The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-04-02
DfsIynERIrED JOE.

My Aunt Josephine was such q
clever woman There seemed to be
nothing under the sun that she could
uot do. Certainly there wasn't on a
fancy farm. From raising colts down
10 cultivating prize dahlias she could
not be matched. She did everything
So easily, too; was so jolly comforta-
bile III all her ways-why, boy could
not help hanging around her.
was like her in some things;
wasn't named after her for nothing.
liked to turn my hand To lots OF
things, though ] wanted fun in 'em.
A,id ] did like to take life easy Jo-
.cpi III. Wingate. that's as near TO Jo-
seDh.ne II. Wingate as you could ex-
pcct n boys name To be. II seems my
parents had talked of naming me Jo-
sophia; i am glad they didn't The
boys would have been sure To call me
Sissy. whereas l now flourish under
the sturdy name Of joe
My aunt was immensely rich. OF
cour.e, i wGs to be her heir That was
understood in our family. Mother
would Always say ''Sh T. when talked
of il bol..ly, Int her eyes would glis-
ten proudly i.ist the same. More than
once. too, I'd overheard her talking
with some acighbor about my wealthy
sister-in-law, the widow without chill.
drcn, for whom Joseph was named.
And father seemed to let me off easier
on chores and such things. He knew,
OF course, that some time better fortune
would como to tue family through me.
We wercn't very well-to-do. We
had 10 ''scrlpe along, as father said,
a nd mn .s.sfl. 90
But both f3ther aud mother took
things cheerily; they understood that
il wasn't tn las: on in this way always.
There were six of us boys, and father
was a printer. tell you. it was a
comical sight TO see. sometimes, the
long legs and arms stretching out of
the overgrown aud patched up suits
OF five of fem. But | never looked
that way, because ! was named for
Aunt Josephine. ] used To comfort
EN-, specially when j got off easy OH
my share OF the work. by telling what
! could do for 'cm when came into
my property.
spent my summer vacations with
Aunt Josephine every yearafter | was
10 years old. 6ile wouldn't have mo
come before. because she said ] wasn't
old enough 10 study up" didn't
t$t[big hnOW Will tistl fIltanL Ilen.
bat | believe found out afterwards.
Aunt Josephine was queer, though
80 clever She used to go about her
work on the farm in thick. short
gray dress and a straw hat that looked
like a mans, aud her hair was bobbed
up into little knot behind She had
- htout figure and eyes that looked
right into .yot. Sbo really scened
more like man than q woman. About
her work. mean. Bat when work
was done. she'd fix herself up in silk
dresses and the lady of the White
Hourc couldn't nc grander.
was like her that way, too. liked
to rough it ut play; but could do JUS
tice To smart suit IN the proper place
better than any hoy knew OF. Those
slits game pretty hard on father, but,
of coursc, lie kpew they We're due me.
Il was funny, but Aunt Josephine
didn't take u, those suits as npe would
suppose she would. ''s
Once she said 10 me, with sniff Of
her nose:
Seems 10 rue, sir (she always said
sir instead of joel, your father dresses
you better than he does the other
boys"
"oh. yes. lpa'am; why shouldn't
hef j answered.
''Eumpb:a = was all that she had to
say then.
How .cveled in Aunt Josepline's
Strawberries, plump cherries and
golds;i raspb.rriesi Those summers /
spent with her were constant picnic.
Nothing TO do but eat and play. She
tended ihc fruits herself. She wouldn I
trust amy Of the men, but was mp early
every morning wedding or taking pre-
cautions against the bugs.
.sfhat's right, aunt" said once.
III you want thing done we'll you
must do il yourself.
do you live up TO TINT principle,
sira she asked sharply.
why. 40 ma am; I'm not Obliged
TO, said |.
''Humphr' exclaimed my aunt.
i said WAS rs foud of doing lots of
things as my Aunt Josephine, but
think Inad.. it understood Il was the
things that lad plenty of fun in 'em.
There wasn't a fellow who could play
cricket better, or swim, or shoot; or In
fact do anything that required a steady
arm or long leg.
! Once Aunt Josephine drew me up
before her. and with her gray eyes
liked upon me keenly, asked:
do you manage TO have a pretty
good time at school, sir2"
Yes. ma'am. answered; master.
he's little deaf, and he's near sighted,
too, and that gives us boys good
chance"
Don't get as high rank as your
brothers, do your
''Of course not. What's the need r.
'Humphi" she exclaimed again.
But know, il she didn't say so. that
she wanted me to enjoy myself Many's
tho time she's said to some one OF the
men when had been asked to do BIZ
of an GRAND.
On, let the boy alone, unless he is
] willing. Somebody else can be sent
vi course she was thinking that
did not need to be a worker.
Once she asked me what 1 liked do
ing the best of anything.
Peppering tom cats, answered,
promptly.
What in the worlds that7''
On, Dick Hawley and l take oul
popguns and go up Cat alley-that's Z