Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-07-12
that he wanted his mamma to put
him 70 bsa Annt MIKE saisi -

that he wanted his mamma to put
him TO bed. Aunt Mike said, -
Bring him to me, Jane. III
take him upstairs. Excuse me,
Mr.. Hatchins, and allow me to
leave you TO become acquainted with
my nephews.
Then she went upstairs again,
and VIII and ] were left to enter
tain the stranger. Will is no end
of talker, aud IN not bad at it
myself, so we got along pretty well.
Mr.. Hutchins appeared to have
travelled great deal, aud told as
no end OF good stories. lie said he
knew mothers brothers and sisters,
but had only seen one Of them for
many yearssthas-was Uncle Jt'hn
in Chicago, who had insisted ui,on
his calling on father.
Il understood him to say his
youngest sister was Mrs. Massey,
and made the mistake Of giving
that name to'-he hesitated as il
waiting to hear one Of us say either
Miss or Mrs. -, and some evil
spirit prompted me to add to Aunt
Mike"
When mother came down, Aunt
Nix was with her. and the father
came too. After that there were SD
many 'do you remembers Will aud
l were entirely left ont of the con-
versation. Once Mr.. Hutchins
turned to my aunt and asked her il
her little boy was asleep.
MY nephew? yes. | have no
am only the auntie Of
all this brood
You are not married p
No. she said simply, hnshing a
little at the direct question. The
carriage came, and she put on her
wraps ready to 90.
"A friend of mine in the city has
offered me the use of cutter and a
horse with good reputation as a
trotter. Have you any objection to
testing his merits with me to-mor-
row, Miss Strong?' he asked as he
said goodnight.
1t seemed to me rather an odd
invitation; but Aunt Mike had ac-
cepted, SO had no right to say any
thing.
'Mr. Hutchins was very init
mate friend of ours twenty years
ago, SO you mustn't expect him to
appear like stranger, was her
first remark after he had driven
away from the house.
is that one of Aunt Mary's old
beaux turned up?' asked Cousin
Emily. Il thought he seemed to
address most of his conversation to
her.
Il believe he used to admire Mary
years ago, but he was not exactly
her lover. Now, girls, don't forget
to come back to me after every
dance, and don't sit in drafts. /
know you won't remember the dan
ger to your health, but try to think
how mortified you will feel to-mor-
row, with your nose and eyes all red
and swollen with cold in your head.
An appeal to your vanity may be
more effective than to your common
sense
The next day was warm and spring
like, just nice for sleighing, but
probably would spoil it in few
days, for the snow was thawingfap-
idly. Poor Aunt Mike was sick in
bed with q wretched unromantic
cold in her head in spite Of her care;
while those reckless young scape-
graces Emily and Susie, who had
spent nearly the whole evening in
draft, had never sneezed once. !
was sorry for her. she seemed so
disappointed about her sleigh-ride,
but mother had to excuse her to
Mr.. Hutchins when he came. He
called again to inquire about Aunt
Nike, aud gradually fell into the
habit of coming to our house very
often. He was a good talker, and
we all liked to hear him relate his
on land and on sea, but
it was rather hard woEk TO get him
started on the subject OF himself.
He was very fond of the children,
and would tell them the most won
derful stories.
One night we were discussing the
journey of young friend who had
gone to spend the winter. on the
Nile.
Did you ever 60 up the Nile, Mr.
p asked Will.
No. he replied, although /
started once, but my trip into the