The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-11-19

know Toot heard me, or L woulon
have said that; but she did, and said:
"Whs, Minnie, you wicked story tell
er; amt you 'shamed to talk like that7
You know yot won't do anything you |
don't have to. Will she, Uncle 5aek9"
But Unele Jack said: ''See here,
Toot, I've found some peanuts in my
pocket" And she went to get them.
Aunt Grace looked at me real sharp
md felt upcomforta Toot always
spoils everything. l do wish she wasn't
my sister. told mamma that night l
was sure she'd spoil the Thanksgiving
party. Grandma said: "lf you would
stop trying to appear what you are not,
Minnie, you wouldn't be afraid Of any
thing loot could say"
was provoked at grandma for say
ing that. but didn't answer her. lts
too near Christmas, and then papa was
in the rootti. One day when papa and
mamma were talking together, and
didn't know heard them, found out
something / didn't know before When
Aunt Grace and Uncle Jack were young
folks they were engaged to be married,
but they had quarrel, and Aunt Grace
went TO England, and they never saw
each other again until she came to vislt
us. / told Lille Lane about it, and
she said: "How very romantic!" didn't
know exactly what romantic meant
but didn't say so for If don't Under
stand everything she tells me, she calls
me Country pumpkin"
don't like Lille very well, but she
is the richest girl in school, and her
folks live in the city winters, and keep
a carriage; so 1 have her for my most
intimate friend.
Lille said why don't you try and
make match between your aunt and
uncle? II you should they would prob
ably ask you to come to the city and
. live with them, and give you lovely
presents. That's the way they do in
novels"
/ never read novel-we don't have
them-but Lille has lots of them. Her
mamma buys them and Lille steals
them and takes them to her room and
reads them on the sly. She tells me
about the lovely things she reads in
them, and I'm crazy 70 get one and
read it for myself.
We talked long time about the
match, but couldn't think OF any way
to manage it. But Lille said il l KEEP
my eyes open something might hnpper
Just right. told Lille to be careful
what she said when Toot was around
or there would be trouble
Aunt Grace intended to go home righ
after Thanksgiving, and Lille said
had better do everything l could t.
please her and Uncle Jack, so wipee
the dishes every day, and didn't make
any fuss about taking care of Freddie
while they went visiting. and stopped
leaving my things around for MANN;
to pick up, but OH that Toot. Twas So
provoked at her. One night at the tea
table she asked, all of sudden
"Mamma, do you think Minnie is going
to die?"
"What do you mean, Toot?' SAT-
mamma, looking frightened.
"Why, mamma, didn't Mrs. Brow
say Mr.. Brown met with change be
fore he diedP and Minnie's stopped be
ing SO lazy and disagreeable sine
Aunt Grace came, and been so extreme
ly good that thought perhaps she wa
. going to die, too. Anyway, she's me
S with q change but there's room TO
q her to prove more yet, for she slappe
n me yesterday when you were all away
l. and then she gave me some candy nc
= to tell, that's why didn't" Papa saio
g Don't you want some more peaches
Toot?" and the peaches stopped he
d mouth, but didn't l want to slap he
8 again? And do think Aunt Grace ha
| ~, of
"a me sometimes. Some days l almo:
t wished she had stayed in New forl
l. because, besides her unpleasant look
3. that Thanksgiving dinner made &
g. much work.
.. 1t was minnie, do this" and "Mil
ID ME- do that" till was nearly wor
TO out. There's one thing certain,
Y, Aunt Grace hadn't been there
" wouldn't have stood mammals makir
e such a slave of me- l had to ste
is raisins and beat eggs and sift -four al
'e wash currants and cut citron, and Of
day Aunt Grace got lot of grea
dishes together and made me wa
them! Ugh!
All of our relations came to dinner
Thanksgiving day, and some of the
|
night Mamma said Cousin Kit
would have to sleep with Toot and IN
After we went to bed Toot was
still thought she was asleep, so / to
t Kitty all about the match l was tryil
= to make. She thoughtit was sple
- did idea, and said she would help m
Our table looked lovely Thauksgivil
day. Mamma bought new tab
cloth and napkins and some new dishe
Aunt Mary brought lot of flower
and we picked all we had on our hous
plants and put them in our glass pitc
ers on the table, and we had all
grandma's silver
Mamma told Toot she mustn't tai
and she said she wouldn't and she d
TO MT until we were half through dinn'
then she looked at Aunt Grace n
ey said Aunt Grace, l wish you wou
stay hundred years."
tie "Do you, dear?" Aunt Grace said.
np eyes, cause we can ford SO ma
a things when you're here. / don't s'pc
in we could have 'forded this tableclc
en- and napkins and these dishes II y
err hadn't been here Nor this turS'
nix And probly grandma wouldn't ha
ed let us take her silver If we hadn't h
ch comp'ny."
,as Papa said: "Toot, here's anotf
nd slice OF turkey for you'll" and evei
body began talking about something
mt She didnt say any more VIZ u