Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-07-17

with anyone downright homely.'
Was she downright homely?" In
her self-depreciation Aunt Sheba fell
that she was. She was old and
wrinkled and gray, and then her skin
She had never thought much of it be-
fore, but how very dark and brown il
looked beside Patty's fresh complex.
ion! But there was one thing she
could do-tix up little like Uncle
Eph. He never came to the table now
with his shirt sleeves rolled up, and
only once since Patty had been mem.
Der of the family-the day that 81
Jennings got the best of him tradin
off the COW aud got him sorter worked
up-only that once had he forgot to
put on his necktie.
This resolve once taken, Aunt
Sheba determined to lose no time, and
the next day found her turning over
the contents of box, bits of finery,
treasures of her young days, in search
of something that might make hel
more pleasing to her niece. She
smiled as she turned over the bits OF
ribbon and lace, for each had story
connected with it, This pink bow, for
instance, how we'll she remembered
the first time she had worn it
Ephraim had told her he would rather
look at her than at any other girl he
knew, so the bit of pink ribbon had
been cherished as marking the begin.
ming of their little romance,
"No, Ican't put that on" said Aunt
Sheba to herself. "Pink is a color
for young folks, sorter bright and rosy
like them. But there must be some.
thing in here that'll do" The next
minute she laid a trembling hand on a
crushed red rose, the sight of which
called up food of tender memories.
"How the baby did act that day! II
the minister hadn't come all the way
from Five Corners just to baptize her,
we wouldn't "a had it done. She
wouldn't stay with her pa, 80 had to
hold her oil the time, and Ephraim
stood there lookin' so awkward, and
feelin' awkward, too, he told me after
wards, with nothin' in his hands-and
nothin' would pacify her but the rose
in my bonnet, and she KEEP a-playin'
with it and pullin' it, till just at the
most solemn moment, when the minis
ter laid his hand on her head and be-
gan Elizabeth, I baptize thee;' she
ierked away from him and gave great
pull at the rose, and when 1 looked at
her she had the whole thing in her
hand; it was wonder I had a bit of a
bonnet left ON my head. How every
body laughed, and Ephraim told me ]
had roses in my cheeks if didn't
have them on my head" And Aunt
Sheba smiled as she wiped her eyes
which had grown dim at sight of the
torn rose, so vividly calling to mind
the baby Elizabeth, whose early death
had left void in her life, which moth
ing had ever seemed to fill.
Gust think, she'd been almost as
big as Patty. Well, there's no use in
repinin'. won't look at these things
any longer. I've got Ephraim, and
I'll be thankful for him, and for Patty,
too, while she's here. If she'd only
come every summer, I'd most feel as
if had daughter of my own. be-
lieve I'll put on this lace collar OF
mother's-she used to look nice in it
and this pin that Ephraim gave me
so long ago. There, that does look
better. If can only please Patty, I'll
be satisfied" Aunt Sheba replaced
her treasures, and went out to prepare
supper and see what the effect OF her
experiment would be. She was more
than satisfied with Patty's. "How nice
you look, Auntie!'' and Uncle Eph's
look 81 approval as he took his seat at
the table.
After that many little improvements
were noticeable in Aunt Sheba's
dress, while she and her looking glass
were on terms Of greater intimacy
than they had been for years, as she
needed its assistance daily in the adj
justment of the various collars and
bows that now formed part OF her
afternoon toilet.
But the mirror reflected not only the
pretty aud becoming neckwear, but
also held up to view all her defects,
chief of which was the complexion that
was source of no little anxiety tc
Aunt Sheba. 1t seemed to grow more
muddy each day, and if she herself
noticed it so much, how very disagree
nble it must appear to Patty. 1t was
with resolve to try to remedy this
that Aunt Sheba one hot day in early
July found herself in the one drue
store of Brownville, little village
about two miles from the farm where
Aunt Sheba did her shopping.
"Good mornin', Mis- Hawley," sait
the clerk affably as she entered. "Wha
can I do for you to-day? Somethin
for the skin? Yes'm, certainly; was
down to the city last week and brough
MP some new goods. This is Cream
o. Roses; sounds as if it ought to b'
good, and make any one fine compile
ted, but they told me the best thing i,
the world for tan an freckles is thi
here Beautifer. just the thing fo1
your niece, though, 'pon my word
shouldn't think she needed anything
O. the sort, but them city girls can
stand frecble or two like cOuntr.
folks. And the young man ratified OF
volubly, while Aunt Sheba stood il
great distress at this allusion to he
niece, for her honest soul revolted a
anything like deception.
Seeing her confusion, he hastene'
| IN her assistance
"S'pose these things amt quite ii
your line, Mis- Hawley. but If l wer
YOU I'd take the Beautitier; you don
have to use so much of it, only two o
three times week, and 'One applica
ton will last for several days." con
cluding with q quotation from tn
wrapper.
"Well, I guess this'll do; if it dom
suit"
"She can try the other. Any tim
she comes down I'll be happy to sho'
her anything I've got, and he deftl
wrapped up the Beautitier, at the sam
time wondering what was the matte
with ILrs. Hawley that she should b