Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-02
MISCELLANEOUS.
Broken OF.
AN AMUSING DOMESTIC STORY.


" Yes, Polly and me does look a
good deal alike, it can't be denied, -
said Aunt Susie Hatch, settling her
cap more closely over her gray curls,
Though there is folks that think
she looks older'n' 1 do. if we he
twins. But faint to be wondered
at If she does, for she's buried
two husbands, an no woman can
live sixty-eight years an hev the
care of two husbands an not show
1t. 1ain't had but one, an he's an un-
common quiet man and we'll behaved, =,
though dunno's 1 ought to say so
right before him it might make
him vain"
Likely enough twill" replied
Uncle David, as he gave the fire a
vigorous punch; and then they both
laughed and looked more good-na
tured than ever. They were an
amiable, well-preserved old couple,
with young hearts, and took great
delight in visiting them, and listen
ing to their old-time "reminiscences.
Your sister does look as though
she had seen trouble" / remarked,
seeing that Aunt Susie expected me
to speak.
Wall, I guess she has, an if it
hadn't been for me she'd ha' seen
more. After her first husband, Seth
Jones, died, she was possessed to
marry Uriah Hayden, and he was a
dretful mean man; used to
cheat an drink, an had a terrible
temper. But she wouldn't believe
n word anybody said against him,
an l s'pose she'd ha' married him,
If hadn't broke the match off,"
"How did you manage. Aunt
SUSIE? Please tell me about it?" I
said, as sat back comfortably in
my chair, to hear one of the old
lady's amusing stories.
"Wall, don't mind if l do, bein'
that you're an old neighbor, an I
s'pose Polly will stay down to Mis-
Greed's to tea, so shall hev plenty
of time."
'Twouldn't be good for you
Susie, if Polly knew you told about
it," said Uncle David, with a sly
glance at me.
81 guess 1 amt afeared of my own
sister," said Aunt Susie, indignant.
ly. 'Sides, she won't know it. Miss
Adams won't tell anybody. Wall,
'twas in the spring after Polly and I
was twenty-seven the October afore.
She was the Widder Jones then; her
husband had been dead nigh on to
two years, an she lived on a small
farm down in the Haynes settlement
and hired it carried on. Uriah Hay
den was in the neighborhood, an
nothin' would do but Polly must hev
him, an she was blind to all his
faults. Mother an / was alvin
on the old farm then. was to
home, 'cause 1 was single. / warn't
married till was about thirty. l
don't approve o. folks bein' married
young"
"Huhr' said Uncle David, with
another look at me. "It's my opin-
ion it's 'cause you didn't hev a
chance"
"Didn't hev chance, indeed!"
cried the old lady. ~ guess /
might ha' been married any time /
said 80. David Hatch. 1 amt for
got how you got down on your
knees an begged me to hev you,
with tears in your eyes, and 80, at
last, took pity on you. was al
lers a terrible soft-hearted critter.
Well, lemme see, where was I? Oh,
yes; ! knew. Wall, as / was a-sayin',
mother an was a-livin' on the old
place, an' we KEEP hearin' how that
Polly was goin to be married to that
worthless Uriah Hayden, an at last
mother says to me one day, says she,
- can't stand it any longer, Susie,
l can't bear to hev one o. my gals
throw herself away like that. l
want you to go right down there,
an see If you can't prevent 'em
from bein' married.
why, MOTHER says I, what can
do?'
.'Oh. dunno,' says she; 'but you
was alters a cunnin' critter, an
maybe you can manage it some way
or other.'
1t was settled should go, an
Aunt Hannah Smith could come over
and stay with mother. 1t didn't
take me long to get ready, for we was
we'll off, an ] had good clothes. In
them days Polly and looked as
near alike as two peas, an we was
Hboth considerable good-lookin', if
do say It. When / left home re-
member that l wore an alpacky
gound. all trimmed with fringe, an
a hat with a green feather on IT,
Twas twenty miles down to Polly't
an went on the stage, an arrived
a Wednesday noon. Polly warn't
expectin' me, bot she was real tick
led when 1 walked into her nea
kitchen. She KEEP askin' me ques
tions about mother an, the folks a
home, an l answered 'em all, an
never mentioned what we'd heari
about Hayden. You see, bided m!
time."
| "Done jest SO ever since see you,
interrupted Uncle David, hastily.
| "David, wish you'd keep still,
said Aunt Susie, mildly. "You'r
alters a jokin' when I begin to tel
anything. / should think you'
know by this time that it's dretfu
bad manners to interrupt anybod