The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-09-07
ABaHiTEz' HEk lI'!l7II7il'; fIl0 ((il

with deep porch in the middle of the
front, and two broad windows on
either side, but no piazzas or modern
adornments.
Silas drove in at the wide open
white gateway, and up to another
door at the side, which opened at
once, and Aunt Penelope stood
smiling on the threshold. PENS
father was out in minute like a boy,
greeting her heartily, and then pres
emily came PENS turn; and they were
hurried into big, warm room where
a glorious fire blazed in the wide
chimney, and everything looked
home-like and comfortable.
cit does my heart good Ito see this
dear place again!" PENS father said,
as he settled her in real sleepy hol-
low of big chintz-covered chair be-
fore the fire, to get warm before she
took off her things; and then while
he and Aunt Penelope talked, Pen
had time to look about her and see
what this new place of her captivity
was like.
She had to admit in the first place
that the dear unmarried aunt was
not bad to look at, any way, and not
near SO ancient as she had expected.
Aunt Penelope's hair was only just
touched with gray, she was erect and
active, with kind eyes, and fine
color in her cheeks, and she had a
pleasant voice, and laugh that it
did one good to hear.
81 could like her-at home with
mamma" thought Pen, the quick
tears coming to her eyes; shut all
alone here" and she had to wink
hard to get rid of them before Aunt
Penelope came to take her wraps,
and showed Pen into a gay little
room just off her own; with garlands
of roses on the wall, pretty white
curtains tied back with pink ribbons
at the two windows, and little rock
ing chair covered with chintz before
one of them, and low, broad otto
man all roses like the chair at the
other, with little white bed between.
And Pen fell in love with that little
room at once, and indeed l don't see
how any one could help doing 80.
Supper was ready almost immedi-
ately, with such rich yellow cream
for the hominy, such biscuits and
cold chicken, such honey and all
sorts of good things, that Pen, whose
journey had made her hungry,
cheered up in spite of herself. And
if she did cry herself to sleep in the
little white bed that night, nobody
else knew it, and she bore up bravely
next morning, even when her father
left her, so that he felt quite proud
of her.
She had quite expected to be very
forlorn indeed afterward, and mis-
erably homesiek, bat somehow she
hadn't any time for it just then. For
first Silas took her all around the
farm, and there was the dearest little
new bossy to see, and lot of little
chickens like fluffy white balls, and
the downy yellow dueklings to feed.
And up in the hay loft were four of
the sweetest little kittens with their
sober old gray mother. And the very
prettiest one of all she took into the
house for her OWN, and Aunt Pene-
lope tied blue ribbon round its soft
white neck.
And then she had her trunk to un-
pack, and her own pretty treasures to
put about the gay little bedroom.
And there was the doll in the trunk,
and all her belongings had to be
settled too. Aunt Pen Git was Aunt
Pen instead of Penelope before the
first day was OUT brought out
queer little "four poster" bedstead,
corded instead of with Stats like all
the bedsteads Pen had everever seen.
The little sheets and pillow slips were
there too, yellow with lying, but
sweet with lavender, and soft and
dainty to the touch. And then Aunt
Pen brought out her doll-such a
funny old rag doll, with a china
head as old-fashioned as could be.
She had green kid shoes bound with
red ribbon on her clumsy feet, and
wore yellow dress with blue "polka
dots" And they played that she was
the country cousin whom PENS doll
had come to visit, and she was SO dis
tressed to find her clothes so dread
fully out of date, that Aunt Pen
hunted over her piece box, and be-
gan to make some new things for
poor old "Jenny Pepper" at once.
That was the dolls name. PENS was
"Agnes Isabel"
By and by little girl in a white
apron knocked at the door, and she
was Kitty Packer from next door, to