The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-12-15
AUNT Els.

In Amsts rdam. Everybody called her
Aunt Els, her full name being Estelle. OF
Esther. ! never quite remember which
She was somewhere near 60 years of age,
though only her perfectly white hair be-
trayed the fact. Her skin was delicate
and unwrinkled, her eyes sparkling and
bright, and her teeth so firm, white and
regular that one could not but pardon
her the almost apologetic coquettishness
with which she frequently displayed
them.
She must have been very pretty in her
youth-indeed, may say she was pretty
still-and furthermore, with these de.
sirable characteristics was combined a
restless activity very unusual in one of
her years. The lively eyes, the versatile
speech. the abrupt but significant move
ments, the sprightly walk. all led to the
supposition that the brisk 60 year old
little woman had behind her life of
toll and persistent effort
Such was the fact, for Aunt Els for
many years had kept little shop. Had
keptS Nay, she still kept it and was as
tireless at her post as ever when any profit
was to be gained by it. That the profit
was meager enough her long life of pow
erty attested. but she had been indie.
pendent, never had besought a favor
from any one and felt. to use her own
words. that fair proportion Of good
had been hers through life.
To induce her to dine with us once a
fortnight required the most pressing in.
vitation. She came then in her gray
wooden gown summer and winter ii
was always the same). with little flounces
on the skirt and snowy crimped ruffies
at wrist and throat She brought sweets
usually for the children to nibble, at
table was animated and gay, and when
one inquired how the business prospered
answered cheerfully "she believed it
went right well"
And this business" of Aunt Es'i
Twas conducted in cellar-one OF
those damp, unhealthy Amsterdam Gel
lars, where to your amazement you will
find tolerably clean. stalls. and in the
windows of which you will see dis.
played fruits, shoes, fishing tackle,
cooperage materials and various com.
modities too numerous to mention.
In such cellar lived Aunt Es and al
the same time conducted a little station
cry shop. In order TO reach this sumptu-
Gus abode, which was about the size OF
q birdcage. one must descend 20 steps
Then you saw a small--a very small
table, which answered the purpose of
counter. on which was displayed three
ar vN1ritN 70 oh ~, LOTT
per pads of different shades, an old glove
case containing steel pens, goose quilts
and cheap lead pencils. six bottles of ink
and four tape measures. That was all
AT the end Of the year the inventory OF
receipts showed nothing TO waste but in
good months Aunt Els sometimes gained
a profit of l2 to 10 gulden
This shop in the evening was turned
into dining room; at night it became
a bedchamber. The counter was her
dining table, and on the broad surface
Of a chest, upon which mattress was
laid, she slept.
In this subterranean chamber she had
lived 40 or more years quite decently
and free from care, boarding her little
savings like miser and looking hope
fully forward to the time when she and
the chosen of her heart should marry.
When lS years of age, Aunt Els an
nounced to the members of her family
that she had met the man of her choice
Like herself. he was small merchant
smaller. in fact, for whereas she pos
sessed shop. table and an old glove
case with steel pens, he possessed no
shop at all, unless that could be called a
shop which would close up and be con.
veniently carried under the arm
Karl-that was his name-was cigar
merchant. though not one of the whole
sale sort who draw their wares direct
from the plantations in Havana. His
walking" shop consisted of box or
case in which once rep,sed superfne Re
galias. but in which. D.,t without inward
shame, he now packed for sale his three
penny cigars. His gei,eral stock amount
ed from 100 to 200, was sold to the work
ing or lower classes and it required two
weeks for their disposal
lis customary in Holland, when the
engagement is sanctioned by the families
of both parties. for the engagement to
continue from one to two years Dur
Ing that time the couple are free to come
and go a. they will-unchaperoned. un.
protected. save by the good God who
smiles upon innocent love.
Though Karl's business. reflected Aunt
Els. was not as profitable as her own, yet
they would marry. The marriage would
be one of ''inclination." for they loved
each other A marriage of convenience.
for their commercial and social posi-.
tons were esdal. And better than all
It would be rcarriage founded on rea
son. for not until they had conformity
laid by a sum sufficient to establish
themselves and their children in com
Portable home would they ma y
Two Thousand guldeni That was thu
very least, she resolved. with which she
would venture into taking larger shop
Then the cigar and paper business would
be united. and the chest no longer com
PEELED to serve both as closet and bed
stead, could return to its original uses.