The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-02-09
AUNT ES.


In Amsterdam. Everybody called her
Aunt Els, her full name being Estells, or
Esther, never quite remember which.
She was somewhere near 80 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 coqusttishnsss
with which she frequently displayed
them.
She must have been very pretty in her
youth-indeed, ] may say she was pretty
ssill-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
lnents, the sprightly walk, all led to the
rupposition that the brisk 90 year old
little woman had behind her q life OF
toll and persistent effort.
Such was the fact. for Aunt Es for
many years had kept little shop. Had
keptf 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 protlt
WAS meager enough her long life of pow
erty attested, but she had been indie
pendent, never had besought o 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 e
fortnight required the most pressing in
yitation. She came then in her gray
wooden gown (sumIner and winter it
WAS alwaysthe samel. with little flounces
on the skirt and snowy crimped rufies
st wrist and throat She brought sweets
usually for the children 10 nibble, at
liable was animated and gay. aud when
one inquired how the business prospered
answered cheerfully ''shs believed it
went right we'll
And this business" Of Aunt Es'l
Twas conducted in cellar--one Of
these damp. unhealthy Amsterdam eel
l.rs, 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 at
the same time conducted little station
cry shop. In order to reach this sumptu-
ons abode, which was about the size OF
birdcage. one must descend 20 steps,
Then you saw q small---a very small
table, which answered the purpose Of o
counter, on which was displayed three
or four prints, about us many letter pc.
per psds Of different shades. an old glow
case containing steel pens, goose quilli
nnd cheap lead pencils, SIX bottles Of inl
md four tape measures That was all
At the end of the year the inventory oi
receipts showed nothing to waste, but in
good months Aunt Els sometimes gained
profit of l2 to Is gulden.
This shop in the evening was turned
into dining room; at night it became
bedcllamber. The counter was hel
dining table, and on the broad surfact
Of chest, upon which mattress wa.
/ laid. she slept.
In this subterranean chamber she hat
lived 40 or more years quite decently
end free from care, boarding her little
savings like o miser and looking hope
fully forward to the time when she ani
the chosen Of her heart should marry.
When IS 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 a 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
yeniently carried under the arm.
Karl-that was his name-was q cigal
merchant. though not one Of the whole
sale sort who draw their wares direc'
from the plantations in Havana Hi
walking shop consisted Of box o