The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-04-26
A SERIOUS MISHAP.
What Came of My Not Attending
Aunt Durgin's Tea.

You never heard about Aunt Durgin's
tea? Well, it was very important tea
TO me; it was the turning-poin of my
whole life.
You see l was young, about sixteen,
and Aunt Durgin was quite old and
queer. She had plenty of money to live
on, and do good deal for us girls-a lot
of US there were too She was really fond
of us, l know, now: but she was so worry.
ing, always lecturing us and finding
fault that we didn't love her very much,
I'm ashamed to say. Her money was in
an annuity which ceased with her death,
so what she did for us must be done dur
ing her life. Every year she gave some
special advantages to one of her nieces;
and it seems-though didn't know it
that she had about decided to give me
the benefit that year.
If had known!-but it wouldn't have
made any difference; it took shock to
teach me.
] remember every moment OF that day
as if it were yesterday; the result of it
seemed to burn every smallest event into
my brain. | can even remember the
pattern of forget-me-nots on the dress |
wore.
Mother was going out that afternoon,
ana STOOD with nor e1,..., a. ;.
door, she said:
BE sure to get to Aunt Durgin's in
time
80, OF course!'' answered, cacelessly.
"lou know she's very particular; and
I'm especially anxious to have you
please her to-day" she went on.
why to-day more than usual?" I
asked. 1--WE been trying to please her
ever since | wore bibs; but don't think
shall ever do it unless l get a charm
to turn myself into an old woman at
once"
she's more fond of you than you
think, said my mother-and l remem-
Der we'll how care-worn she looked as
She started down the steps, though
she doesn't show it,
"Humph! should think mott" I said.
standing in the door. "She names me
but to-blame"
"Well, mind you give her no cause to-
night" said mother, opening tho gate:
land oh! did you remember to get those
pebbles off the roof for my Chinese
lilies?'
mo, forgot, said, "but I'll do it
before go out;' and the gate and the
door closed at the same instant.
"But | can't guess, said, as | went
slowly up the stairs again, whats up
tonight in particular"
With NV rp0tbar'c
injunction in mind, | went up to nv
room and laid out my one nice dress. to
be sure that rufiies were all in order.
and nothing should be wanting to DELAY
ne at the last minute. Ieven looked at
my shoes to see that the buttons were
all right; for Aunt Durgin had an eve
like an eagle for any thing out of place.
There were still two hours before it
was time to dress, and those | intended
to give to my practicing; for had one
grand passion" and that was for
music. My father-dear, impractical
man that he was; with soul full of
poetry and music-lacked the push" to
get on in those days-or in these either
for that matter. So he spent his life
trying to drill music into stupid pupils;
and of course, with his head in the
clouds, he made little money. We we're
always poor, always needing something;
but, thanks to his gentlenness and nv
mothers sweet disposition, we were al
ways happy.
But | was ambitious. l was nv
fathers best pupil, and at that moment
the desire of my heart was for year Of
lessons from great master abroad. If
could only get the finishing touches
from that master, and the ecEdt of his
name, (Which goes a good way, you
know, felt sure / should march on to
fame and to glory. Such was my modest
opinion of my abilities; and my thought
by day and my dream by night was to
bring this to pass.
But how to do it! There was the rub!
When | think that if it hadn't been Cor
my own carelessness-- Well, we'll. let
lie tell my story straight
At the end of my two hours practice
closed the piano and started for my
room to dress for Aunt Durgins tea On
the way l remembered the Chinese
lilies, so j passed on up to the roof,
where there were always loose pebbles
from the gravel. Above the third story
was low garres AS l reached up to