Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-08-26

How heartily she echoed her husbands
wish that they might keep her but
she knew it was impossible; all she
could hope for was to so win the
girls affection as to make a yearly
visit possible. Was Patty fond of
her? She longed inexpressibly to be
attractive in the girls eyes. And one
thing stood in the way. How could
the girl love an old woman like her?
For Patty loved beautiful things, and
she could never be beautiful. Those
words of her niece so thoughtlessly
spoken often required to her mind.
"It would weigh on my spirits to live
with anyone downright homely. "
Was she downright homely?" In
her self-depreciation Aunt Sheba felt
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 it
looked beside Patty's fresh complex
ion! But there was one thing she
could do-fX 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 a men,
Der of the family-the day that ST
Jennings got the best of him tradin'
off the COW and got him sorter worked
up-on'y 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 tinery,
treasures of her young days, in search
of something that might make her
more pleasing to her niece. She
smiled as she turned over the bits of
ribbon and lace, for each had a story
connected with it. This pink bow, for
instance, how well 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.
ono, 1 can'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 trembling hand on
crushed red rose, the sight of which
called up food of tender memories.
Glow the baby did act that day! If
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, so 1 had to
hold her all 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, 1 baptize thee;' she
jerhed away from him and gave great
pull at the rose, and when l looked at
her she had the whole thing in her
hand; it was wonder [ had bit of
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 wildly calling to mind
the baby Elizabeth, whose early death
had left n void in her life, which moth
ing had ever seemed to fill.
''Just 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 l had a daughter CT my own. L be-
lieye I'll put on this lace collar of
mother's-she used TO look nice in it
and this pin that Ephraim gave NE
so long ago. There, that does look
better. Ii l can onlyplease 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, Chow nice
you look, Auntiel" and Uncle Eph's
iOSA va u ll'i ~ - tto LlC IOOh Ills StilI uS
the table.
After that many little improvements
We're noticeable in Aunt Sheba's
dress, while she and her looking-glass
We're 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 and becoming neckwear, but
also held up to view all her defects,
chief Of which was the complexion that
was source Of no little anxiety to
Aunt Sheba. 1t seemed to grow more
muddy each day, and if she herself
noticed it so much, how very disagree
able it must appear to Patty. 1t was
with a resolve to try to remedy this
that Aunt jSheba one hot day in early
July found herself in the one drug
c. +nra oF prny-D,;1Ia n l;LEIn ,,;I1,o.a