The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-09-09

many interiors and but few superiors,
and their country relatives were classed
as among the first. Mr.. Robbins had
long been dead, leaving n widow and
two daughters, who were the family.
An aged sister of Mr.. Robbins, rather
eccentric in her ways, had for some
time been planning for visit to her
brothers family, which, it is needless
to state, was not destined to meet with
great favor with the Robbinses, es-
pecially with the girls. The arrange
ments completed for her visit, she
wrote that they might expect her the
next day.
"Well, as she is really coming, we
must make the best of it, sighed Mrs.
Robbins, when she had read the letter
aloud to her daughters.
'Is she really so miserable?" asked
Maude.
"Well, she's nervous and fussy, and
likes to direct things wherever
she isl"
"And you let her boss you like the
meek little mother you are," said
Lydia, the youngest daughter.
"Of course, don't like to dispute
or quarrel with her."
"Well," said Maude, 81 shall re-
member that she's papa's sister, and
said to be very rich, but she must not
undertake to manage me-"
'..Nor me-" said Lydia.
!, "But you must both show her proper
respect" said Mrs. Robbins. 81 will
see to her room, and you girls must
take a carriage and meet her at the
depot"
SO next day, lwhen Aunt Rebecca
Whitcomb arrived at the station, she
found two beautiful nieces with the
carriage waiting for her.
"Humph! better than I expected of
Kate Robbins" muttered the old lady
as she seated herself in the carriage.
She was little, slim woman, with
bright, swapping eyes of black; and
that was all the girls could see for her
bonnet and duster. But at dinner she
appeared in some lace and elegant
jewelry, which delighted the girls very
much.
"Well, Kate" said she, "you've
raised couple of pretty good-looking
girls. Are they worth anything-are
they worth the bread and butter that
they eat?"
"Of course we are" laughed Lydia,
while Maude cast grave look at her
aunt.
'They are great deal of comfort to
me-" said their mother.
"And terrible expense to dress and
such as that, 1 dare say" dryly re-
marked Aunt Rebecca.
"Well, of course, it costs some
thing"
"Got to having beaux?"
Lydia laughed again, Maude locke ed
vexed, and Mrs. Robbins said:
''No; neither are they in love or en-.
gagged, if that is what yon mean"
'I'm glad to hear it, remarked the
old lady.
'I'm going TO be an old maid," said
Lydia.
eyes, to be sure! I've heard girls
talk before. Twas young myself, once
and a perfect beauty too"
The girls looked us if they doubted
that, but did not say anything.
After dinner Aunt Rebecca took {
nap. In fact, as her health was mo-
very good, she spent great deal of hel
time in taking maps, during her visit o
few weeks. But she did not, at an,
time, interfere with the pleasures o
the girls, and Mrs. Robbins waitet
upon her, so the girls did not find he
stay as unpleasant as they had expected
A day or two before she was ready t,
go home, she invited both Lydia ant
Maude to so with her and stay few
weeks.
81 shall be at the expense, O.
course" said she, "and as it is in tn,
country, you won't have to fix up any. l
isn't an attractive place, but you wan
to go and cheer it up for lonely, eros
old woman, why, come on, and I vii
do whatever l can for you"
''I'll CO." answered Maude quickly
pleased with the opportunity of a jour
ney. "I'll go if mamma can spare us,
said Lydia.
"Then run away, pack few traps
and dust your traveling-dresses," SAT-
Aunt Rebecca good-humoredly.
"What queer old soul," remarked
Lydia as they shook out their dresses
II half like her, and half don't"
$50 do I, said Maude. "Rut will
oil her wealth I,don't believe She
happy. I wouldn't like to live will
lllha1x.hank TeNaGGLn nINu.aasa sa..atandI - q Ger