The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-19
AUNT MIRANDY.
BY EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.
Copyright. 1894.

Always good thing 70 do, " returned
the clergyman, blandly.
III quit pilin' up church mortgages
that's what I'd do"
Good again, - was the response as the
door softly swayed back upon Aunt Mi
randy.
'Pd quit gettin' long-haired foreigners
Tor organists, operate singers for choir
soloists and millionaire nobodys for
ushers; that's another thing I'd do ~
ms with an unusually vigorous push of
the door
All" foated back with the gentle
( swinging of the door
/ Yes; an and ali again. sir: and I'd
take OF some OF my fine buds; get out of
! my carriage get along with one girl in
the Kitchen and get down alongside them
mat needs comtOrtin'; that's what I'd do,
| too, sir!n
You would certainly be blessed, if you
could do all that, Miss Trigtidy",
| Would, would I? Yes. | would: and
| so would you-getting right down among
the sore and the needy and the lame and
the halt and the blind, without any long
| lace, or airs, or rm-better- than you be,
| about it either"
The clergyman had by this time got
the outer door open, and he could there
| fore most cOmposedly ask:
Like all true reformers, you speak
| from experience, l hope"
Huh from settin' under your preach
IN for twenty years" she retorted
hercely; land from lookin' around that
church and just boilin' over all the time,
| because"
Because all the rest of US were not at
| that precise moment toiling in the slums.
l presumed Very natural; very. We are
not far apart in all these matters, Miss
Trigdity. Good morning."
lnexpressible scorn mingled with
| slight tinge of humiliation mantled Aunt
Mirandy's flaming face.
She slammed the door defantly behind
the departing clergyman and rested mo-
ment against the huge carved newell post
to recover her breath.
He's little right, and I'm more'n'
right /" she painted reflectively Lord! l
wish | was man and a minister"
Here Mrs Trigtidy's hand sought her
husbands with a firm pressure of ap-
prevail.
But faint too late! 'Taint too late.
Here I've been holdin' this house and
home together for twenty year, with Tri-
plebob noodle and Clara a ninny. Here
I've been holdin' that church together for
twenty year, and that preacher a pesky
time-server. The rest of my life III do
some good with my own money to them
that's under my own nose, my own
way"
That means US, Clara !" whispered Mr..
Trigtidy, gratited at the apparently for.
tunate outcome and proud of his fine fore
sight.
Il won't wait day. I won't wait an
hour III begin this very minute! !"
Gracious ~ whispered Mr. Trigtidy to
his spouse. I'm glad I'm late to bust
ness this morning. Well be right here
together when she's in the humor!"
With this he began craning his neck
aha he hnva Il
throat as if to speak; but his more eau
tious wife silenced him with a gesture of
protest.
This minute!" repeated Aunt Mirandv
vehemently Among the millions in
this great city, | can certainly seek out
and suecor some of the vicious and dis
tressed"
Mr.. Trigtidy's luminous face was sud
denly clouded with grimace of disap-
pointment and chagrin
II don't care how low they be I'll lift
'em up by bein' humble; by bein' like EN- :;
by dom like EN- by actin like 'em; till
they're weaned from the downward path.
Lord If / only was q man and a minis
ter! But, heavens he praised I'm a
woman and can stir things up. This very
minute I'll start the stirrin' p
She scampered up the stairs with IN
usual vigor, returned shortly in her
plainest street attire, and with happy
face disappeared into the street, leaving
the perplexed Trlgtidys the temporary
freedom of their own establishment.
well, WELL Clara" murmured Trig-
tidy refectively and yet Compassionately
to his wife, we've stood it so long now. |
nope you'll make the best of it; there's A
dear It's too much TO lose!"
"Triplebob," she returned, closing her
eyes discouragedly, we've stood it so
long. it's too much to keepi"
But events were already rapidly shap-
ing toward unexpected relief for he
Trigtidy household.
Aunt Mirandy, having gained the street,
gratefully shifted the fresh morning
! breeze waited gently up from the great
river and gaily exclaimed
Il feel better anyhow Decidin to do
something's new life, if you don't even
! know what the something is!'
She wore so bright face and stepped out
with so elated gait, that many looked
up at here with something akin to
! kindling recognition and smiles.
! Pears like everybody knows lust
what I'm goin' TO do, and are glad Of it -
she reflected as she caught the subtle
| human sympathy.
Lots of good people in the world vet.
amt they now" she asked herself, in the
tone of original discovery and inquiry.
81 should think there was, though ="
! she dS u6dfblly answered. III we'd all
| get together at dom common, everyday
good, stead of turnin' it over to the
! churches for corporation religion, shuttin'
our eyes TO results, mebby runnin'
! churches ID be easier for the minister's
and 'twouldnt be so plaguey hard to save
sinners. Mebby there wouldn't be so
many sinners to worry over, either!"
With these and similar reflections.
Aunt Mirandy passed from the region of
aristocratic abodes through the dis
tricts of prim and tidy homes, past the
doubtful territory OF mixed business
structures and habitatiOns, into the roar
ing thoroughfares Of Gotham; and then.
more by instinct than from knowledge,
into one of those downtown quarters
where great palaces of trade wall in vast
areas of squalor, vice and crime.
AT this hour of the day. the crooked
! loathsome street through which her foot
steps led, was strangely stIll. Aunt Mi
randy was ignorant of its grewsome and
/ dreadful night life, and the silence dis
tracted her
| Don't wonder they can't get along. -
she observed with some asperity, when
they don't moscy out in the mornin' and
! get 10 work like other folks Mercy
! Why, they look like the deadv'
She had now turned into a bend OF the
! thorouRhtare where doors, windows and
! Railways Of the crazy old structures were
all wide open. The lettering buildings
were so close together that il was dank
| and qhadoV4grs