Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-10-30
AUNT MEHETABLE'S VISIT.
DY AMY RANDOLPH.

"It's all very we'll for them to invite
State" said old Miss Mehetable Bevis
"but, of course, they know that 1 won't
come"
"Of course!' snarled Mr.. Bevis, who
did not believe in anybody but himself.
"Why should they want you, Mehettya
You amt very young, nor yet you amt
very attractive"
''In that case," said Mehetable, not
without lingering vestige of spirit,
"I'm surprised, Brother Reuben, that you
and Betsy tolerate me here"
oval" said Farmer Bevis, slowly
taking the pipe out of his mouth, as if
this were new and unconsidered ques-
ton, you're my sister, Mehetty, and
you've natural claim on me. OF course
/ amt goin' to see none of my kith and
kin turned on the poor.house. And l
don't deny, mind, Mehetty," he made
haste to add, as he saw the indignant
color mounting to her cheeks, "but that
you earn your victuals. You're a smart
worker, Mehetty, and always was. And
Betsy is glad, with her big family, to
have some one to help around"
~ should think so," said Mehetable.
"Why, Reuben, you could not hire any
body to come here and do the work l
accomplish for four dollars week, let
alone the board and lodging!"
"What's all this got to do with the
question: What meant to say was that
Brother Ben's fashlnable city daughter
and her husband can't care about plain
folks like u.s."
81 am sure they enjoyed their visit
here" observed Mehetable, knitting
away as if her needles were electric
wires. "And nothing could be more
cordial than the invitation they gave me
to return it."
"City folks are always smooth
spoken" said Mrs. Bevis, lantern
jawed, iaded-eyed, blue-nosed woman,
with her face eternally tied up in yellow
silk pocket-handkerchief, and most
aggravating way of singing her SEN
tences through her nose. ''I'm glad 1
charged 'em good high price for
granny's old spinning-wheel, since you
wouldn't let me ask no board-money."
II should think not" said Miss
Mehetable. ''Reuben's own brothers
daughterl Board, indeed"
"Of course, Mehetable will do as she
pleases about visitin' 'em," said Mrs.
Reuben Bevis, working diligently away
at her "Fools Chase" quilt pattern.
"But it was very plain that they only
asked her because they thought it was a
duty. And if Mehetable goes off and leave,
us just now with the quilting and the
peach-butter and the apple butter all at
once"
'.Well, what then9" said Mehetable,
knitting away faster than ever.
Mrs. Bevis tossed her head.
''In that case" said she, ''you needn't
be surprised if we hire some one else in
your place. And, of course, you won't
expect to come back to free board and
lodging here"
Miss Mehetable laid down her work.
''Before this morning." said she,
crisply, 81 hadn't made up my mind.
Now, have. l shall go to Mrs. Walter
Cherrytield's. If matters have come to
such a pass that / can't 60 and come
when I choose, but must drudge on day
by day like slave, why, then, it's time
/ knew it.
"You and Betsy never could agree, !"
groaned Reuben Bevis, with a lugubrious
countenance.
''It amt my fault, snapped Mrs. RED
ben. "There amt no saint in the calen-
dar could stand what I've stood with
Mehetty's temper
"Guess you'd better patch up peace, "