The Van Buren press., 1898-04-30
AUNT LEAFY.
By E. l. Vincent.

IT BELIEVE I'll do it. John has been


urging me to go. | really am
tired. John can take his meals out for
few days, and maybe will feel
stronger when l come back"
She did not wait to take her big apron
off, but sat down at the desk and drew
out paper, pen and ink.
There was little flush on her cheek;
but it was no wonder; she had been fly
ing around all the morning and was
tired. Someway she tired easily those
days Johns salary was small, and
they kept no help in the kitchen.
"Pity if | can't do the work for us
two!" she had said. and John, thought
less fellow, had let it go with the
thought that not one man in thousand
had such a jewel for wife. 1t was
pleasant sitting at the table looking
across at Molly, and no one else near.
1t was long time before he began to
wonder why Molly's hand trembled SO
when she poured the tea. Then, he
could not help noticing that there was
little pink spot on each of Molly
cheeks, which were unnaturally white
otherwise.
When he did notice these things,
though, he made such fuss about il"
as Molly herself said that she had at
last made up her mind that she must do
something about it to keep peace in the
family.
Just then dear friend came quite OPP
portunely to the rescue, and sent Molly
such a warm invitation to come out into
the country for a week or two, that
John had said he would carry her away
bodily if she did not go peaceably,
Dear Cynthia" so the letter began,
and thus it ended.
The stage drew up at the door, and
the driver came down to help some one
out.
'Who in the world"
Mollys dream of the country flew
away on eagle wings, as she looked out
of the open window at the little old
woman, who was slowly trying to get
her feet down on the walk.
mo one | ever saw, anyway. Prob
ably she has made a mistake; but I'll
gro down and talk with her a minute.
can write my letter all right after I
come back"
1t was a clipper, bright-eyed, old
lady, who took hold of Mary's arm to
steady herself from the stage.
"Are you Johns wife?" she queried,
peering into the sweet, young face,
when at last she stood on the walk.
Eyes, yes. l would have known you
from the picture he sent me. You don't
know me, but l do you. I'm Aunt
Leafy."
Molly had heard John speak of her.
'Well, Aunt Leafy, WE are glad to see
you that is, am, and I know John will
be, too"
"Do you really think he will? don't
know about it; don't know about it,
amt much account in the world any
more, seems to me. I'll just hold on to
your arm little as we go along, just to
stiddy me. I'm gittin' old and shaky."
"Well all be so some day, maybe,
Aunt Leafy. You lean just as hard as
you have mind to, and We'll get along
all right. I'm good and strong, and
thankful for it."
"Be ye? We'll, we all ought to be
thankfuller than we he. ! don't often
complain; but settin' cramped up in
that old stage so long got kind of stiff.
I'll be better pretty soon. I'm real
smart for one of my age. You know
no you don't, either, but I'll tell We.
I'm in my eighty-ninth year. Born in
the year 1s06, in Connecticut state"
"What a long time ago!"
Eyes; it does seem a good while. An
I've seen a good deal in my day. What
a pretty house you've got! I shall en-
JOY II here, | know. An this porch;
what a nice, deep one, and so shady.
Anybody could sit down there and rest
to their hearts content"
eve think our home is a pleasant
one, Aunt Leafy."
They were now in the CHEEKY west
room. How still and cool it was. Aunt
Leafy slowly took off her old. old bon
net; old in fashion and old in material,
and the thin. gray shawl and dropped
into the easy chair which Molly drew
forward. Molly brought out fan.
which Aunt Leafy used quite vigorous
~ for a moment, and then dropped
into her lap.
"You wonder how | came to visit you
without askin', don't doubt; but III
tell you kind of gradual. don't feel
like sayin' much about it now. 1t hurts
me when | think of it,"
"Then I wouldn't think of it, Aunt
Leafy."
81 can't help it, child. l can't helpit;
and l want TO tell We all about il some
time, you an John. What a good boy
John is! Always was. So different
from Ciliab; that was his half-brother,
older than him. Ciliab himself was
pretty good boy; but arter he got mar
ried, someway he changed. 1t does
work that way with some men. Iguess
it's cause they git wimmen that don't
help 'em any. Nobody can ever say
that about me. always done my part.
II do say it,"
81 don't doubt it, Aunt Leafy."
"Ciliab's wife had such a temper.
She had a good deal TO put up with
nine children, and me In the bargain.
You don't wonder she got cross some
times, do We? nor ], neither. But if that
had a ben all, never should have said
a word. Ye see, when Josiah-that's
my husband-died, he left me quite a
little property We was always careful