefully as not 20 leave q rum
pie she would pass her plump, warm
hand over my curls and say:
What n tall girl you are growing,
Hetty, my child L hope you are a
good girl at school and always mind
your teacher
And | would answer: YES, ma am, :"
very timidly and go back 10 my seat
on n high, hair-covered chair, where L
would make n desperate effort 70 sit
straight and keep from sliding OF.
Father had moved West-sway out
to Colorado-and. as l said. We had
not seen Aunt Matilda for ten years
when we received the welcome news
that she was coming 10 pay US vislL
and we all resolved not to let her go
away from Us again il We could help
it Perhaps this was the. reason We
had taken such extra pains with the
guest chamber. l know. when Il was
all finished, Matte and / surveyed it
with what We hoped was pardon
able pride We had coaxed from
papa a new bedroom suit of polished
oak which, with its broad mirror OF
plate glass, shonc graudly in the sun
light which streamed in through the
curtains OF the yellow china silk The
big, plush-cushioned patent rocker
was resplendent in draperies Of hand
painted silk, while the wicker chairs
displayed their fine linen and satin
ribbons, and even the ottoman was
fine in silk embroidery. AS for the
bed-well, it was simply lovely!
Shams were not out of date then. and
ours were marvels of fine lace and the
Chinese laundry art-and the pret-
ttest yellow satin bows in n corner oi
each! The lace spread over quilt oi
yellow silesia, and the scarf OF crazy
work in silk and velvet completed the
ravishing picture.
When Aunt Matilda came Matte
and l had the honor of escorting her
to this chamber OF state and. you may
be sure, we watched furtive1y 10 see
how it impressed her
Perhaps We were the more anxious
because we knew she had opposed
fathers coming West, and we wanted
TO impress her with the financial sue
cess Of the move, and co show her that
truly aesthetic taste dwelt even as fan
west as Colorado
LET me take of your wraps, auntie,'
said Matte, setting her little handbag
on the floor by the dresser. and going
up TO Aunt Matilda, who stood looking
about in hesitating manner.
''Wait n minute, my dear-let me
tell you something you won't mind
if your old auntie is frank with you, !
know. I've lived over sixty years, my
dear. and I've found that in the end
it always pays to be frank with your
III I -,
me to feel perfectly at home here. and
this room is very beautiful-yes very
beautiful indeed-but It is too large
and fine for n simple old lady like me
Don't you see l couldn't really sit
against any Of these handsome
draperies-it would be sure TO muss
them-and l shouldn't feel the
least bit at home here. I've lived q
very plain. quiet life, you know. Now,
girls, if you We a little coy back room
somewhere. with just plain furniture.
so that wouldn't ieel that 1 was muss,
ing any thing, l should enjoy it SC
much"
In vain We protested that nothing
WAS too nice for her to use. and that
we had no other room good enough
for her. She silenced as with a grace
ful, girlish wave OF the hand, and.
shaking the gray curls. said:
Now. my dears. you can not fool
me that way. il / am an old woman.
am first-rate at a game of hide-and-
seek and shall just find a room for
myself In this large house l know
there is a corner for me somewhere "
And sure enough sne stepped
briskly across the hall. and paused be-
fore the door Of back chamber.
Does any one occupy ths?"
Matte shook her head, and cast
despairing glance at me. rs she said:
But IL viii never do at all. auntie.
II Is just little box OF a room. fur
pishcd I'D with odds and ends We