Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-09-12
A BLACK SHEEP.
BY PAULINE PHELPS,

Aunt Ann stood in the doorway, look
ing at me doubtfully. IT don't know
about letting her take it, Moses" she
said. at seems as if girl of thirteen
ought to be old enough, and if it was
Milly shouldn't think of worrying.
But never saw Bertha's beat for care
lessness. AS Mis- Stevens said yester-
day, she's the black sheep of the family,
and always will be-"
I had heard this last remark often
enough to grow hardened to it, and
never dreamed of taking offence. But
Uncle Moses, who had prophesied, years
before, that I'd "make somethin', some
time" and still held to that opinion, put
down the dipper to say, with more than
ordinary emphasis: "You let her takeit,
Ann. 'Tain't more'n a mile cross-lots,
and the money'll git there jest as safe as
If stopped in the middle of haydn to
go !" ------
''It's better to leave the haying over a
day than to lose thirty dollars" sighed
Aunt Ann, sepulchrally. "But you'll
have your own way about it, whatever 7
do or say. Only want you to remem-
Der if anything happens, Moses, who it
was that sent her"
"Wa-al," hastily assented Uncle Mo-
ses, as he started for the hay field. That
one word was a great favorite of his.
He used it in the affirmative and mega
tive; to express pleasure or vexation /;
when Ann scolded or the COW kicked
over the milk pail. Once, when at the
age of four, distinguished myself by
falling head first into the spring and
crawling out unaided, he was startled
into the incredulous ejaculation, "Wa-al,
Wa-al" but that deviation never oc-
CURED again.
Aunt Ann, deprived of one listener,
turned to me. 'Idon't know but what
it is just as we'll for you to co." she ad-
mitted. "We promised to pay for the
COW the fifteenth, and she's particular
to the hour. But wish it was Millie
visiting here, instead of you. Aunt
Augusta is the same relation to your
family as she IS to me, and it wouldn't
surprise me any if she should take il
into her head to do something for some
of you children. do hope, Bertha,
If she inquiries who you are, you'll try
and act SO as not to spoil the chances O.
the rest of the family"
I brushed my hair in way intended
| to express the utmost Indifference t
"Aunt Augusta" her likes and dislikes
Secretly was good deal excited. Eve
since I could remember I had heart
fabulous stories or the benevolence, keen
ness and business capacity of this great.
aunt of ours, who managed every detail
of the large estate herself. And now
instead of gazing on this paragon from
the remote distance of across the church
I was to see her face to face. The even
was of enough consequence in my eye
to justify little extra pains with m
toilet. "Perhaps," hazarded, as
donned my best gloves, ''shell take
fancy to me and give me musical edu
cation.
"She WON'T" declared Aunt Ann
with decision that left no room 70
hope. "She's one of the most particula
women ever saw, and any one she take
fancy to would have to look as
they'd just come out of bandbox. Yo
), could fix up all yeu was mind to, 70
wouldn't have the style to please hel
1t isn't in you. Milly, now, would be
girl after her own heart. I was think
ing the other day, believed I'd try
get her acquainted with Milly."
| gave disguised look at the refet
ton of my thin, brown face and Ian
| body in the glass, and mournfgily d.
cided Aunt Ann was right Oh, dea