Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-01-24
Sunny Bank Farm
FLOYD LIVINGSTON

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which | had once written in rhyme TO
my uncle Joseph; but before could
frame any reply, his mother said. scorn.
fully, Don't he Aattcred, child; Herbert
calls everything poetry that rhymes.
He'll learn to discriminate better us he
grows oldcr;" and with a stately sweep
she left the room, saying. as she reached
the rather steep and narrow staircase,
Dear me! How funny! It's like mount
ing a ladder"
While she was making her toilet we
had an opportunity of learning something
of Herbert. who. whether he were 80 or
not, seemed much pleased with every
thing around him. Occasionally, how.
ever. ! doubted his sincerity, for when
Aunt Betsey was presented to him. he
appeared quite as much delighted with
her as with anything else, drawing his
chair closely TO her side. and asking her
numbcrlcss questions about the best
modes of making cheese and raising
chickens. while all the time there was a
peculiarly quizzical expression in his
eyes. which were dark and very hand.
some. To Anna and her spit curls'' he
took kindly. and ere his lady mother
made her appearance a second time he
had put his arm round her twice, telling
her she should come to Boston some time
and go to school. a rustic of silk upon
the stairs announced the descent of Aunt
Charlotte. and with her nose slightly
elevated. ready for any emergency, shc
entered the parlor. where she was intro
duced to Aunt Betsey. who. courtcsying
straight down, "hoped to see her WELL"
adding that she "s'posed she'd come to
the country to see how poor folks lived"
| Failing back into the rocking chair
which Anna brought for her. Aunt Char.
lotte made no particular reply. save an
occasional attack upon her hartshorn.
Aunt Bctsey. however, nothing daunted,
endcavOred to engage her In cOnversa-
ton by asking II "she knew Liza Ann
Wi!lcott, n tniloress girl, that boarded
with a Miss johnson, who used to live In
Union, but who now lived In Boston,"
| browning majestically, Aunt Charlotte
replied that she had not the honor of
Miss Willcott's acquaintance; whereupon
Aunt Betsey advised her to make Il By
all means. assuring her that Liza Ann
was n first.rate girl, and that Miss john
son was the best kind Of a neighbor, al.
ways wtllin' to lend, or do good turn"
Aunt Charlotte turned away and began
| talking IN u low tone to Herbert 1t In
strange how much cOnstraint one person
can sometimes throw over room full.
On this occasion, had an Ogress suddenly
alightcd In our midst, we could not have
been more silent or less ut ease than
we were with that Boston lady, sitting
there no starched and stiff. Even Uncle
Joseph. whose genial nature usually shed
NO much sunlight over our circle. was
grave and reserved. Uncle Jason. who
painfully felt his own awkwardness, sat
tipping back In his chair against the well,
with his feet on the rounds. while his fin.
gers kept time to a tune, which he was
evidently whistling to himself. Glad wcre
we nll when finally called to dinner. the
snvory smell Of which had long been
whetting our nppetites.
what! dinner so soon?' snid Aunt
Charlotte. consulting her gold watch,
which pointed to half past two. II don't
believe ! Gun force down mouthful."
But. In spite Of her belief, she did man.
nse to make way with the contents of
her well.fllcd plate. which was passed
back second time to be replenished. 50
cnger were We all to serve her that we
partially forgot Aunt Betsey, who, after
waiting awhile for a potato, ut last arose,
and reaching half way across the table,
secured one for herself, saying. by way
OF apology, that "she believed In looking
ont Tor Number One. for II she didn't
nobody else would"
30 incensed was she with whit sbc
termed our neglect that the moment din.
ner was over she insisted upon going
home. saying, as she bid us goodbye,
that "when she went again where she
wasn't wanted she guessed she should
know IT,. and adding. while two b,v ,e"rs
dropped from the end of her nose that
'she never s'posed she should no AZ mis-.
used by folks that she'd done so much
for"
The sight OF her tears brought forth
answering ones from me. for, with all her
pcculiarities, ! loved Aunt Betsey, and I
remembered that when sickness and
death were among us she had left her
own home to stny with US, ministering as
fur IN she was able to our comfort. l
liked her far better than did my Boston
aunt, who, after bidding her sister.in.law
goodbye, went back to the parl0r, say.
Ing to her husband In n tone loud enough
for Us to hear. "What a vulgar creature!
did you notice her hands? Why, they
are as coarse and black as servant
girls"
"And she's none the worse for that"
intcrpOsed grandma, warming up In de-
tense Of her sons wife. "She has now
and then nm odd streak. hut on the whole
she's better than they'll average"
After this, Aunt Charlotte relapsed