The Opelousas courier., 1892-01-02
AUNT VEGETABLES VISIT
BY N RANDOLPH.

TITS all very well for them to invite
me to go and visit them down in York
State" said old Miss Mehetabie Bevis
'but, of course, they know that I won't
come
"0f coursei' snarled Mr.. Bevis, who
did not believe in anybody but himself.
swing should they want you, Mehetty ?
You amt very young, MOI yet you amt
very attractive"
s'In that case" said Mehetable, not
without a lingering vestige of spirit,
"I'm surprised, Brother Reuben, that you
and Betsy tolerate me here
"Wa'l,o 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 a natural claim on me. OF course
| amt goin' to see none Of my kith and
kin turned on the poor-house. And ]
don't deny, mind, Mehetty," he made
haste to add. as lie saw the indignant
color mounting to her cheeks, tsbut 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,n said Mehetab1e.
"Why, Reuben, you could not hire any
body to come here and do pthe WORK I
accomplish for four dollars a week, let
alone the board and lodging!a
What's all this got to Do with the
question? What / meant to say was that
Brother Ben's fashinable city daughter
and her husband can't care about plain
folks like us"
II am sure they enjoyed their visit
here observed Mehetable, knitting
away as if her needles were electric
wires. ssAnd nothing could De more
cordial than theinyitation they gave me
to return it."
Getty folks are always smooth
spoken said Mrs. Bevis, a lantern
jawed, faded-eyed, blue-nosed woman,
with her face aernally tied up in a yellow
silk pocket-handkerchief, and a most
a~ggrayating way Of singing her SEN
fences through her nose. i'm glad
charged EN- q good high price for
granny's old spinning-wheel, since you
wouldn't let me ask no board money
III should think not said Miss
Mehetable. ssReubens own brothers
daughtert Board, indeed
"Of course, Mehetable will do as she
plcases about visitin' 'em,n 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 leaves
us just now with the quilting and the
peach butter and the apple butter all at
once
well, what thenf' said Mehetablc,
knitting away faster than ever.
Mrs. Bevis tossed her head.
sin that case, : said she, ssyou 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
bliss Mehetable laid down her work.
Before this morning. said she.
crisply, II hadn't made up my mind.
Now, / have. I shall go to Mrs. Walter
Cherryfield's. If matters have come to
such q pass that I can't go and come
when ! choose, but must drudge on day
BY day like q slave, why, then, it's time
/ knew it,
aYou and Betsy never could agree, J,
groaned Reuben Beyis, with a lugubrious
~countenance.
1T amt my fault snapped Mrs. Reu-
ben. There ain't no saint in the calen-
dar could stand what I've stood with
Mehetty's temper.
"Guess you'd better patch up a peace, Y
urged Mrs. Beyis. HHired help Ii dread
full scarce, Betsy-and, AS for you, Me-
betty, faint long one would put up with
your old-rnaidy ways as Betsy does.
But the %s.little rift within the lute''
ono split apart, was past mortal power
to mend. Betsy took herself and her
neuralgia sulking out Of the room. Me-
hetable quietly but steadfastIy adhered
70 her resolution-and Mr.. Reuben Bevis
at last lost his temper.
"Wa'I, Meaetts, ! said he, sgo your
own way. But you're as contrary q
piece is ever / sat eyes on, and | don't
know how | ami Betsy eyer gos along
with you all these years. praps its
best We should patt now-but doa't you
come back 70 me for food and shelter
that's ALT
- shan't ask you for even that much,
Reuben, said his sister. quietly rising
and putting up her work. sBut we're
brother and sister after alI, and after ten
years of steady work for you and yours,
I'd . little rather have parted in good
will and amity.
That's boshs said Bevis, grafiy.
ssiau Ee bad your way, and | hope
you'll find i pays best in the long run.
Mehefty went slowly to her room.
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