The Republican., 1896-10-29
AUNTIE AND HER AMANUENSIS.
fhe Letter That Was Finally Finished
nj

1t had in its day kept company with
old creole mahogany and carried itself
in lordly fashion among its peers, but
now for many years, on account of some
obscure visceral arrangement, it had
been retired to humble society.
THE clock doctor, he say she all
right now, an jest as magniicus as
she ever were; only you'll jest have
ter wind her up, please, ma'am," said
aunty.
The mistress cheerfully arose and
essayed the novel task.
The key turned in it's place with in
finite difficulty, as if it dragged after IT
the whole weight of the unwilling
years, and there was a strange groaning
and creaking within and a convulsive
shudder of the whole machinery and
framework. But it began to tick and
the hands began to move.
Aunty surveyed it with awe and de-
light.
''She goes tribulatin' along as peart
as ever she did. How nachal it does
sound,"
Where did you get such a fine old
relic, aunty?" asked the mistress, not
ing it's points.
MY ole mistr's give her to me arter
the surrender. They was all broke up
and the ole plantation was sold and
they went to N Orleans ter live. An
now, honey, Use ready fer de letter if
you is"
''NpS Who &c tho LOT for
'My granddaughter. Her mother give
her ter me an l let her go to N Orleans
ter stay with her father. You see, they
didn't get erlonT-"
"Who, aunty? Your granddaughter
and her mother?'
BLESS yer heart, no! l mean her ia
ther an mother, an they separated, an
he's got another wife an she's got an
other husban'."
"Oh, well, l have written, My dear
granddaughter Now, what next?"
81 was mighty glad ter hear from
you all an that you was well an doin
we'll
"She give one when she orter give
12, an she give 12 when she orter give
one,' said aunty, interrupting her dron-
ing recitative.
The scribe looked up in bewilder-
ment. Auntys eyes We're fixed on the
clock.
Didn't you hear her strike?"
''No. Never mind the clock now,
aunty."
He said she were all right" muir
INJURED aunty, sadly.
I'VE will consult him again if she is
not, but now we must write the letter
if we want it to go in the next mail"
81 does want it ter go powerful bad"
well, then, what neXt?"
~ am well and doing we'll at pres
ent, but l have had mighty pore health
this winter. Be a good girl an don't
forget your pore ole gran'mother. If
her father don't let her come up here
fore long I'm gwine down there"
The scribe caught her breath and
drew her pen through a line and &
half.
What you do that fer?" complained
aunty.
"Never mind. Go on"
you worries me so, scratchin' out
the writin', l done fergot. Oh! Won't
you please let my gran daughter come
up an see me, if it's only fer day:
That's fer her father" said aunty.
The writer paused.
IF I'd listen to her Aunt Lulu ]
shouldn't never let her go with him
Tell her I'm a-comin' down ter see her
He beats her with his crutch and don't
give her nothin'. Don't think hard O
me cause l didn't send you anything
Christmas. l was away from home two
months, water bound"
The mistress laid down her pen.
"Oh, aunty, what a story"
Its Jest to satisfy her, honey, SO
she don't think hard O. me. Tell her
I'm comm ter see her in week or
two an be sure an look fer me-"
Now, aunty, you know | can't spare
you in a week or two"
"'Co'se | does, an ! ain3 a-gwine.
But she kin be lookin' out. WISH"
added the kind soul, regretfully. that
| could send her some fruit But how
can [? L don't know anybody gwine
there"
why, aunty, there's always lots of
fruit in the city market, and you can
send her dime or two bits any time
in letter and she can buy some"
Law sakes! So | kin. Huccomes it
you alloys thinks of everything? That
head O alyous is plum full all the time"
said aunty, admiringiy.
''ls that all, aunty?"
"Oh. tell her ter be sure ter ak her ia
ther ter pray fer me-"
"Aunty, | wouldn't. He seems to be
a bad fellow"
But you see, honey, don't want him
ter be mad at me, cause mebby then he
won't let her come an see me. l don't
reckon he aims ter let her come, nohow.
He took her away ter keep her, but he
needn't have gone at it that reverent
way"
What name shall 1 write on the out
side?"
REV. Jim Brown"
But, aunty, it's for your grand
daughter"