The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-06

story brick house with solid green
blinds, which, in front, we're usually
closed OF an evening, however. one
would sometimes be open, and Aunt
M'randy could be seen sitting IN her old
rocker with the calico-cushioned back.
her hands folded. and her sharp little
eyes following the passers-by. She was
a very old woman, yellow-brown and
shTiveled and she wore a string Of gold
beads round her neck and a white hand
kerchief on her head. II was an incon-
gruous figure for an f Street window.
especially where real estate is mostly
covered by ten-story Office buildings.
But for years and for years Aunt M'ran-
dy sat at her window, like little yell
low ivory figure Of Time, until the last
man who remembered when she came
there ceased 10 pass along the street,
and they were nIl new faces.
Away back before the war Aunt M'ran-
dy had been housekeeper in old Colonel
Hildreth's family, and brought up.
more or less. his four children and their
cousins and friends, besides raising
five OF her own in the intervals The
colonel had given her this house and a
tiny annuity when he died. in IS. and
she went 10 live in #, bobbing up in
her old mistress's home, however, when
there was preserving to be done or sick
ness In the house; and not until the last
trouble was finally shooed away from
the door did Aunt M'randy's spare little
figure turn homcward. But the fortunes
OF the family were on the decline. and
after the mothers death they scattered
Aunt M'randy lived on in the little brick
house with her own brood until Sam
went TO farming in Prince George coun-
ty and Luke was doing well in a barber
shop, while the two girls took care Of
their mother. who intended to give Bob
her baby. an education.
Then the tide Of business began TO
drift along F Street, and Aunt M'randy
realized that her property was becoming
valuable II cannot be said that the
respect in which she was held by her
family and friends was due altogether
70 the rise in real estate. but # I'm
douotedly did become more pointed after
Luke told his wife Harriet. and Har-
Tlet told Sans wife. Azuba, that an
agent had offered many thousand dol
lars for the little house. and been re-
fused. Aunt Mrandy had said she in
tended TO live and die there. After she
was dead, her children could do as they
pleased
A little property may be a great in
strument for good. Aunt Mrandy be-
gan 10 see that when, without warning.
her daughter Mary went of and mar
ried race-track man. As a good Meth
odist. she let it be known that Mary
would never see q cent OF her money.
and if any Of the rest ventured to do
likewise they would also be losers.
Methodist camp-meeting. and Harriet
sent hers to Sunday-school In the aft
ernoon as well as In the morning. It
was hard on the young fry, but one
must sacrifice something for the good
OF the soul When Josephine the
younger daughter, died, Aunt M'randy
grew more religious than ever. She had
hopes that Bob might be preacher.
At about this time Harriet and Azuba
came 10 the conclusion il was too hard
for Aunt Mrandy TO live all alone. She
ought to give up housekeeping and come
and live with her children. and sell the
house. Aunt Mrandy said little and lis
tened much She was meditating
One day both the daughters-In-law hap
pened TO come at the same time. and
they sat up very straight one in each
COTIfCF OF the p1TiOF. ana argued the
case
Luke say hit 'ould be mos crafty
ing to him to have you come stay with
US erwhile. nav" said Harriet, earnest
ly. He sont me ovah heah mos es-
peshually 10 ask you when you goin'
come pay dat visit, an he ain goin'
like it ef 1 come back Ell tell him ain
fine out
Sans green Gavin dom pow'ful well
dis good weathah." ventured Azuba. She
knew she could not talk or dress like
Harriet but she had some faith In
material attractions LII Jake he savin'
his pet roostah fu' yo' when you come
ter see US. en- Jins watahmillions git
tn on fine"
Aunt M'randys face softened. She
was really fond of her grandchildren.
Wilbur he come within one o. takin'
de prize fu competition las week" IIar-
riet FASTENED 10 put in And Cora can
sew and make buttonholes right well"
Sam say jes' de othah day he wish
he had some chitlin's like what you
use ter cook put in Azuba- With only
three months schooling in a year she
knew her offspring could not rival Har-
rlet'z