Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-11-25

There We're the pumpkin pies in a
shining row on the buttery shelf; she
wondered if George would go In to
count them as he used to on Thanks7
giving eve, when he came from school.
Millicent Rlyner (or Aunt Millie, as
she was called, was woman perhaps
| fifty years old; she had never been
II arried yet no one ever thought of
! calling her an "old maid"
! Every one in the village knew her;
but the poor We're her special friends.
and many blessing followed her as
she returned to her home after making
her calls.
When Aunt Mile went calling she
1 generallj carried basket; and as She
knew every poor and sick person in
the village, no one was forgotten. The
smile that lit up some pale face, when
she arranged her bouquet of fresh
| flowers near the led, made everything
look brighter for days. She had been
born in the house in which we find
her working on this Thanksgiving eve,
and here she had always lived
| In her young days she was called
/ the prettiest girl in the country, and
every young man in the villages
and outside the village too-was said
to be in love with Mile Rqyner.
When asked why she did not accept
one OF her many suitors, she would
laughingly reply, why, | love them
/ mi q f,i, a,y,l u. i
favored one was; and they were not
surprised when it was reported that
Mile Rayner and Fred Derrin were
engaged.
Great preparations were being made
for the wedding, but fate interviewed,
and it did not take place.
! Miles eldest sister, Mrs. Dean.
! lived on a farm some miles from the
! village; and one week before the day
set for the wedding, Mile received
word that her sister was dying. She
fastened to her bedside, and was just
in time to catch the whispered words.
Mile, win you care for my chill
dren?"
yes, Kate" she said. | will do for
them and take care Of them just as
you would"
kissing the baby, George, which she
had asked to have placed beside her,
she motioned Mile to take him
When she put him in Miles arms,
and around her, she smiled turned her
head and died.
| George was just six months old
then. After the funeral Mile brought
the four little ones home with her.
and then sent for Fred Derrin.
No one ever heard 9 weird cs t t,lot
interview; but Fred Derrin never
called again, and he left tho vil'oro
the next week-the day on which he
was to have been married.
Smilingly Mile turned from the
path which promised to be so fowery,
10 the tnorny one OIL DUTY. ii tears
fell en- the bridal dress, which she
folded carefully and put away, no one
ever knew it, and never once did she
regret making the sacrifice. She kept
her word and was indeed a mother to
the children; working for them early
and late; and as the people Of the viii
lage said, they were a credit to her, ="
The three girls had married well,
and left the old farm house years ago
George, the baby, Mile thought
would stay with her; but he was a
great disappointment She loved him
because he was Hates boy; but he
was selfish and ungrateful, never ap-
preciating Aunt Miles kindness and
care
Thus the years had passed. Mile
had done her duty well; but she felt
very lonely as she sat in the rocking
chair knitting On this Thanksgiving
eve. If George had cared more for her
she would not have minded so much;
but he never even wrote regularly,
and often she waited months for a re-
ply TO her letters.
She tried to make herself believe
that it was to see her he was coming
home. She knew better though; IL