Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-05-21
AUNT POWLE.

AUNT POWLE.
Mother, motherl there's a strange
lady coming up the pathl'
Mrs. Peck, the Woodworking wife Of
hard-working rmer, was dishing
the dinner, after a morning spent at
the wash-tub.
She was tired and discouraged. The
old speck,ed hen, sacrificed to the daily
emergencies of eating and drinking,
had absolutely declined to boil soft;'
the pot-pie was heavy as lead. Little
Kitty, to whose charge the baking OF
the drie"-apple pie was left, had for
gotten herself In the encha! ting pages
Of story, and the pie was blackened
after a most unappetizing style.
The lid Of the cistern was broken,
and as the baby persisted in directing
his creeping Investigations toward that
part of the compass, two chairs and 4
wash-tub had been piled upon 1t, VIII ch
barricade having 10 be removed every
time a pail of water was necessary,
naturally increased the complications;
and when Tom and Tilly and Lefty
came scurrying n with the news of an
impen ling guest, Mrs. Peck stood
aghast.
Company she cried. And on
washing-iay, of all the days of the
weekI
Ma whispered Kitty, tell Tom to
say you amt at home. It's what Squire
Sellou's wife says when she don't want
to see COMPANY
1T would be lie,' mysteriously ut
tered Lefty.
SO il would said Mrs. Peck, jerk
ing The tablecloth straight, and cycling
two unconpromls ng grease spots with
a perturbed gaze. well, we've just
got TO make the best of it. Father III
be in from the fields directly, and IN
Gle Ned from the blacksmith shop. AMI
lame Peter from the store, and the
school teacher, and the chore boy. Oh,
Kitty, why did you let the pie burn?'
AT that moment Lefty appeared
upon the scene, ushering IN a stout g,
short-built, elderly lady. with a gay
printed shawl over her shoulders am a
fat leather bag in her hand.
Mrs. Peck bowed.
The elderly lady dropped business
like courtesy.
DO 1 speak to Mrs. Pepper Feck?'
said she.
That is my name acknowledged
Mrs. Peck.
Mine is smith, said the other wo-
man.
How do you do Mrs. Smith?' said
Mrs. Peck. BE seated, if you please.
Il suppose you don't know what We
come about, saId Mrs. Smith, with a
shrewd twinkle of the eyes.
We'll, no. admitted Mrs. Peck
H.,
abouts. And I'm free to say l amt
acquainted with them all
Il come from New York State said
the stranger.
We'll, l suppose there's considerable
Peck. Lay off your things, ma am,
and eat a bit of dinner with u.s.
Il don't mind II | do said the
woman. I've walked frcm the ST.
ton, and | didn't make but light
breakfast
Mr.. Peck arrived presently "a stout,
good-humo' ed farmer, Uncle Ned hob
bled in. He was nObody's uncle III
particular; but, us he was bad with
rheumatism, and had no one TO care
for him, and had once been crony OF
Mrs. Peck'S father, lie naturally drifted
into this h1spitabls household.
He slept in garret bedroom al
night, and sat over the fire in the
blacksmithy by day. lie had often
been heard TO say that if he had any
money he would leave 1t to Mrs. Peck.
But the fact that he had no mon-y
somewhIt impaired the weight of this
assertion.
Lame Peter was the orphan of al
old friend OF Mr.. Peck's. who did uI
parcels in the village store, and came To
The Peck kitchen for his meals, because
he had nowhere else 10 go.
The district chool-ma'am, one Miss
Talbot, also came s.mperIng III. She
had anticipated the whole of one years
salary TO settle the debts of a ne'er- do
well brother, aud as she could not pay
any board, it seemed quite natural tIal
she should stay with The Pecks.
AS for the chore-boy, who drove the
COWS home, and played marbles, and
weeded the onior-patch, and played
peg top, and frightened the crows out
of the cornfeld, and played ia kstraws
his board did not sig IIfy one way oI
the other sa i kindly Farmer Peck.
One 10y one they settled into their
seats at table, and began 10 eat.
Mrs Smith looked around, with
rather surprised eyes.
keep boarders, eh?' said she.
La, no. said Mrs. Peck, who, with
the laby in her lap, was helping Lame
Peter to plenty of gravy with his
chicken leg.
We don't keep no boarders,' said
good-natured Pepper Peck, lock ng
beamingly around the table. We might
perhaps in summer, if we had any rooms
to spare. But we don't. These is all
our own folks. P'raps you're selliu'
sew IN machines, ma'am?'
No, amt, said Mrs. Smith.
"A book-agent, may be?'
No
MIR. Peck coughed and looked be-
wildered. Mrs Peck sigma ed him to
let the new arrival break her fast il
pease.
Ma, ma whispered Tommy. the
youngest and smallest of all, there
amt no chicken in my gravy
Hush, Tommy!' said TIlly, who was
the Martha numbered with many cares
of the family. Break in little bread
The chicken didn't quite go around
Il suppose now you're wondering
what brought me here,' said Mrs.
Smith. accepting a salt green pickle