The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-01

from the open window to the line of
buff pickets. Even the robins in
the cherry tree were not more merry.
Dolly was just trying sissing iron,
and Dave was giving few extra
fourishes to the red cap of the buff
fence post, when high pitched voice
from the side porch called out excit-
eddy:
"Children, children, where be YET"
"There's Aunt Betsey calling" said
Dave. 81 guess she's found an extra
bit of news in the weekly paper; |
saw Jake Mangus come by with the
mail few minutes ago"
But it was no news from the vii
lage paper that had SO excited Aunt
Betsey. She had just received very
interesting letter.
"It's from Nancy Ann Petrie!' she
chirped cheerily as the young folks
appeared upon the scene. you've
heard me speak O. her. Her an me
lived side by side for over forty years.
We borryed one another's emptin's
and dress patterns an helped each
other through spells O. sickness. We
neverhad no trouble. If Tdhad sis
ter l couldn't have thought more of
her than did O. Nancy AMMAN che
O. me! An now she amt furgot me
land sakesl no! An what do you
think children2" here Aunt Betsey
nodded 80 excitedly that her cap
nearly tumbled off, "what do you
think, Nancy Ann has sent me an in
vite to come to Digby Junction! For
visit O. six weeks or maybe two
monthsl Her son an his wife air
goin' away an Nancy Ann is left to
keep house alone-they've got real
stylish place, I've heard say-an' she
wants me fur company. Six weeks
Jest think! How Nancy AIMS tongue
an mine would run! We amt seen
one another fur over fifteen years!
NV, how I should admire to go!
Bnt," here Aunt Betsey sighed-of
course, can't go. l might as we'll
think of going to Yurrop or Jericho as
to think of trip to Digby Junction!
It's over five hundred miles there-I
looked in a railway guide once-an'
it would cost over twelve dollars to
90 an twelve dollars to come back.
Sides 1 amt got no clothes fit to
wear. I expect Nancy AIMS kinder
stylish-her sons deestrict attorney,
YOU know-an | shouldn't want her
ashamed O. me. Well, we'll, well, it's
kinder nice to think about the invite,
even if l can't accept it."
Whereupon, aunt Betsey fell to
knitting industriously, though oc-
casionally she lifted her eyes from
the gray sock to gaze longingly over
the rim of the distant hills beyond
which lay the delectable region of
"Digby Junction"
The twins walked soberly away to
their respective occupations. Dave
whistled thoughtfully as he poured
little turpentine into his paint pail,
and Dolly's brows wore wrinkle of
perplexity as she tucked couple Of
maple sticks in the stove. She fin
ished her ironing in silence, and then,
walking out. perched like medita-
tive grasshopper among the clover by
the buff fence.
"Dave," she began slowly, Il have
been thinking about aunt Betsey's in
vitation."
$50 have l." said her brother Sob
erly.
1T would be awfully nice if she
could go!"
$50 it would"
"We might"-here Dolly looked
very keenly at Dave-"we might use
our bicycle money. Now, Davy dear,
don't be vexed at my suggesting i'll
1t kept coming and coming into my
mind, and l had to tell YOU.
Dave let his paint brush drop into
the pail of Indian red, pushed his
cap back from his moist, white fore
head, and gazed thoughtfully beyond
the rim of the blue hills. He was
not thinking so much of Digby juno
ton as of the untasted delights of
the "little journey in the world"
which he and Dolly had planned.
How could he give it up just to
crafty an old woman! Dolly's gen.
tie voice went on:
"Aunt Betsey would so enjoy this
visit with her old friend She has
never had any real big pleasure in all
her life. She worked hard even when
little child. She had a drunken
husband; her only child was drowned;
she has had sickness, poverty and
| toll. Yet she has been so brave and