The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-02-25
Aunt Matte Was the very reverse or
his Aunt Hannah olyynvo ol1,dod n,

Aunt Mattie Was the very reverse or
this. Aunt Hannah always alluded to
her in her milder moments as "poor,
dear Mattio," and in her more vigorous
ones as "that fool, Matilda" Matilda
had never been on board in her life,
but If you looked down the subscription
list Of any missionary society you would
be sure to find her modest initials.
II never put my full name," she said
meekly. "Hannah makes suoh FUSS -
1t was to this household that Kenneth
brought Sally. The girl had fallen
asleep rs they drove along. Kenneth
placed her OH the seat, but Sally prefer
red lying Oh the floor Of tho cab and
ooiled herself up at his feet like dog
Whom they got homo, Konneth car
ried the tired girl in, and, seeing that
she was not fit for tho drawing room,
placed her Oh the mat in tho hall, whore
ahe lay--a little heap Of rags, dirt and
tousled hair. AS he entered tho draw
ing room he heard Aunt Hannah read
ing in her very emphatic voice tho sum.
mary Of paper she intended to delivor
at q charity organization conference
next day. 1t was untitled "Sixtoen Rea-
| sons Against the Present System Of Out
door Paroohial Relief. " She had got as
far as the tenth. Kenneth's entrance
was hailed with joy by the long suffor-
ing Matte.
ooh, here you arel" she cried. "Tcn
O'Clock, and you were to be here by 8. +"
"I've brought home girl"
Aunt Hannah dropped tho 16 reasons
| and calculated, "What?' Matte start
| cd. Those fivo words might mean so
| much. With the calm that precedes a
| storm Aunt Hannah took off hor glasses,
rubbed them slowly and waited, but
further explanation was interrupted by
a scream from Aunt Mattie:
"Why, Kenneth, you've got great
cut Oh your tomplo, and there is blood
| on your collarr'
cts nothing. I've had fight. A
| brute was kicking girl and I licked
him and brought tho girl home. She's
only n child.
| Aunt Hannah put her glasses into
their case with n snap and recovered
her voice. brought her homcl IL this
| house u casual ward or night refugo2
Why, heaven bless us, the boys gone
stark. staring madl'
| Matte had forgotten the girl and was
giving her mind to sticking plaster
"I'vo left her on tho mat outside"
| added Kenneth apologetically. "She
isn't as clean as she might boz Han
nah strobe to the door. The hall was
pretty with fresh flowers, ferns and
bright tiles. Its preitiness emphasized
the incongruity Of Sally appearance.
She was lying where Konneth had loft
hor. Her one shoe was tied on with a bit
OF string; hcr frock was ragged, but tho
rents did not show, for her skin was rs
black ns her frock. One frightfully bony
arm foil across her knee, and tho other
hid hor face.
Matte peepod from behind Hannah.
Hannah said authoritatively:
Get up and be Off with youp' Sally
Immediately gave vent to such torrent
aof bad language that the two ladies
rushed away and shut themselves in tho
| drawing room. Matte began to cry, but
Hannah seated herself rigidly in her
armchair
This is too much, Kenncth!''
Its getting awfully late, said Ken
meth. "Supposo wo don't talk of this
till tomorrow. I'll get Bridget to wash
Sally and mako her up bed . ,me-
whero.'
Keep that thing in tho house and be
murdered in our beds and havo tho house
ralsackcd from top to bottom?"
You can't turn her into tho street at
10 O'Clock at night. Br;G,,ct ca. surely
give Sally somo supper and a blanket,
and wo will lock her in the back
| kitchcn.''
Tho aunts protested, but yielded.
Sally followed Kenneth down stairs like
a lamb, but fresh difficulties arose with
Bridget They increased when Sally an
nounced that she would tear anybody
hmb from limb who touched her. But
when Kenneth said that ho wished her
to be clean and neat tho child changed,
and she informed Bridget that "sha
might boil nor alive if the bcss wished
it done"