Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-10-02
The Squire's Tax
Receipts.

The jangling old eight day clock had
Just struck ten. The breakfast dishes
were all washed up, the floor was
swept as clean as new pin, and all
the dead leaves were picked off from
Sadie Denton's velvety masses of ge-
raniums in the window, and Aunt
Sally had just taken out her basket of
family mending and adjusted the spec
tacles she wore at her book and nee
de
Aunt Sally had just turned her for
tieth year plump, CHEEKY checked
old maid, with a heart as young as it
had been at sixteen, and marvellous
way of identifying herself with the
hopes and joys and fears of the young
er generation. = Nobody fell in love
in all the neighborhood, but Aunt
Sally was straightway intrusted with
the secret of it; no afaire du caeur
came to an untimely blight, but Aunt
Sally's was the faithful breast on
which descended oceans of tears;
wedding, christening, and funeral
and counsel and presence of Aunt
Sally Denton.
"Aunt Sally Oh, Aunt Sally! where
are you?"
And Sadie Denton came in with
flushed checks and sparkling eyes :
a pretty young girl of eighteen, with
satin brown hair, eyes like sherry
wine, and ripe scarlet lips. Her sim
pie calico dress fitted like one of
Worth's own, her black sateen apron
was embroidered with cherry silk in
the corners, and the cambria ruff1e
around the neck was fitted by her own
busy fingers.
@'I've got letter from him, Aunt
Sany!" said Sadie breathlessly. A
letter found under the fourth rail of
the fence by the big elderberry.''
"a letter, dear? But what will your
father say?"
81 can't help what pa says,'' said
Sadie defantly. II love Jasper Car
Teton, and he loves me, and we mean
to be married just as soon as he can
save up money enough to rent Miller's
farm; SO there now, and
"Hem! Hem-a -hem-m-m!"
Like the notes of French horn, the
Squirrels deep sonorous method of
clearing his throat announced his
coming, even before his footsteps
sounded on the outer kitchen door
step; and, at the premonitory sound,
Saddles IiI~o MonoI,
mists in the sunshine.
ooh, Aunt Sally, he's coming!'' she
said. "What shall I do?''
With a quick motion of the hand,
Sadie slipped the telltale letter back
of the clock, where the almanac, Aunt
Saily's recipes for soft gingerbread,
and the Squirrels tax-receipts were
thrust, cheek by jowl.
Scarcely had she hidden it away,
when the Squire himself came in "a
great sun burned six footer of an ag-
ricultural giant.
''Hello!" said he. tWhere's them
taxes. I'm going to town and I may
as We'll pay'em to day as any time
though I always did say, and always
viii, to the day of my death, as it amt
noway fair that I, with no children to
send to school, should pay eight dol
lars a year school tax!n
"IIl get them for you, pa,n said Sa-
die, turning pink.
81 can reach 'em," cried Aunt Sally.
But the Squire reached his long arm
over both their heads
"Pl get'em myself" said he. s'Guess
I hain't lost the use of my hands yet.
-Lemme see: school tax for 1890
Hellol what's this "a letter? MY
darling little Sally Hellol'
Sadie Denton uttered little shrek.
Aunt Sally dropped the mending-
basket, and out rolled four pair Of
striped hose, a kitchen apron, and
two tea towels.
The Squire uttered sound like
roar of his Infatuated bovine majesty.
t'Sally!" shouted he, "I'm ashamed
of you'll Love-letters at your age?''
ttGood land o'Goshenln gasped Aunt
Sally, while Sadie burst into an hys-