The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-15
UNCLE JOBS GUEST.

UNCLE JOBS GUEST.
Aunt Huldah and Uncle Job were
writing the invitations to their own
golden wedding. 1t was an unusual
and arduous undertaking. They had
selected an elegant formula from a
Complete Letter Writer, which repre-
sented to Aunt Huldah's mind the acme
of all social etiquette, and she now sat
dictating to Uncle Job, who was fair
scribe but a poor speller.
Thus far all had gone well. Aunt
Huldah derived great satisfaction from
this close contact with "dictionary
words" The two old heads bobbed
eagerly over the long list of guests to be
invited, including almost the entire coun-
tryside, until Uncle Jobs pen traced the
name of Miss Abigail Appleby.
"You amt goin' to ask her" cried
Aunt Hulda, aghast. "Wby, Job, man,
they do tell the queerest things of her!
-Ihelieve the woma9 -1praas5 crazy!
Livin' ali alone as she does in that little
house of Dickinson's, comm from no one
knows where, and film it from garret to
cellar with cotton flannel animiles the
like of which was never seen in the ark
or out of it since! An doin' her house
work in gloves, an tyin' ribbons to hel
cows hosns last Fourth of July! Iwon-
der she wasn't hooked sky-high for it.
Eff you ask her to our weddin', who
knows but what she'll come a-fetchin up
with an elephant under one arm and a
camel under t'other?"
"I think she's a poor, lonesome old
critter," said Uncle Job, in mild, de-
termined voice. "She may be leetle
teched, Huldy; I don't deny it, but she
lives within sight of our house, and I'm
not goin' to have every one of our neigh
bors here, an slight her
"Well, but she amt fit to come to any
sech getherin'. She don't seem p'inted
at maxim friends, either"
"Mebbe folks don't 60 the right way
to work." said the old man, dryly. 81
mean to take this invite over myself, and
urge her to come"
Aunt Huldah set her spectacles firmly
on her nose, and surveyed her obstinate
husband.
"Jest as you say then. But if she
does bring us heather beast to set up
in our parlor, you'll do the thankin',
Job, for I WON'T"
II will, will" promised Farmer Sat
terlee, sealing the note and his triumph
together with twinkling little smile.
The wedding day was crisp and gol-
den one, such a day as October alone
knows how to fashion. Aunt Huldah
had been up since dawn. The old house,
full of quaint furniture, had needed an
immense amount of scrubbing and pol
ishing to bring it up to its mistress's
Ideal.
At last Aunt Huldah surveyed her
house interior with sigh of satisfaction.
She was giving some asparagus broom a
little 'ttasty twist" as she called it, when
scramble on the front porch announced
the first visitors. Millicent and Hetty,
her two grand daughters, released from
boarding school to celebrate this ami
versary, rushed into the room.
''We walked up from the station, you
know, grandma. Such a charming day!
Leaves perfectly beautiful! Well, how
are youG Hetty, isn't she as handsome a
grandmother as two harum- scarum girls
were ever blessed with?"
They both hugged her in rapturous
schoolgirl fashion.
"By the way, grandma, can't we have
the best bedroom, with the big mirror1
Hetty and I want to come out in butter
fly style"
81 s'pose so," said Aunt Huldah, leni-
emily, looking with suspicion Of tears
at the tall, handsome girls. She was
wishing their father, her only son, had
lived to see this day. A few minutes la
ter she followed them up to the best
chamber
claws massy me! What upon airth
amt you got crammed into that bag?
You call that packin', do you! Is that
all you're learnin' of ladylike ways?"
Hetty looked up with flushing checks
at this condemnation called down on
Milie, who only laughed. ''Pshaw,
grandma! You have to squeeze things
into cabas. Look at this DRESS" and
she pulled out fimsy garment of shim-
mering satin covered with lace, and gay
with scarlet bows.
"Goin' to wear that?" cried Aunt HUI
dab, in dismay.
Hetty smiled quietly, and brushed her
own pretty blue cloth. Millicent bit her
lip in modification, but she arrayed her
self in the condemned garment and ran
down into the sitting-room, where Uncle
Job sat in all the dignity of his old
brcadcloth wedding coat, nibbling flag
root and looking contentcd. The sight
of Millicent brought deep frown to his
brows.
''Now, Millie, I amt a-goin' to have
the plain, old-fashioncd folks a-comin'
here tonight put out with the sight of
sech airs in my gran 'dartcr! Take that
fummididdle rig straight off, an come
down here in dress like your sisters, or
not step into my parlors do you CO."
Millie rushed back up stairs, flung the
despised dress on heap on chair, and
cried heartily. She upset Hetty's violet
water trying to efface the tear stains, and
finally, arrayal in her travelling -oress,