Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-03-10
AUNT CHILLY.

at my grandmother's, she sailed about
through the hall and library in a
bright dress and snowy apron, with an
energetic fling to her brilliant turban,
arranging flowers and dusting china;
or when she stood in the great kitchen
with one hand raised to her cheek
and "bossed de niggahs." We children
had such wholesome awe of her that II
we were planning mischief the cry,
Aunt Chillys coming" was signal
for rapid rout.
Tho | feared her twitching mouth
and scornful eyes about as much as |
feared sin and Satan, still there was a
strange fascination about her, and |
would often stand in the kitchen door
way for an hour at time to see her
scold brown Tilly, and cuff black Ran
dolph, and occasionally mutter strange
things about my grandmother which it
was hard to understand. Sometimes it
was: Mrs. Gray got no business to
ruin dem debilish chillen wild cakes
or PITY bout Mrs. Gray. She had bet
ter mind how she asks folks to break
fas' 'dout tellin' me-"
Only at meal time did she throw off
her habitual grimness. Then, seated
at the head of long table surrounded
by woody heads, some turbaned and
some bristling with pig-tails, she would
brandish chicken-bone and tell of
her adventures in the great world
what she had seen in New York-when
visiting my mother, how she had uray-
eled in elevated cars, and had been to
the hippodrome, and seen a lion and
tiger and cooked in a basement
kitchen, and ridden in an elevator.
Her motions were so dramatic AMI her
language so vivid that wondered why
| had not heard before what realm
of wonders | had lived in, and how
superior we were to the other grand
children who hau not ridden in ele-
waited cars and dlu not have basement
kitchens. Sometimes a loud "Haw,
haw,' would ring around the table,
and rows of white teeth glisten, and
sometimes strange queries came from
the listeners Aunt Chilly" sold
small Margaret Inn, her eyes gliSren-
ing with eagerness, "is it nicer out der
den what it is in yere?" Aunt Chilly
eyed the questioner contemptuously,
and, not wishing to commit herself, bit
a corn muffin in silence. Then the con-
yersation changed to Punch and
Judy" and still she took the lead.
With her head cooked on one side she
squeaked "Judy's" song TIL the laugh
ter woke the echoes.
When Sue had her fill of applause,
and the chicken bones were picked, she
would commence again to sail about,
and frown and mutter and whack.
On Sunday afternoons, when we chill
dren and Aunt CHILLY were locked up
in the nursery to be kept quiet, she
would conaescend to tell us tales of
former glory, of our uncles and father G
reed bird suppers." ''Marse George
was so fussy, wouldn't hab nobody
cook his supper but me-"
do you remember Colonel Rombey,
who died in the war;" | once asked.
II member Colonel Rombey," said
Aunt Chilly wrathfully. Reckon
knows de las time he was to our
house. Had mullins and terrapin for
tea. Said | cooked 'em better'n Del
monico. Mrs. Cornelius Lockton, she
said nobody nebbah cooked canvas
ducks like me, and she's been to Boz.
ton." Then followed long string Of
compliments which she had treasured,
and which were familiar to US all.
Sometimes we begged her to
"spound de scriptures" and she would
talk about "bein' clothed wild de sun,
and de moon under der feet" and II
how Satan coquetted wild job" But
her religious moods did not last long
and were generally followed by Il
gloomy silence, more ominous than
threats.
Once and only once did try to con-
quer Aunt Chilly l wished a certain
receipt, and though | had heard my
grandmother say that it would be
easier to wriggle secret from Talley-
rand than direct answer from Chilly,
in my boundless conceit | determined
to wiring it from her. Accordingly
went boldly into the kitchen, pen and
ink in hand. As | sat breezily down |
told Aunt Chilly how delicious Mrs.
Jones thought her cold-slaw dressing.
and how she had begged me for the
receipt. Aunt Chilly shifted danger
from afar. She gave me one wither-
ing glance, and stirred more violently
the batter she was mixing.
Nov, Aunt Chilly" | said, as /
wrote Gold Slaw Dressing" at the top
Of the page. What do you make it
or"
Miss Betty" said Aunt Chilly SOL
emnly, 81 don't know muffin bout It."
This being usual form of response.
l answered quite cheerfully, "Oh, yes,
Aunt Chilly, we had it yesterday, you
know. There is vinegar in it, isn't
there?"
81 reckon So" was the sullen answer.
Come, Aunt Chilly" l said, getting
a little excited, Il saw you mixing it
on the stove. You must know what
was in it."