The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-10-28
AUNT MEHETABLE'S VISIT.
by AMY RANDOLPH.


"It's all very we'll for them to invite
me to go and visit them down in York
State" said old Miss Mehetabe Bevis /;
"but, of course, they know that l won't
come"
"Of course!" snarled Mr.. Bevis, who
did not believe in anybody but himself.
"Why should they want you, Mehetty 2
You amt very young, nor yet you amt
very attractive"
SIN that case," said Mehetable, not
Without lingering vestige of spirit,
'Tm surprised, Brother Reuben, that you
and Betsy tolerate me here"
"Wa'," said Farmer Bevis, slowly
taking the pipe out of his mouth, as if
this were a 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 aud
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 hell around"
al should think so" said Mehetable.
"Why, Reuben, you could not hire auy-
body to come here and do the work |
accomplish for four dollars week, let
alone the board and lodgingl"
'fWhat'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 alb )ut plain
folks like us.
81 am sure they enjoyed their visit
here" observed Mehetable, knitting
away as if her needles were electric
wires. "Aud nothing could be more
cordial than the invitation they gave me
to return it"
"City folks are always smooth.
spoken" said Mrs. Bevis, a lantern
jawed, faded-eyed, blue-nosed woman,
with her face eternally tied up in yellow
silk pocket handkerchief, and most
sggravating way of singing her SEN
tences through her nose. "Im glad
charged 'em good high price for
granny's old spinning-wheol, since you
wouldn't let me ask no board money"
81 should think not" said Miss
Mehetable. "Reubens own brothers
daughter Board, indeed"
"of course, Mehetable will do as she
Plcases about visitin' 'em," said MIS-.
Reuben Bevis, working diligently away
at her "FooPs 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 leaves
us just now with the quilting and the
peach-butter and the apple butter all at
once"
"Well, what thenH" said Mehetable,
knitting away faster than ever.
Mrs. Bevis tossed her head.
SIN 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.
Flow, have. l shall go to Mrs. Walter
If matters have come to |
such a pass that can't go and come |
when l 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 Beyis, with lugubrious
at amt my fault, ;" snapped Mrs. Reu-
ben. "There amt no saint in the calen-
dar could stand what I've stood with
temper"
"Guess you'd better patch up peace, )"
urged Mrs. Bevis. "Hired help is dread
ful scarce, Betsy-and, as for you, Me-
betty, faint long one would put up with
your old-maidy ways as Betsy does"
But the ''little rift within the lutte"
once split apart, was past mortal power
TO mend. Betsy took herself and her
neuralgia sulking out of the room. Me
hetable quietly but steadiastly adhered
to her resolution-and Mr.. Reuben Beyis
at last lost his temper.
"Wa'l, Mehetty," said he, Ego your
own way. But you're as contrary
piece as ever l sat eyes on, aud don't
know how aud Betsy ever got along