Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-11-09
AUNT ES.

nrsU met ner IN Jne Iamlly OF Irlenu
in Amsterdam. Everybody called her
Aunt Es, her full name being Estelle, OF
Esther, never quite remember which.
She was somewhere near so 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--:ndeed, 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 go year old
little woman had behind her a life Of
toll and persistent effort.
Such was the fact, for Aunt Es for
many years had kept little shop. Had
kept? 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
woolen gown (summer and winter it
was always the same), with little fiounces
on the skirt and snowy crimped ruffles
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 we'll"
And this business" of Aunt Es'l
twas conducted in cellar-one Of
those damp, unhealthy Amsterdam eel
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 Els and at
the same time conducted little station
cry shop. In order to reach this sumptu-
GUS abode, which was about the size of
a birdcage, one must descend 20 steps.
Then you saw small-a very small
table, which answered the purpose of a
counter, on which was displayed three
or four prints, about as many letter pa.
per pads of different shades, an old glove
case containing steel pens, goose quills
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 10 to IS gulden.
This shop in the evening was turned
into dining room; at night it became
bedchamber. The counter was her
dining table, and on the broad surface
of 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 IS years of age, Aunt Els an
nounced to the~dAembers 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 NJ
shop at all, unless that could be called {
shop which would close up and be con
veniently carried under the arm.
Karl-that was his name-was cigal
merchant, though not one of the whole
sale sort who draw their wares direct
from the plantations in Havana. Hi
walking" shop consisted of a box Of
case in which once reposed superfine Re
galias, but in which, not without inward
shame, he now packed for sale his three
penny cigars. His general stock amount
ed from 100 to 200, was sold to the work
ing or lower classes, and it required two
weeks for their disposal.
'Tis customary in Holland, when tn,
engagement is sanctioned by the familie
of both parties, for the engagement t.
continue from one to two years. Dur
ing that time the couple are free to COM
and go as they will-unchaperoned, un
protected, save by the good God wit
smiles upon innocent love.
Though Karl's business, reflected Aun
Es, was not as profitable as her own, we
they would marry. The marriage woult
be one of inclination" for they love-
each other. A marriage of convenience
for their commercial and social posi-
tions" were equal. And better than al
it would be marriage founded on rea
son, for not until they had conjointl
laid by sum sufficient to establis
themselves and their children in CON
Portable home would they ma. "!
Two Thousand gulden That was til
very least, she resolved, with which sh
would venture into taking larger shoI
Then the cigar and paper business woul
be united, and the chest, no longer con
PEELED to serve both as closet and bee
stead, could return to its original uses.
From the time of her betrothal an
this resolution great change was note
in Aunt Els. She who from early morn
ing till late evening had trilled like
lnrlz, and whose gay demeanor her neigl
bors with one voice had reproached, no
became grave, if not severe.
Two thousand gulden. Money, none
for their marriage day. That was h