Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1891-12-26

that picture nor the other would be
good for anything to me-"
Aunt James voice was hushed, and
she knit two or three rounds upon the
gray sock that she was making for IL
Poor society, and then her hands fell
in her lap, her chin dropped a little,
and the old lady was asleep. Abby and
| looked intently at her; hair, that had
once been as yellow as our own, IA
of snowy wilderness, and it lay On each
side of a forehead that was full OF
seams and wrinkles: the eyes that
were tight shut were as blue as our
baby's, and the mouth that was a little
open was almost as small as his. But
her checks were one mass Of Fuckers,
and even under the edge of her white
hair we could see them deep and drawn.
''Say, Lila" Abby said to me in II
whisper, ''how dreadful it must be to
be eighty years old; only think, Lila,
that is dight times as old as ! am"
what of it?" ! asked. "She doesn't
mind it, and she isn't eight times older
than ! am"
Elm. All but two years." Abby an
swered.
"But Id have you to know" | said,
frankly, that two years is a long
time"
"No, it is not, my d%arlings," was
Aunt James unexpected interruption,
as the blue eyes popped open. 1T is
only a very little time-only that
knew of one year that meant a great
deal to two folks"
Tell us about it, auntic," we both
exclaimed.
Eyes, | will. Let's see. | must have
dropped off to sleep while was telling
you about Tom and Uet Shaw. Wen,
don't let mt go again; just give me a
shake If you see my eyes shut. Me.
hitable Larkins was as pretty as
picture; her hair was as yellow as spun
gold, and her eyes were as brown as a
ripe hazel nut. Her step was SC
springy that she hardly seemed to
touch the ground as she walked, and
Tom Shaw loved her better than any.
thing in the world.
''He built the house up yondc and
they do say that he sang and whistled
so many gay tunes as he nailed on the
clapboards that he ought to have had Q
happy wife to put inside of it. Wher
it was all finished and furnished, h,
brought his bride home; and after that
folks used to walk past the house many
and many n time, to hear the two sing
ing together"
Ibid they never quarrel, Aun'
Jane?" Abby asked. My sisters idei
of a good time was to have II bit o
quarrel sometimes with somebody.
you wait, my darling, until | tel
you. 1t was just after the new yea
had commenced that they came up oil
the hill. All summer they seemed a
happy as birds, and of an evening the,
worked in their garden, and for mile
around no one had pretticr roses, big
ger hollyhocks, or yellower tansy thai
Tom and IIet Shaw.
''But with the fall the flowers faded
and the happy couple began TO grow
solemn; they did not sing so much, an
the lamps did not shine so brightly on
into the world at night, and, when on
Of the neighbors happened in, IIet ha
a very suspicious moisture about tn
eyes. But she never gave any reaso
for IL, and she was of that sort that ne
body dared to ask, much as they woul
have liked to. Anyhow, her cheek
grew pale, and there were no NOR
|, songs to be heard. And 10 IL cam
along to the last dav of the year. Tor
had been out To the woodhousc to 70
some kindlings for the fire In Tn
morning, and whA he had throw
! them behind the stove, he went int
the sitting-room, and there was III
upon her knees BY the sofa, sobbing q
II her hoart would break