The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-09-10
5fliscellancnus
AUNT MARTIIA'S JOKE.
By BARRETT.

Il am coming Tor tOrtnlght'S Visit
to YOU, Eliza, if it will be convenient
for you TO have he. / realize that
age is coming upon he very fast, and
| wish TO see you and Eugene's child
rem, and the dear old home where
Eugene and | grew up together. ]
want to see it all once more before |
go to jim him. You know | always
mad fancy that our loved ones who
have gone before, single out the new
arrivals of their acquaintance, and
CLEAN all the news about those they
left on earth | want, therefore, to
have the latest news to carry to dear
old Eugene Yours rs ever,
Martha King.
up. S. l have grown very deaf
since last saw You
A fortnight OF Aunt Martha, and
she deaf, too Suffering Moses"
cried Ella King.
But she is not long for this world,
and has lots of money to leave to
somebody" said Lucy. And we
have the honor to be her only living
relatives guess we had better bear
with her yet little longer, my dear
Ella
Eyes but wealthy relatives have il
way of promising to die oil shortly
and then hanging on until the heirs
are gray haired, and worn out with
hope deferred Don't you believe her ,
She is not near dead yet, and there is
no knowing how many more positive
ly last appearances Aunt Martha
will make"
':Girls,' said Mrs. Hollister King,
mildly, she is your fathers only
sister"
Yes - said Ella, with grimace.
81 am sorry she is deaf, said Alice,
the youngest daughter, who sat quiet
" sewing in her usual corner
Ella aud Lucy burst into I'll musical
laughter. Alice always amused them
with her strange ideas, while they
were n perpetual irritation to their
sweet, womanly, younger sister
Miss Goody is so glad, too, that
dearest Aunt Martha is coming, Miss
Goody loves her auntie truly and she
doesn't love money bit. ., no.
Il do love aunt Martha" Alice said.
Il do not see how you aud Lucy can
forget how kind she has been TO us.
And YOU know-you simply know
that her money has no influence with
me. 1t is as mother SAYS: | cannot
forget lllal silS 10 my NSSNi NN''N
fathers sister"
"Hear, hear!'' cried Ella. "Will
YOUR reverence pray continue? We
always enjoy your little sermons
Il do not care to discuss Aunt Mar
tina any further,n said Alice indig
nantly; and gathering up her sewing,
she left the room to avoid the discus
sion.
She and her sisters could neveragree
| upon any subject, and Alice was al
WAYS retreating to her own little room
for peace and solitude. She was not a
| favorite with her mother, who often
said. Lucy and Ella are HOLSTERS,
but Alice is a King all over, both IL
| looks and disposition
Mrs. Hollister King had been a beau
ty of the orthodox blonde type, anc
her elder daughters were blessed with
the same yellow hair, blank blue
ewes. white eye lashes, and fair skins
alice is pretty enough for those
who like brunettes," said her mother
but never admired dark women my
self"
Two weeks later a sweetfaced ole
lady with soft waves of gray hair sa
placidly knitting in Mrs. Holliste
Kings big family room" She haC
been there a week, and had learned /
good deal about dear brother
folks which she vowed in her hear
never to tell him when she crossed tn
river, and sat with him under tn
shade of the trees
Lucy and Ella were both engaged
III altering their evening dresses.
well" sighed Ella, when our dean
" beloved aunt ,'shutfles off, | won
have 10 make one piece of lace d
duty on three or four gowns. This
the third time | have changed arOun
since Monday.
And | won't have to paint Ill
soiled white slippers to match my re
dress. either shall have perfec
toiIettes-won't | be lovely? "Oh.
she added, as she caught the flash {
Alice's eyes, never mind, Alice, I'll
dear Old thing is deaf as Il post. Ism
t it fun that we can say what we lik
r about her, and she sits there smiiin
at us as innocent as Il lamb? IL
glad that the old girl is so deliciOuSl
deaf
'Mother.' cried Alice, her cheek
aiIame with anger, why do you allo
such coarse, heartleSs remarks to /
J. made? If | am TO keep the respet
! for you that ! always want to hav
! you must not let such behavior go III
reproved..'
Alice" said Mrs HOLSTER Kim