Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-03-13

1
ting it with his knife into long slender
spllnters to make bird trap. Ran was
watching him with interest. Anthony
looking out at them, remembered many
a time when he had sat there splitting
tobacco sticks for the same purpose.
Hector took up the discourse. "Ran!"
he said, and paused to wrestle with a
knot.
WHAT"
"Mamma says we must not talk abont
Aunt Neelie. | asked her what made
Aunt Neelie so nasty one day, and she
said when I got old, and had lots OF
trouble and pain in my back most all
the time, l wouldn't like folks to call
me nasty, and reckon l wouldn't
neither. She tells US bully stories
sometimes. too, and then l almost like
her. Maybe when she gets 10
heaven, where her back can't ache, and
the coffee won't ever be burned and the
rolls won't ever sour, she'll be real
pleasant"
Ran pushed back his hat with his
J hand until the brim rested on the mass
OF curls on his shoulders, and regarded
his brother steadfsstly, an expression OF
dismay on his face that was comical.
Evidently the future held possibilities
for which he was unprepared.
ais Aunt Nellie going to heavenY" he
demanded abruptly.
''Of course she is" responded Hector.
There amt any other place for her TO
| 60. She's old, and she's woman. You
couldn't say woman was going TO nell,
could you?. I'd like to know what sort
OF manners you'd call that. or course
she's going TO heaven"
With this triumphant settlement OF
the diffinulties Of the future state on
the plain principles Of life laid down
for him here below by his very old fash
toned mother, Hector returned to his
whiting.
Ran pondered. "Hec," he said, 81
reckon she will go In good way ahead
| Of US, and she's sure not TO like IL down
By the gate, because she'll think some
body else has got better place. l tell
ltyou what we'll do; we'll squat down
right by the middle walk, behind the
box bushes, and wait till we hear some
of the angels talking about her, and
saving where she's gone, and then we'll
| clip the other way and hunt for father
THAT amt good way" objected
Hector; you're sure TO meet her walk
inc around, anyhow so there isn't any
use of lodging. You can't stay in one
place fifty hundred millions OF years
without seeing all the people"
Cant 10" despondently; then, with
more hopefulness,. 81 can everiastlngiy
toddle, Hec, and Aunt Neelie walks so
slow. When | see her coming toward
me. YOU Just watch out sharp, and
You'll see one little angel hustle"
Hector laughed, and the listener had
much ado TO keep from joining. There
was another skeleton over in the old
gray house besides Strengthened means.
In his blunt, straightforward way he
was beginning TO be sorry for Mary
Beverley and to feel. as he would have
expressed it, that life wasn't totlng
fair with her."
With his habitual quick movements
and light, almost stealthy step, he passed
into the inner room and out at the back
OF the house.. After moment he came
around and seated himself on the steps
besides the boys and made overtures OF
friendship. They were friendly little
fellows, neither shy nor pushing, ana
the trio got on well together. Indeed,
when they discovered that he knew all
about making bird traps, and had a
knife with six blades In 1t, besides q
corkscrew and a pair Of scissors, and
could initiate wild birds and creatures,
and-Oh, bliSs!-had seen live bears, the
acquaintance showed signs OF deepening
into intimacy.
After the talk had gone on some time
and Anthony felt that his popularity
justified it, he commenced plying them
with questions. How many children
were there in all? Who took care OF
them and the like? Only them, the
children said: they had had little sis
ter, named Mary, but she had gone TO
heaven. She had been older than Hec-
tor. Their mother took care OF them.
Who else should?
"They had an aunt" Anthony sug-
gested
They admitted that they had, but
she was old; she could not take care OF
ANYBODY. She needed people to take
care OF her, TO wait on her and fetch
her things.
II don't mean the old lady, said their
new friend brusquely. you've got g
Young aunt-a girl named like your
little sister" Anthony could never re-
member that Mary, II living, was only
n couple OF years younger than himself.
THE idea of my wanting TO know any
thing about Miss Neelie! She's an old
tartar, amt she?"
Now, the children, while ready to
discuss their relative between them
selves and TO pass Judgment upon her
freely. were quite well aware OF what
was proper aud becoming in the matter
They would comment and criticiSe
themselves, but no stranger should take
the liberty. Hector drew himself away
A little and remarked, in a reserved
tone. that Aunt Neelie was an old lady,
and had been Ill and had trouble; she
must be treated with consideration.
Anthony did not know that the child
was rendering verbatim his mothers dali
" precept 10 himself, nor did he at all
realize that he should not have put the
question. He was amused at the boys
change OF manner, but he was a little
annoyed too.
you have another aunt?' he as
serted. rather than questioned a second
time.
NO" said Hector, 1--WE haven't"
But Ran was child who liked ex-
actnesS.
1--WE haven't now" he amended, "but
we used TO have before we were born.
There was little Mary once that
wasn't our sister. She must have been
our aunt, you. know, Hec; although it
seams funny, don't IL? She was