Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-02-21
AUNT BATES.

cquinoxial gales.
This slangy generation would style her
a sponge but the sentiment of hos
pitality was strong among the people of
the South in those old days
Aunt Bates had :: fair, faded face that
bore traces OF former beauty, and usually
wore IA lace kcrchcf, disclosing her
withcred neck, because, as she was fond
of telling the girls, hcr 'swan-likc
throat had been the toast Of all South
| Carolina.
AS regarded her character, she posi-
lively refused 10 take Il hint, and nothing
ever put her out of countenancc. She
went from house 10 house, bearing tales.
and would have been Il perfect fire brand
If her reputation had not been so we'll
! known.
1t seemed doubtful If Aunt Bates were
capable of sincere emotion of any kind.
but she seemed TO feel 81 sort of pride in
the beauty OF her two srandncccs, Gym
thia and Laura Lcmarc. They were the
children of her nephew, the son and
namcsakc of her Iavoritc brother, Philiu.
whose praises she seemed never weary of
chanting.
"lloncy," she would say, '.thcrc are
| no men nowadays as fine and handsome
as Philip-and your poor deceased IN
took after him. When | was Girl and
he was baby boy, used to take him out
with me, and, honey, Il handsome young
gentleman sent me Il beautiful copy OF
verses comparing MS TO Venus and Cupid. -"
One fine day Aunt Bates appeared at
ths h.,nN.. # l,. l.. 4,
She was his favoritc aversion, and when
he found she had come To stay he col
lcctcd all the clocks in the house, besides
borrowing several from the mcigiibors.
These he wound and regulated so that
they would strike at all hours of the day
and night, and set them about Aunt
Bates sleeping apartment. It's needless
TO say that her sumbcrs were not ncacc-
full.
Honey" She said, the next morning,
at breakfast, 81 don't think it agrees
with my health to sleep in II room that
has so many clocks in ii, 50 I'll just 20
on to Sabina's. She is always begging
and praying me to stay with her. No
butter, honey, thank you, though lis -
great temptation when its as beautiful as
yours. How do you make il so bcauti-
full, honey: never see any like it any
where else
Shortly after this Mrs. Dalrymplc heard
that Aunt Bates had remarked to another
victim of her visiting mania. "I'm lust
starved for butter, honey, because Ivc
been staying with Jane Dalrymrlc. /
never eat butter at James. She's too fond
of print, honey. These blue stockings
are always poor housckccpcrS."
Aunt Bates went To stay with Sahina
Lcmarc, the mother OF Laura and Cyn-
tina, rs she had announced her intention
Of doing.
Sabina was widow and in reduced
circumstances for when her husband had
died three or four years ago, his affairs
had been found to be i'll the greatest con
fusion. Comparatively little was saved
from the wreck, and Sabina was Obliged
to leave her plantation home and move
into Il little brown house on the outskirts
of Becclvile. 1t was quite mortilica-
| ton 10 Aunt Bates that her favoritc
grandnieces should not he able to dress
as handsomely rs their wealthy cousins;
but small as the house was, il was the
headquarters of all the young people, and
Laura and Cynthia never lacked admirers.
Sabina Was Il swccticmpercd woman.
with fat, dimplcd, cherubc face: but
she confessed that Aunt Bates always
"upsetn her. She groaned in spirit when
Aunt Bates announced chccrfuly:
"rve come to stay Il goud long time,
honey. know you and the dear girls
have been lonely without me-
/ Shortly after Aunt Batess arrival, Mrs.
Lcmarc was called from home by the
illness OF her mother.
''Set your mind at rest, honey" said
Aunt Bates. SRI look after the young
folks, and keep house for you. And, by
the by, though don't like to speak of it,
don't you think it would be Just as we'll
to make the servants sweep under the
beds! There's always a coat of dust as
thick as blanket under every one of
them. OF course, honey, you don't mind
me telling you; for you wouldn't like
strangers calling you an untidy house
keeper"
Mrs. Lemarc's round, sweet face turned
very red, and it was with difficulty she
rcprcssed sharp answer. Aunt Bates $
relatives treated her with great deal Of
generous forbcamnce-alw always saving.
"Oh, she's poor, you know, and has no
home"
II is doubtful whether even legacy
hunters could have endured her impcr-
tincnces, had she been wealthy.
Now that Laura and Cynthia held the
reins, the little brown horse was rave,
4, than ever. One evening they were play
ing blind mans buff, with all it's atten-
dant noise and merriment and aunt
Bates took occasion 10 remark, during q
pause, " Laura, honey, feel it my duty
to write to your dear ma to tell her how
beautifully you are taking care of every
thing. She'll be gratilicd honcy-shc'u
be very much gratiiied." Then she re.
tired 10 the kitchen, and said to Lucinda,
the stout cook. - Lucinda, you had better
send word 10 your mistress to come homo
right away, il she wants to find anything
u left of the house. These young people
are the most torn-down pieces,